How to Find the MAC Address on Your Roku TV

Finding the MAC address on your Roku TV shouldn’t be too much of a problem. The address is usually located on the device itself and you can also access the number from the settings.

Either way, the methods to find the address are pretty simple and this write-up provides a quick step-by-step guide. We’ll also take a closer look at what MAC address actually is and how to take advantage of it. Plus, the article includes methods for finding MAC addresses on other popular streaming gadgets.

Locating MAC Address on Roku TV

As indicated, you can physically see the address or navigate the menus to reach the address within the software. These are the actions you need to take.

Physical Method

Grab your Roku TV and take a close look at its bottom and sides. There should be a label that features the device’s MAC address. The same applies to the box your Roku came in and again you’re looking for a label with a series of numbers on it.

Bonus Tip: If you need the MAC address every now and again, take a snapshot of the label with your smartphone. This way, there’s no need to flip the device every time or storm your home for the box.

Software Method

For some, the more elegant way is to navigate the Roku menus to the MAC address. Go to your Roku’s Home screen, and select Settings. Browse the Settings menu until you reach the Network tab and click to access more actions.

Now, you need to choose a wireless or wired connection. For wired connections, the MAC address is under “Wired MAC Address” or “Ethernet Address.”

There is no way to copy and paste the address to the desired destination even if you highlight it. Therefore, you need to put down the address on a piece of paper or take a snapshot with your phone.

MAC Address Disambiguated

MAC stands for Media Access Control and this is a device-specific address that’s given to the NIC (Network Interface Controller). The NIC uses this address to communicate with other parts of the network.

Without going into all the technicalities, the MAC address allows your Roku to establish and maintain a stable Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and/or Bluetooth connections.

What Does MAC Address Look Like?

As a rule, MAC addresses consist of 6 groups of 2 hexadecimal digits. Translated to English, it’s like a large number that may contain some letters and separators like colons or hyphens. However, separators are not obligatory and it’s usually up to the manufacturer to decide whether to include separators or not.

Be that as it may, you should know that this address is sometimes referred to as hardware, burned-in, physical, or Ethernet hardware address.

Why Do You Need the MAC Address?

One of the basic functions of this address is network filtering. In other words, it’s designed to keep unwelcome users at bay and prevent hackers from accessing the device. MAC addresses can also be utilized to limit the user’s access or track their network behavior.

This is why some third-party parental control and security apps require the MAC address to unlock access to the premium features. What’s more, this unique code can be used to identify your stolen device. Okay, your Roku TV is not likely to attract thieves, but smartphones and other mobile gadgets also have a MAC address.

Finally, the address may prove invaluable when you need to recover data from a broken gadget. Again, this is not a common problem with Roku TV.

Important Notes

Some third-party apps are designed to quickly locate and display your MAC address. However, it’s advisable to steer clear from these apps since you can’t be sure that the address won’t end up in the wrong hands.

Depending on the Roku firmware, the MAC address might be displayed under the About section. Go to the device’s Home screen, choose Settings, and hit About.

MAC Addresses on Other Devices

Here’s how to find the MAC address on other popular streaming gadgets.

Google TV

Navigate to Settings, choose Network, and select Status. Once you click on the Status, the following window displays the MAC address.

Apple TV

As you can guess, the search starts from the Settings. Depending on the Apple TV model, you should then choose Network or About. The address is located under Ethernet Address or Wi-Fi address, based on the type of connection you’re using.

TiVo

Access Settings, select Phone/Network, and the MAC address pops up on the next page.

Amazon Fire TV/Stick

Go down from Fire TV main menu and click Settings, then move right and choose System. Move down and choose About. After that, move down some more and select Network. The address is displayed in the window on the right.

MAC Without Cheese

When all is said and done, the methods to locate a MAC address follow a similar principle. Usually, the address is printed on the device and the box, and you can find it in the Settings menu under Network or About.

Why do you need Roku’s MAC address? Do you want to set up some parental controls? Give us your two cents in the comments section below.