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Still having trouble with Alternate MAC address

I posted a couple of weeks ago about having trouble with the Xbox One generating alternative MAC addresses which then circumvents the parental control system that I use, the Disney Circle.  Here is the original post:

"Here is my question: Each time my son uses the Xbox one, it uses a new MAC address.  This circumvents the parent control system that I use, the Disney Circle, because the Circle identifies the device by the MAC address and any new device joining my network is automatically assigned to the "home profile" which does not have a "bedtime".  

I found info on how to create an alternate MAC address on the Xbox One, and I've been to the advanced settings to check into that.  But, the Xbox seems to be doing this automatically each time he turns it on.  

I'm looking for information on how to make it stop creating alternate MAC addresses."

I was advised to reserve an IP address for the Xbox through my router and I did that.  I had some false starts with that approach - I realized after one attempt that my adult account was still signed in to the Xbox so my son could access the settings through that.  I signed myself out (and changed the password).  Then I tried reserving the IP address a few times because I wasn't sure I had done it right.  I didn't see any new Xbox devices connecting to my Circle device for the end of last week and so I thought that maybe I had fixed my problem.  But, this weekend several new Xbox devices (called Xbox but with different MAC addresses) joined my Circle.  So, it appears this is not fixed.

Another person who replied to my question said that the Xbox won't just generate alternative MAC addresses on its own - that someone is actively doing this.  So, that has to be my son because he's the only one in the house who uses the Xbox (unless this can be done remotely somehow and a friend is helping him?). 

Can you get to the advanced settings and select "alternate MAC address" from a child account?

A couple of years ago my son had created an alternative profile using my email address and password.  I removed it from our "family" since I couldn't figure out a way to re-designate it as a child account a few months ago.  Is it possible that he is somehow accessing my account via that old profile?  There is no evidence of that old profile on the Xbox...

Hello!

Thanks for reaching out to us here on the forums with this situation. I understand you're having trouble with your Mac Address settings. The best way to have the Disney Circle work would be to manually set up a static IP address to do that you'd need to go to your "Settings" under "Network" find the "Advanced Settings". In there take note of your Wireless MAC or Wired MAC depending what internet connection you are using. Then select Alternate Mac Address and set it to manual and reenter the MAC address there. Doing that will keep your MAC address from changing. Keep in mind that anyone clearing the Alternate MAC address would cause it to change. You may want to try setting up a parental restriction from your child's account to be blocked from accessing the settings. Hope this helps  

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Hello!

Thanks for reaching out to us here on the forums with this situation. I understand you're having trouble with your Mac Address settings. The best way to have the Disney Circle work would be to manually set up a static IP address to do that you'd need to go to your "Settings" under "Network" find the "Advanced Settings". In there take note of your Wireless MAC or Wired MAC depending what internet connection you are using. Then select Alternate Mac Address and set it to manual and reenter the MAC address there. Doing that will keep your MAC address from changing. Keep in mind that anyone clearing the Alternate MAC address would cause it to change. You may want to try setting up a parental restriction from your child's account to be blocked from accessing the settings. Hope this helps  

Thanks for your very clear description of how to manually set the MAC address on the Xbox.  Since I've set a static IP address a couple of times through the router I'm more intrigued by your suggestion to set a parental restriction to block my son from accessing the settings.  

I'll look for that and post again if I have success.

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I've searched through the settings on the Microsoft website and googled for about 15 minutes and I cannot find instructions for how to block my son from accessing the settings on the Xbox.  Do I need to do this from the console directly?

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Hi there Cheryl,  

Thanks for the  reply. 

I recommend trying the following resource articles:

Try this out and let us know the results.  

Thanks for being a part of the Xbox Family.
Happy Gaming! ಠ‿ಠ

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Ah ha!  I think I found the problem.  The Xbox was set up to automatically sign my profile in when turned on!  I've changed that now so that no one is signed in automatically and I chose the "lock down" setting for my profile.

Now, assuming that one cannot access the settings from a child account, I think, maybe, keep your fingers crossed for me, I've got it.

(someone please burst my bubble right away and tell me if child accounts can access the alternate MAC address settings)

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Hi there Cheryl,

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, you are correct. A child account will be able to access the network settings (MAC Address settings) on the console.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for being a part of the Xbox Family.
Happy Gaming! ಠ‿ಠ

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Hi there Cheryl,

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, you are correct. A child account will be able to access the network settings (MAC Address settings) on the console.

Hope this helps.

That's discouraging!  So is there a way to prevent a child account from accessing the alternate mac address settings?

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Hey there!

Unfortunately there is no setting that will prevent him from accessing the MAC address. If you are attempting to set up Timers for when he can and can't use the console you can always update the parental settings and Set up screen time limits for your child.

By setting it up this way, even if the Mac address is changed the screen time settings will still be placed directly to the account from the parent account and it will only allow him to play within the times that are set.

I hope this helps.

XBF Erick C

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Hey there!

Unfortunately there is no setting that will prevent him from accessing the MAC address. If you are attempting to set up Timers for when he can and can't use the console you can always update the parental settings and Set up screen time limits for your child.

By setting it up this way, even if the Mac address is changed the screen time settings will still be placed directly to the account from the parent account and it will only allow him to play within the times that are set.

I hope this helps.

So then, the earlier recommendation to reserve the IP address doesn't really help.  If he can always get to the alternate MAC address button in the network settings then it doesn't really matter if I reserve the IP address through the router or through the Xbox console, right?

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Last updated April 23, 2025 Views 2,372 Applies to: