Mac address for android 6.0 and above shows null

Question

I am using this code to get MAC ADDRESS and display it in my app. The code works fine for all devices except most latest devices and ANDROID BOX.

it shows null for ANDROID BOX and other latest device.

Here is code:

   public static String getWifiMacAddress() {
    try {
        String interfaceName = "wlan0";
        List<NetworkInterface> interfaces = Collections.list(NetworkInterface.getNetworkInterfaces());
        for (NetworkInterface intf : interfaces) {
            if (!intf.getName().equalsIgnoreCase(interfaceName)){
                continue;
            }

            byte[] mac = intf.getHardwareAddress();
            if (mac==null){
                return "";
            }

            StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder();
            for (byte aMac : mac) {
                buf.append(String.format("%02X:", aMac));
            }
            if (buf.length()>0) {
                buf.deleteCharAt(buf.length() - 1);
            }
            return buf.toString();
        }
    } catch (Exception ex) { } // for now eat exceptions
    return "";
}

I have written these permissions in manifest file

 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"/>
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"/>

`catch (Exception ex) { } // for now eat exceptions` "nice" exception handling **that's why you don't know what is really going on** — Selvin, Jan 27 '17 at 12:41
I think we should have to give ACCESS_WIFI_STATE runtime permission. As in 6.0 and above, Adding permission in manifest alone will not help — Karthik CP, Jan 27 '17 at 12:43
ACCESS_WIFI_STATE is not dangerous permission ... so it is not true — Selvin, Jan 27 '17 at 12:44
@PirFahimShah have you referred the link i have posted in answer ? — Akshay Tilekar, Jan 27 '17 at 12:58

Rahul Karande · Answer 1 · 2017-01-27T12:47:30.700

0

Firstly u will check the permission is granted or not?

WifiManager wifiManager = (WifiManager) getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
WifiInfo wInfo = wifiManager.getConnectionInfo();
 String macAddress = wInfo.getMacAddress();

Also, add below permission in your manifest file

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"/>

Please refer this link for 6.0 marshmalow

edited Jan 27 '17 at 12:47

answered Jan 27 '17 at 12:45

Rahul Karande

259
2
9

I have already done this code, but it does not show MAC ADDRESS for android 6 and ANDROID BOX – Pir Fahim Shah Jan 27 '17 at 12:45
obviously it will not returns real mac on android 6.0 as is stated in the documentation ... it is not possible on android 6.0 – Selvin Jan 27 '17 at 12:46
U have forgot this permission – Rahul Karande Jan 27 '17 at 12:50
– Rahul Karande Jan 27 '17 at 12:50
@Selvin it is possible,refer the link i have posted in my answer – Akshay Tilekar Jan 27 '17 at 12:51
@AkshayTilekar i am getting 02:00:00:00 with the link code u prvided in your anwser – Pir Fahim Shah Jan 27 '17 at 13:36
@PirFahimShah i have mentioned the cause in the answer !! – Akshay Tilekar Jan 30 '17 at 13:37

Akshay Tilekar · Answer 2 · 2017-01-30T05:33:17.770

First you will need to add Internet user permission in AndroidManifest.xml.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

and then Refer this to get mac address: http://robinhenniges.com/en/android6-get-mac-address-programmatically

And if it doesn't works then refer this Android 6.0 changes from this i have concluded that,

To provide users with greater data protection, starting in this release, Android removes programmatic access to the device’s local hardware identifier for apps using the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth APIs. The WifiInfo.getMacAddress() and the BluetoothAdapter.getAddress() methods now return a constant value of 02:00:00:00:00:00.

To access the hardware identifiers of nearby external devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi scans, your app must now have the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION or ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permissions. Note That : you can't get your own MACs even having those permissions. Read carefully, It is said that you can get other devices MACs having those permissions, but not your own.

i used the code in the link you provided me but it still not shows mac adress, it shows 02:00-00_00 — Pir Fahim Shah, Jan 27 '17 at 13:17

score -1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

-1

As in 6.0 and above adding permission in Manifest alone wont work. You should have runtime permission and grant it if not granted.

Check this link:

https://stackoverflow.com/a/30549756/3910281

edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Community

1
1

answered Jan 27 '17 at 12:46

Karthik CP

1,150
13
24

Mac address for android 6.0 and above shows null

3 Answers3