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Device is using a private address or randomized MAC address

Updated
Paola Rivera

cropped_private_address_bark_unmanaged_unknown_device.png

The Bark Home remembers the devices on your home Wi-Fi network because of their unique MAC address.

Newer devices may confuse the Bark Home. Sometimes they have settings enabled that don't send out the same MAC address every time. We call these "anonymous devices" in Bark.

Here’s how to fix this issue so Bark Home will remember all of your different types of phones, tablets, watches, and computers.


apple_icon.svg iOS 14+

  1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone/iPad.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap the information button ℹ️ next to your home network.
    Have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network? Follow these steps for both.
  4. Tap Private Address > Turn off.
  5. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  6. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

apple_icon.svg macOS 15+

  1. Click the apple_icon.svg Apple menu on the top corner of your taskbar.

  2. Select System Settings.

  3. Click Wi-Fi in the sidebar.

  4. Click the Details button or More Info button next to the network name.

  5. From the menu next to Private Wi-Fi Address, choose Off.

  6. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  7. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

apple_icon.svg watchOS 7+

  1. Open the Settings app on the watch, then tap Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the name of the network you are connected to.
    Have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network? Follow these steps for both.
  3. Tap Private Address > Turn off. 
  4. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  5. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

android.svg Android 10+

  1. Open the Settings ⚙ app on the Android.
  2. Tap Network & Internet.
  3. Tap Wi-Fi.
  4. Tap the gear icon ⚙ associated with your home network.
    Have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network? Follow these steps for both.
  5. Tap Advanced.
  6. Tap Privacy.
  7. Tap Use Device MAC.
    Using Samsung? This setting is instead found in Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Advanced > MAC Address Type > select Phone MAC.
  8. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  9. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

windows.png Windows 10+

  1. On your computer, connect to your home Wi-Fi network.
  2. In your taskbar (near the time display), right-click on the Wi-Fi icon wifi.png. 
  3. Select Network & Internet Settings.
  4. Click on Properties for your home network. 
    Have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network? Follow these steps for both.
  5. Under the Random Hardware Addresses section, change the setting to Off.
    Don't see this setting? Then this computer's network adapter doesn't have it! You can move on to your other devices, if applicable.
  6. Turn off the Wi-Fi on your computer.
  7. Turn on the Wi-Fi again to reconnect using the original MAC address.  
  8. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  9. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.