WiFI Network Adapter MAC address has changed, again.

Question

Hello

laptop XPS 13 7390

Network adaptor Killer(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX1650w 160MHz Wireless Network Adapter (200D2W)

Hoping someone can help me out.

Research tells me a Network Adaptor MAC address shouldn't change so I m not sure why it seems mine is?

I use Waves music production software and licenses are linked to the MAC address. Their hub lists the products owned and the MAC address the licenses are/were registered to. A while ago my software stopped working but I didnt do anything about it but thought Id investigate over the last week.

The MACs listed in the Waves Hub arent the MAC showing for my Wifi Network adaptor, hence the the licenses are disabled. So I just the got the licenses reactivated through Waves, as they let me download the licenses again but a few hours later they werent recognised as my Wifi Network Adaptor MAC address has changed again.

Before I reinstalled the licenses I took a screen shot of my Network Adaptors MAC address from cmd > ipconfig /all . When the licenses weren't recognised a few hours later I checked the MAC via cmd > ipconfig /all and the it had changed. I now know my MAC address has "changed" at least 4 times, and suspect it changed many more times over the last year. The usual googled instructions on how to change the MAC address (i want to change it to the previous address the licenses were registered to) don't work as there isn't an option in the device manager > adaptor advanced settings for local administered address to update the MAC address.

Why does the MAC address appear to be changing, bearing in mind:

I don't have a VPN. I haven't changed any hardware . I haven't changed service providers.

- Is their a way to change the MAC address to the previous address AND make it static on this Network Adaptor (I cant see how to it in the Killer Control Centre)

Please be gentle. I'm already approaching my technical limit !

Thanks

Greg

ejn63 · Answer

The MAC address is hardware in origin. Unless you physically replace your wireless adapter, that will not change. Are you talking about your IP address (probably something like 192.168.x.y)? If that's what's changing, you can set your router to always assign your system the same IP address using the configuration interface for it.

gregejw · Answer

I can see the IP address , eg 192.123.0.456

I'm referring to the "physical address" listed against the killer network adaptor D6-3E-71-**-**-**- , retrieved from cmd > getmac and cmd > ipconfig /all "physical address" .

Earlier today it was 66-8D-8A-**-**-** , which is what I screen saved from the above locations and is what Waves have registered as the MAC for my licenses.

I guess Waves take the Network adaptors physical address for registration because it shouldn't change often.

Tesla1856 · Answer

I'll take a stab at this and try to help.

As @ejn63 says, it is virtually impossible to change a MAC address of a physical network adapter or device ... it's just not done.

It sounds like the "Waves software" is looking as some virtual devices.

Some of this audio software is very rickety .
Have you tried disconnecting from WiFi, and using only the wired-ethernet card only?

If you think it might be related to the Killer Networking card, try:
- Uninstalling all Killer Networking software
- Delete Killer Networking card from Device Manager
- Reboot, let Windows Plug-and-Play network card
- Load the card's 64-bit Microsoft drivers
- As tossed to you from Windows-Update

ejn63 · Answer

If that's the case, then the software is not reading the true MAC address of the wireless adapter - it's reading the spoofed address from a driver or Windows.

WIFI adapters are hard coded in silicon with the true, hardware MAC address at the factory - the only way to change this is to replace the adapter.

jphughan · Answer

@ejn63 and @Tesla1856 , it is nowhere near impossible to change a MAC address. Many WiFi and Ethernet adapters support using a user-provided MAC address. You can just go right into the Device Manager properties of the network adapter and if the adapter and its driver support it, you can provide your own MAC address right there, and that will become the one the adapter uses and reports in places like ipconfig output.

But @gregejw, even that doesn’t explain why it’s changing seemingly randomly. For that, you may have Windows 10’s “random hardware address” feature enabled, as described here. It’s worth noting that this type of feature is now enabled by default on Apple’s OSes, at least iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Not sure about macOS.

FrankAZ · Answer

I have an XPS 15 with AX1650x Killer Wifi and it's changed addresses twice but only a single bit at a time changed, D to 9 and 0 to 2. I went into regedit and forced a "NetworkAddress" to what my license file wanted. Unfortunately, I have licenses for two almost right address. Follow the "Hard way" on this link:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ethernet+mac+address+changed&docid=607999251477854377&mid=F50F2738141DA9FCBC18F50F2738141DA9FCBC18&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

XPS

WiFI Network Adapter MAC address has changed, again.

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