How do I disable MAC Address Randomization (Private Wi-Fi Address) on my device?
Answer
MAC address randomization or Private Wifi Address is a feature intended to make devices more secure and less trackable. It randomizes MAC addresses on devices connected to wifi. What that means at Carthage is that when users travel from building to building, MAC addresses automatically change, so network registration and access may drop, and users may have to re-register their devices to the Carthage wifi network.
To counter that, you will want to make sure MAC Randomization and Private Address are disabled on your devices.
Disable MAC Randomization on iOS
For more information, please see this article from Apple regarding the use of private Wi-Fi addresses on Apple devices.
- Open Settings on your iOS device.
- Tap "Wi-Fi."
- Tap the information (i) button next to your network.
- Toggle off Private Address (or set to "Fixed"). If it is set to "Rotating," tap the arrow to the right and select either "Off" or "Fixed."
- Exit Settings. Re-join the network when prompted.
Disable MAC Randomization on Android OS
- Go to the Settings app on your Android device.
- Tap on "Network & Internet" or "Connections" > "Wifi."
- Tap the gear icon next to the Wifi name of the Linksys router or node your device is connected to.
- Tap on "MAC address type."
- Select "Use phone MAC."
Disable MAC Randomization on Mac OS
- Navigate to "System Settings" > "Wi-Fi."
- Click the "Details" button next to the network.
- Choose "Off" for "Private Wi-Fi Address."
For more information, please see this article from Apple regarding the use of private Wi-Fi addresses on Apple devices.
Disable MAC Randomization on Windows OS
- Open Settings on your device.
- Select "Network & Internet" > "Wi-Fi."
- Turn off "Random hardware addresses."
