MAC Address Vendor Lookup
Enter a MAC address to identify the hardware manufacturer.
What Is a MAC Address?
A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique hardware identifier. Every network interface on a device has one. A laptop Wi-Fi adapter, a server Ethernet port, and a smart thermostat radio each carry one. The 48-bit address is burned in at the factory. It is written as six pairs of hexadecimal digits, split by colons or dashes. An example is 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. Unlike IP addresses, which change with your network, a MAC address is tied to the hardware. MAC addresses operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model. That means they work within a local network segment, not across the internet.
What Is an OUI?
The first three octets (six hex characters) form the Organizationally Unique Identifier, or OUI. The IEEE assigns OUI prefixes to manufacturers. So the first half of any MAC address tells you who made the device. The tool above queries the OUI against a vendor database to find the manufacturer. This is sometimes called an OUI lookup or a MAC address vendor search. For example, a MAC starting with 00:1A:2B may resolve to a specific networking company. That immediately tells you the brand of hardware.
Came here from an IPv6 address? If the last 64 bits of an IPv6 address contain an ff:fe marker, that interface ID is built from a MAC address using EUI-64, and the vendor lookup above will identify it. Our IPv6 Address Type Checker reconstructs the original MAC for you automatically, ready to paste in here.
Why Look Up a MAC Address Vendor?
There are several practical scenarios where the ability to find a MAC address vendor proves valuable:
- Network troubleshooting: When reviewing ARP tables, DHCP leases, or switch port mappings, the vendor hints at each device. It helps you tell routers from printers, IoT sensors, and workstations. See our network troubleshooting guide for more techniques.
- Device identification: Spot an unfamiliar MAC address on your network and look up its vendor. The maker often reveals the device type. It helps you tell an expected smart-home gadget from an unknown intruder.
- Security auditing: Administrators use MAC vendor lookups to inventory hardware during audits. An unexpected manufacturer in DHCP logs can flag a rogue device. You catch policy violations before they grow.
- Asset management: Large networks hold hundreds or thousands of devices. Matching MAC addresses to vendors streamlines inventory and tracks device lifecycles.
This tool queries a public IEEE OUI vendor database (macaddress.io). It resolves the OUI portion of the MAC address you provide. Paste or type a full or partial MAC address above. The lookup returns the registered vendor name in real time, with nothing to install. This tool shares one API key across all site visitors, capped at 1,000 lookups per day. If you see a daily-limit message, try again tomorrow.
Related Tools & Resources
Explore more of our free networking tools. Use What Is My IP Address to check your public IP. Run a DNS Lookup to inspect domain records. Check any IPv6 address’s type with our IPv6 Address Type Checker. Review common network ports when configuring firewall rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a MAC address vendor lookup?
A MAC address vendor lookup reads the first three octets of a MAC address. That part is the OUI, assigned by the IEEE to a manufacturer. The tool matches the OUI against a vendor database. It returns the company that made the network hardware.
Can you find the exact device from a MAC address?
No. A lookup only identifies the manufacturer, not the specific model or owner. The OUI shows who made the network chip. The remaining octets are assigned per device, but they are not published. So you learn the vendor, not the exact device.
Why does my MAC address show no vendor?
A few cases return no vendor. Randomized or locally-administered MAC addresses have no IEEE owner. Multicast addresses are not vendor assignments either. The tool flags these before querying. A real OUI that is missing may be unregistered or very new.
Is it safe to enter a MAC address here?
Yes. The tool sends only the first three octets, the OUI, to the vendor database. It does not store your full MAC address. A MAC address is not secret on its own. It is visible to any device on your local network.