Smart tech owners often face the need to identify a device on their home network, and it is especially important to set up parental controls on a router, restrict internet access, or simply understand which device is consuming traffic. MAC-address is a unique identifier of the network interface, which is assigned by the manufacturer at the factory.
Unlike in the IP-And the address, which can change with each connection, is the same code. TV, operating systems running Android TV Or the PatchWall shell, you can find this information in a number of ways, some of it's obvious, some of it's hidden in the engineering menu.
Knowing the exact location of this information will save you time when configuring complex networking hardware, and below we will take a look at all the search methods available, from standard settings to using third-party software.
What might be needed for MAC-TV address
The main function of this identifier is to provide communication between devices on the local network, and the router sees the connected TV using this code. IP-address for your Smart TV, so that it is always available at the same address for the media server or the smart home system, without MAC-address is not enough.
Users often use filtering to MAC-In this case, the router only lets through devices whose IDs are listed on the whitelist, which is more reliable than just a complex password, because even if you know the password, an outsider can not connect without the authorized ID.
⚠️ Attention: MAC-Wi-Fi addresses and Ethernet port (LAN) If you are setting up filtering, make sure to enter the router the address that corresponds to the type of connection you have (cable or wireless network).
This ID may also be required when diagnosing connection problems. The router provider or manufacturer's technical support often requests this information to check if the gateway sees your device at the physical layer.
Finding an address through the system settings of Android TV
The easiest and most reliable way is to look at the menu of the TV itself, and the interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system and the regional firmware, but the logic remains the same. You don't need any additional tools.
First, take the remote control and press the settings menu button, which is usually the gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen, and then the algorithm is as follows:
- 🔹 Select the Settings or System section.
- 🔹 Go to the section About TV (About) or About the device.
- 🔹 Find the Network or Network Status.
- 🔹 The window that opens will be indicated. MAC-wifi address MAC-ethernet.
In some versions of the PatchWall shell, the path may look different: Settings → General → About TV → Network information. If you don’t see the full 12-character string, try pressing the OK or Right button on the remote on the network status bar – often the detailed information is hidden in the pop-up window.
⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models, the address can be displayed in colon format (AA:BB:CC:11:22:33) For router settings, format is not usually important, the system recognizes the numbers.
If the menu says "Not Connected" status, the address should still be displayed because it's "sewn" in the hardware module. The absence of an address in the menu when Wi-Fi is off is normal behavior for some versions of Android, in which case try to temporarily turn on the wireless network.
Use the About TV menu in PatchWall interface
Xiaomi TVs often run on the PatchWall interface, which is visually different from the standard Android TV. Here, the navigation is built on horizontal content feeds, and the system settings may not be so obvious.
To find the data you want, go to the right side of the screen where the menu bar is located. Select the gear icon. In the list that opens, look for the device item. This is where all the technical information about your Mi TV is contained.
Within the “About the device” section, you are interested in the following parameters:
- 📺 Model: the exact name of the device (e.g., Mi) TV 4A 43).
- 🌐 Network: This is the current IP and MAC-plugin.
- 💾 Memory: the amount of built-in storage and RAM.
- 🔢 Android Version: Operating System Version.
Sometimes manufacturers hide detailed network information in the back of the menu. IP-At the remote, try to find the "Details" button or shift focus to "Network Status," which is often done by a "Down" or "Right" button on the remote».
Why can the interface be different?
It's important not to confuse. MAC-serial number (SN). The serial number is required for warranty, it is longer and contains letters and numbers in a chaotic order. MAC-The address always consists of 6 pairs of characters.
Checking through the router menu (the most accurate way)
If the TV menu is not available (for example, the remote is down or the interface is frozen), the most reliable source of information will be your router. It sees all the connected devices, even if nothing is displayed on the TV screen, this method works for any model, whether it is Xiaomi, Samsung or LG.
You need to log in to the router's web interface. To do this, on a computer or smartphone connected to the same network, open the browser and enter the gateway address (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). After entering your login and password (indicated on the sticker at the bottom of the router), go to the connected clients section.
Depending on the router model (Keenetic, TP-Link, Asus, MikroTik), the section can be called differently:
- 📡 Customer List (Client List).
- 🔗 DHCP Server (List of Rented Addresses).
- 🏠 My devices (in the Keenetic or Xiaomi Router interfaces).
- 📶 Wireless Status (Wireless Network Status).
Find a device called "Mi" in the list TV», «Android" or your TV model. Next to the name will be listed IP sought-after MAC-This is the most accurate way, because it shows the actual address that is currently being used to communicate with the network.
💡
If the router lists the device as “Unknown” or “Android-xxxx”, look at the first 6 characters. MAC-Xiaomi often starts with combinations like 64:09:80, A0:21:B7 or 38:A4:ED.
The advantage of this method is that you can see immediately if the TV is active on the network, and if the device is not on the list, then the TV is turned off or disconnected from Wi-Fi. IP-address.
Using applications to scan the network on a smartphone
When you don't have a computer to log in to your router and you don't have an inaccessible TV menu, you can use mobile scanners, which run on Android and iOS, and let you see the whole network as it is, which is a great way for advanced users.
Download an app like Fing, Network Analyzer or IP Tools from the app store. Make sure your smartphone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV. Run a network scan.
The app will show you a list of all the devices, and you can find the manufacturer's list of Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd or the model name of the TV.
| Parameter | Description | Wherever used |
|---|---|---|
| MAC Address | Physical address (12 characters) | Filtration on the router |
| IP Address | Local address on the network | DLNA setup, remotes |
| Vendor | Manufacturer of the network card | Brand identification |
| Ping | Response time | Diagnostics of lags |
These apps often show your connection history, and if the TV is now off but it's been online recently, its address can be stored in the app's cache, which is useful if you need to remember the address to set up static routing.
Using third-party software is especially convenient if you have a “smart” router without a convenient web interface or if you do not remember the password from the router’s admin panel.
Specificity of wired connection (Ethernet LAN)
It is important to understand that the Wi-Fi network card and the Ethernet network card (LAN) — They're two different physical modules inside the TV. MAC-If you're switching from Wi-Fi to cable, you're going to have to use a new ID.
To find out MAC-wired address, you need to physically connect the provider or router cable to the port LAN on the back of the Xiaomi Mi TV. After connecting to the settings menu (Settings) → Network → Wired network) the corresponding address will be displayed.
Often users get confused by typing the Wi-Fi address of the module into the router when the TV is connected by the cable, and vice versa. This leads to the fact that the filtering rules or static IP do not work. Always check which interface is active at the moment.
⚠️ Note: Some budget models Xiaomi port LAN In this case, the wired connection is only possible through a special USB-to-Ethernet adapter, which requires drivers and may not be supported by the TV.
If you use USB-adapter MAC-The third address will be unique to this adapter, and it doesn't match either Wi-Fi or the built-in address. LAN (if there is).
Frequent problems and their solution
Users may encounter a number of difficulties in searching for an ID, such as an address that may appear as 00:00:00:00:00:00:00 or 02:00:00:00:00:00:00, indicating a software failure of the network card driver or a lack of connection at the physical layer.
In such cases, a complete reboot of the TV with an outlet shut down for 1-2 minutes helps. Static electricity can cause malfunctions in the network modules. Also try resetting the network settings: Settings → Network → Forget the network and then connect again.
Another common problem is that the address on the sticker on the back of the TV and on the menu is not matched. MAC-The address may change (to protect privacy on public networks), but in the home network, Xiaomi usually uses a real hardware address.
☑️ What to do if the address is not visible
If nothing works and the TV doesn't appear on any list, the Wi-Fi module itself may have failed, in which case only an external set-top box or repairs at a service center will help.