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Before joining public Wi-Fi, check that the network is set to use a randomized MAC address. This Android setting makes it harder for nearby Wi-Fi observers to identify your phone by its factory Wi-Fi address. It does not encrypt your connection or prove that a hotspot is trustworthy.
What a randomized MAC address protects
A Wi-Fi MAC address identifies a device on a local network. Android explains that Wi-Fi MAC addresses are sent without encryption and can be captured; a static, globally unique factory address can therefore help a nearby observer recognize and track a device. Randomization substitutes a locally administered address, making that factory-address-based identification harder.
The protection is narrow: it addresses identification through the Wi-Fi MAC address. It does not encrypt internet traffic, protect passwords or other data, authenticate a hotspot, or prevent tracking by other means. Do not treat it as a way to make a malicious network safe.
How to check the setting for a Wi-Fi network
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Open Settings on your Android phone.
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Tap Network and Internet, then Internet.
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Tap the settings icon beside the Wi-Fi network you want to check.
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Find Randomised MAC address and select the randomized-address option if it is not already selected.
This is a per-network setting: check the details for the particular public network you plan to use. Android 10 and newer use a randomized MAC address by default, but the network details let you choose whether to use it. If you cannot find the entry, search Settings for “MAC address” or check your device maker’s instructions. Menu names and locations vary by Android version and manufacturer. Google’s Android Help describes the general path.
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What the address modes mean
| Mode | What happens |
|---|---|
| Persistent randomization | Android generates a randomized address for a network and reuses it for that network. |
| Non-persistent randomization | In supported situations, Android changes the address at the start of a connection. This can apply to certain network-suggestion scenarios on Android 12 or later; it is not a guarantee of a new address on every reconnect. |
| Factory MAC | Android uses the device’s hardware Wi-Fi address rather than a randomized address. |
Android’s Wi-Fi framework selects a randomization mode based on network and framework conditions. Its developer API also describes an automatic mode, where the framework chooses the strategy, and a “none” mode, which uses the factory MAC. The generated address may not be used depending on the user’s preference. Android’s MAC randomization documentation and the WifiConfiguration API reference describe these behaviors.
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Randomized MAC addresses address one local identifier; they are not a substitute for connection security. Android Help discusses Private DNS as a separate setting and recommends keeping it on. Private DNS is used by default with networks that support it, but it does not replace MAC randomization or establish that a hotspot is legitimate. See Google’s Private DNS guidance for that setting.
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