What is a MAC address and an OUI?

A Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique 48-bit physical hardware identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC). The first 24 bits (first 6 hexadecimal characters) represent the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), which is officially registered with the IEEE to identify the device manufacturer.

Why does my router show 'Unknown' or random vendor for a device?

Modern mobile operating systems including iOS (Apple Private Wi-Fi Address) and Android (MAC Randomization) generate randomized, locally administered MAC addresses by default for privacy. In these addresses, the second hex digit is 2, 6, A, or E, indicating it was generated dynamically by the phone rather than assigned at the factory.

How do I find unknown devices connected to my Wi-Fi router?

Log in to your router gateway (typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), navigate to the 'DHCP Client List' or 'Attached Devices' section, copy any unfamiliar MAC addresses, and paste them into this tool to immediately discover the manufacturer.

🔍 IEEE OUI Hardware Directory

MAC Address Vendor Lookup

Identify the manufacturer of any device connected to your Wi-Fi network. Supports colons, hyphens, Cisco-style dots, or raw hexadecimal strings.

Enter MAC Address or 6-digit OUI Prefix:

Accepted formats: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX, XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX, XXXX.XXXX.XXXX, or 6 hex characters.

Quick Test Popular Samples:

How to Find Unknown Devices Connected to Your Router

If you suspect a neighbor is using your Wi-Fi or you see unfamiliar entries in your router's wireless client table, looking up their MAC address is the fastest way to confirm their identity:

Open your web browser and navigate to your router's default gateway (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
Log in using your admin credentials (or look up your router in our Default Passwords Directory).
Find the page labeled DHCP Client Table, Attached Devices, or Wireless Station List.
Copy the 12-character MAC address of the mystery device and paste it into the lookup box above.

Understanding the Anatomy of a MAC Address

FC : EC : DA : 11 : 22 : 33

↑ OUI (Manufacturer ID) ↑ Device NIC Serial

A standard MAC-48 address contains 6 octets (48 bits). The first 3 octets (24 bits) form the OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier), managed exclusively by the IEEE. The remaining 24 bits are assigned sequentially by the hardware manufacturer to each unique physical chip.

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