Changing MAC Address in macOS Big Sur & Monterey with spoof-mac
If you want to change your MAC address in macOS Monterey or Big Sur, you can use the traditional method to spoof a MAC address, or you can use a slightly easier approach by using a command line tool called spoof-mac. We’ll be covering the mac-spoof method here, which relies on HomeBrew.
For some quick background, your computers MAC address is unique and identifies it to connected networks, and some services use MAC addresses for filtering who or what is allowed onto a particular network. Additionally, some services use a MAC address to track a computer or device. And by the way, MAC in this case stands for Media Access Control, not to be confused with Mac which is short for Macintosh – but yes, this article will cover changing the MAC address on a Mac.
This is aimed at advanced users, as the majority of people have no need to change a MAC address or spoof one.
Using spoof-mac to Change a MAC Address in MacOS Monterey / Big Sur
Before beginning, you will need to install Homebrew on the Mac if you have not done so already. Assuming that’s already done, launch Terminal app to get started.
- From Terminal app, install mac-spoof with HomeBrew
- Option-click on the wi-fi menu bar item in MacOS to get the interface name (typically en0, sometimes en1)
- Temporarily disconnect from wi-fi by going to the Wi-Fi menu and toggling the current Wi-F network so that it’s not longer connected
- At the command line, use the following mac-spoof command to generate a random MAC address and change the network interface at en0 to that (change en0 to en1 if applicable):
- Return to the wi-fi menu and now re-connect to Wi-Fi on the Mac, the new MAC address should immediately take effect
brew install spoof-mac
sudo spoof-mac randomize en0
The MAC address will remain changed until you either switch it back, or the Mac is rebooted.
Note that some users may find that only disconnecting from the active wi-fi network, changing the MAC address, then reconnecting to that network works, while others may find that temporarily disabling wi-fi, changing MAC address, then re-enabling wi-fi works. In testing, both worked on my particular MacBook Air, and FWIW disabling Wi-Fi is the more traditional approach.
This applies to the Mac computer of course, but interestingly enough, the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS offer a private wi-fi address feature on iPhone and iPad that is basically changing and randomizing the MAC address as well for those devices. Perhaps a similar privacy feature will arrive for the Mac eventually.
Whether or not this spoof-mac HomeBrew approach is easier than using the bundled command line tools to spoof a MAC address in Mac OS is up to you and your particular use case.
Why’d you change your MAC address? Do you intend to use this capability often? Do you use another approach to spoofing MAC addresses? Share your experiences, tips, and thoughts in the comments.
Hello Guys,
I downloaded the homebrew successfully but when i enter “brew install spoof-mac” it tells me “command not found”.
I did try to do it with the other method but when i enter “sudo ifconfig en0 ether xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx” it tells me
“can’t assign requested address” or permission denied”
i have Monterey 12.1, 16 inch 2021. I need help.
Hello,
I’m pretty sure you have to be an administrator on your computer in order to be able to download. Are you an administrator? Also, my mac won’t change it’s IP or EN even though I use the random line.
Hi, im having trouble spoofing my address, each time I run the command, My wifi disconnects and when I do I turn it on again it still does not work.
Hi,
Just found this page, super helpful and some great articles!
Regarding the mac change, I have successfully done this via terminal using the ‘old’ and ‘new’ methods. As a poster mention above this change is reflected in terminal, but not in the Wi-Fi icon on the menu bar. Should it?
Secondly, has anyone utilised this to get around the dreaded Zoom 1132 error?
Thanks!
John.
Can you elaborate a bit more on the Zoom 1132 error you are encountering and when? Often updating Zoom, or deleting and reinstalling Zoom, remedies Zoom app related error messages and issues.
Ignore my previous post. It’s working.
I have a MBP M1 16 2021 with Monterey 12.2. I followed the instructions very closely yet my MAC Address does not change.
I successfully start spoof-mac:
==> Successfully started `spoof-mac` (label: homebrew.mxcl.spoof-mac)
Before running spoof-mac, i tried both disabling WiFi and forgetting my WiFI network. Neither one changed the MAC address.
Glad it got it working Phil!
Hi Paul,
Is this the right behavior:
– When I run ifconfig, I see the generated MAC address.
– When I click Wi-Fi icon, it shows me my true MAC address.
Thanks,
Phil
Hi,
is there a command to set a specific MAC address? The random one worked for me but I would like to set it to a specific MAC address.
Thanks!
Did everything right, HomeBrew installed correctly, followed all the steps, Mac address still the same.
Using BigSur by the way.
Hi guys!
I was able to change it using the old method.
It’s important to follow the step to check your interface name—hold option key and click wifi menu bar icon—(en0 or en1).
I believe the main difference following the new update (Monterey 12.2) is that previously I used en1 to spoof but after the new update I’m using en0 to spoof.
So you can try switching between them.
Next, generate random Mac address
To spoof enter this:
sudo ifconfig en0 ether NEW ADDY
(replace NEW ADDY with the generated Mac Addy)
if it asks for password that means it is successful.
To see new Mac address enter this:
Ifconfig en0 | grep ether
Hi,
All of this didnt work. I am still stucked with the same MAC-address?
Any ideas…? Using a old Macbook Pro from 2013
The tricks mentioned here are intended for Monterey and Big Sur, if you’re running an earlier version of Mac OS X you can try this method instead:
https://osxdaily.com/2008/01/17/how-to-spoof-your-mac-address-in-mac-os-x/
Great article, it works great. though I am stuck on something taking this further. so my question is .. “how do I make this a shell script to run automatically every time my Mac boots” … “or even just have it as a quick action”? I keep trying and its not working on Monterey.
There is a typo should be
brew install spoof-mac
Oops thank you for catching that, not sure how that slipped through 🙈
Here’s the formula page for those interested:
https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/spoof-mac
im on macOS monetary, how would I make this a automated quick action for ethernet, so every time I got my Mac I can go into finder / quick actions and instantly randomize my Mac address. ?? and idea?
Quite a good article i will try once for my mac lapi thanks for your work great effort
Hey there! Did you mean „spoof-mac“ instead of „mac-spoof“? I do not know any so called formulae though „spoof-mac“ works on Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur. Or did you add any special repo? Nevertheless, thank you for your blog – its a nice read and often very informative!