Why Does My Android Mobile's MAC Address Change When I Turn Wi-Fi On and Off?

The behavior you're observing with your Android mobile's MAC address changing when you toggle Wi-Fi on and off is often due to a feature called MAC address randomization. This feature is designed to enhance user privacy and security by preventing tracking based on the device's MAC address.

How It Works

MAC Address Basics: The MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. Traditionally, this address remains constant.

Randomization: With MAC address randomization, the device generates a random MAC address each time it connects to a Wi-Fi network. This makes it harder for third parties like advertisers or malicious actors to track your device across different networks.

How to Access MAC Address Settings on Android

Many Android devices have this feature enabled by default. You can usually find this setting under the Wi-Fi options:

Go to Settings Scroll down to Network internet Tap on Wi-Fi Tap on the network you are connected to and look for an option like MAC address type or Privacy You may see options for Use device MAC or Use randomized MAC

Implications of MAC Address Randomization

Privacy

This feature enhances your privacy by limiting the ability of networks to track your device based on its MAC address.

Network Issues

Some networks may require a consistent MAC address for access control or for certain features to work properly. If you experience connectivity issues, you may need to disable MAC address randomization for specific networks.

Common Variations of the Issue: Your device must have an application like Pri-Fy which changes MAC address periodically or after a Wi-Fi adapter reset. A hardware issue in the Wi-Fi adapter can cause changes to the MAC address. Software glitches can also lead to unexpected changes in MAC address.

Conclusion

If you prefer to have a consistent MAC address, you can disable the randomization feature for specific networks. However, keep in mind the trade-off in terms of privacy. If you have further questions or need assistance with specific settings, feel free to ask!