Using your Smartphone, you can access your Echo’s MAC address with just a few simple clicks.
If for some reason you are not connected to your Wi-Fi, or you just need to know what the MAC address is, you can still find the MAC address for your Echo easily enough. If you look at the bottom of the box that your Echo came in, you will notice two barcodes there. The smaller of the two, usually the bottom one, will contain a series of 12 numbers and letters; this is the MAC address for this specific device.
While you may not keep your box from your Echo device, you may want to either take a photo of this information or save this portion of the box for future use if you ever need it. This will come in handy if you ever need tech support or if you ever have to change your router or Wi-Fi system and need to reconnect your Echo.
Why You Need the MAC Address for Your Echo
MAC address stands for Media Access Control address. This is a unique ID that is specific to each device. In addition, this is the physical or hardware address that is given by the manufacturer upon completed manufacturing. This address is a series of letters and numbers, usually 12, that is unique to each device and each manufacturer. This address is important for a few reasons.
- It is unique to your specific deviceIt identifies when the device was manufacturedIt is what is needed for your device to communicate with your current Wi-Fi networkIt is needed for proper function of your deviceIt is needed to help the Echo understand Voice commands
This address will also be needed if you ever have trouble with your Echo and need to talk to someone in tech support. This address is also important if you ever change your Wi-Fi or router, as you will need it to allow access to the new network.
Difference Between MAC Address and IP Address
While each of these addresses is needed to help identify a device that is connected to your internet, each is different. A MAC address is provided by the manufacturer of the device, while the internet service provider provides an IP address. A MAC address is used to identify hardware, and an IP address is used to identify software.
It is important to know that the MAC is used to simply identify the device. The IP address is used to identify the connection of the device and the network it’s on. A MAC address is needed if you have trouble with your device and need tech support. An IP address is not. The other important thing to know is that a MAC address cannot be accessed by hackers, while an IP address sometimes can.
