Are you operating a house community based mostly on MAC authentication? Or maybe, you’re experiencing points with new DHCP requests cluttering your community? Disabling the Wi-Fi Personal MAC Tackle on macOS 15 might be the answer. This information will take you thru the method step-by-step to disable Wi-Fi Personal MAC Tackle
What’s a Personal MAC Tackle?
A Media Entry Management (MAC) handle is a novel identifier assigned to community interfaces for communications on the bodily community section. To reinforce privateness, macOS 15 can randomize your system’s MAC handle when connecting to Wi-Fi networks. Whereas this function presents privateness advantages, it might trigger points for networks counting on MAC address-based authentication.
Advantages of Disabling the Wi-Fi Personal MAC Tackle
- Should you run a house community based mostly on MAC authentication, the Personal MAC Tackle function could cause connectivity points.
- It might probably increase requests for brand new DHCP releases, creating pointless community visitors.
- Disabling it ensures a extra steady connection and community efficiency.
Widespread Points and Issues
- Connection Stability: Some customers might expertise sporadic connections or drops.
- Privateness Implications: Whereas disabling the personal handle function improves community compatibility, it could cut back your anonymity on public networks.
- Community Safety: It’s essential to make sure that your community safety measures are strong sufficient to deal with the usage of actual MAC addresses.
Step-by-Step Directions to Disable Wi-Fi Personal MAC Tackle
Choice 1 – Utilizing System Preferences
Observe these steps to disable the Wi-Fi Personal MAC Tackle on macOS 15
- Open “System Preferences”:
- Click on on the Apple menu within the prime left nook of your display and choose “System Preferences”.
- Click on on “Community”:
- Within the System Preferences window, discover and click on on “Community” to open the community settings.
- Choose “Wi-Fi”:
- From the listing of obtainable community connections on the left, choose “Wi-Fi”.
- Click on on “Superior”:
- Within the backside proper nook of the Wi-Fi settings window, click on on “Superior” to open further Wi-Fi settings.
- Choose the “Wi-Fi” tab:
- Within the new window that seems, be sure you are within the “Wi-Fi” tab.

- Discover and Click on on “Wi-Fi Tackle” or “MAC Tackle”:
- Find the choice labeled “Wi-Fi Tackle” or “MAC Tackle”.
- Select “Use Your Actual MAC Tackle”:
- A drop-down menu will seem. Choose the choice “Select Wi-Fi handle” and choose from the drop – Down listing “Off”

- Reconnect to Your Wi-Fi Community:
- Shut the settings home windows and reconnect to your Wi-Fi community to use the modifications.
Choice 2 – Use Shell Command
To completely disable the Personal Wi-Fi handle function on macOS utilizing shell instructions, you possibly can comply with these steps:
Disabling Personal Wi-Fi Tackle
- Open Terminal in your Mac.
- Run the next command with administrative privileges:
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist PrivateMACAddressModeSystemSetting -int 1
This command writes a system-wide setting to disable the Personal MAC Tackle function.
Command Rationalization
- sudo: This ensures the command runs with administrative privileges.
- defaults write: That is used to switch system preferences.
- /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist: That is the file path for the Wi-Fi preferences.
- PrivateMACAddressModeSystemSetting: That is the precise setting we’re modifying.
- -int 1: This units the worth to 1, which disables the Personal MAC handle function.
Vital Notes
This modification won’t take impact instantly. You’ll must both neglect the Wi-Fi community and reconnect, or restart your laptop for the modifications to use.
The setting will apply globally to all present and new SSIDs on the system, not only for a selected community.
Remember that disabling this function might cut back your privateness when connecting to Wi-Fi networks, because it permits community operators to doubtlessly observe your system throughout totally different networks.
To confirm if the change has been utilized efficiently:
- After restarting or reconnecting to Wi-Fi, go to your Wi-Fi settings.
- Click on on the knowledge icon subsequent to your linked community.
- Verify if the “Personal Wi-Fi Tackle” possibility is turned off.
Do not forget that this modification impacts system-wide habits and will have implications for privateness and safety. Solely disable this function when you have a selected must, similar to compatibility with sure community configurations or organizational insurance policies.
Choice 3 – Configuration Profile Strategy
Another technique to disable Personal Wi-Fi addresses includes utilizing a configuration profile, which presents extra granular management over particular networks. This method requires making a customized Wi-Fi payload inside the profile, specifying the SSID, encryption sort, and password, and setting the “Disable MAC Tackle Randomization”

choice to true. The profile can then be deployed by way of an MDM answer like Jamf Professional, permitting directors to handle the settings for particular person networks throughout a number of units. This technique is especially helpful for organizations that want to keep up MAC address-based community entry management whereas nonetheless leveraging the privateness advantages of randomization for different networks
Troubleshooting Suggestions
Should you encounter points after disabling the Wi-Fi Personal MAC Tackle, listed below are some troubleshooting ideas:
- Restart Your Gadget:
- Generally, a easy restart can resolve connectivity points.
- Manually Replace Community Settings:
- Open the terminal and use command-line directions to reset your community settings.
- Verify Community Safety:
- Guarantee your community safety settings are accurately configured to assist the usage of actual MAC addresses.
- Replace macOS:
- Be sure your macOS is updated with the most recent patches and updates.
- Seek the advice of Neighborhood Boards:
- If points persist, contemplate in search of assist from Apple assist boards or different on-line tech communities.
Conclusion
Disabling the Wi-Fi Personal MAC Tackle in your macOS 15 can improve your community’s stability and safety, particularly in case you depend on MAC address-based authentication. Nevertheless, remember the privateness implications and guarantee you’ve strong community safety measures in place.
For extra such guides and ideas, preserve following our weblog. Received questions or need assistance? Be at liberty to achieve out within the feedback under!
By following this complete information, you possibly can confidently disable the Personal Wi-Fi handle on macOS 15, guaranteeing higher community efficiency and stability.