Mostly every router has this feature to clone MAC address. But the first question that will come to your mind is why would one clone MAC address? And what’s it useful for? This feature can be accessed from the router’s setup page.
Why Clone MAC Address
After buying a shining new Wi-Fi router, you follow all the installation steps correctly, but still the internet connection is not working. You recheck each and every step and it’s still not working. Reason? ISP (internet service providers) knows your Computer’s MAC address. This MAC address is a unique identifier for your network hardware. It would be unique for each and every device like Computer, laptop and routers. The first time you connect your internet connection, this MAC address gets recognized and recorded in ISPs database. But a newly purchased router will definitely have a different MAC address and that’s why you will not be able to connect to the internet.
So what’s the solution to this problem? It’s too easy. We can clone computer’s MAC address. So in simple terms, your router’s MAC address will be changed to whatever your computer’s MAC address is. Their system will recognize your computer’s MAC address and this will solve the issue. ISPs will think that its your computer whom they are communicating with, when in fact, they will be communicating with router.
How to Clone Your Computer MAC address
Now that we know, why are we are doing this, its time to go ahead.
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Open any browser and type in your router’s IP address. This should be written in router’s user manual (guide). In case, you cannot find the user manual, then try these IP’s:
http://192.168.0.1
http://192.168.1.1
http://192.168.2.1 - A login screen will prompt your username and password of the router. Again, this can also be found from the manual. If you don’t remember it, then try entering admin for both – username and password.
- With the above step complete, you will gain access to router’s main setup page. Go to “Network settings” or “Advanced” tab and find and click on MAC Cloning or Spoof MAC address. The exact text would depend on how your router defines the term.
- Now that we are here, click on Clone MAC Address button. And finally, click on Save.
- The router will prompt for a reboot. Reboot the router and wait for sometime. If it does not automatically reboot, then just unplug it from power source and plug it in again.
Note: In step 4, the MAC address will automatically get filled in the field. If not, then you will need to locate MAC address of your computer. To do this, open command prompt (type cmd in “run”).
Type “ipconfig/all” (without quotes). In “Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection” heading, look for “Physical Address”. This physical address is what we want. Enter this address in step 4. You need to follow this step only if your router does not automatically fill out the MAC address (which will be in a very rare case).
That’s done. Your computer MAC address is now successfully cloned to your router.
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