Most hotels have some sort of web-based authentication in order to use their wireless networks. Some devices (Xboxes) are unable to handle those. The systems behind these wireless networks are based on device MAC addresses, which are basically unique identifiers of your hardware. Once you’ve authenticated with an identifier, it is “trusted” for a set period of time (typically 24 hours). It is possible to lie about your identifier, which is what we’ll be doing here. There are a number of articles on doing this with your Xbox 360, but nary a one for the One. Microsoft has made it a little bit easier this time around, but only slightly.
Previously, you had to spoof your MAC address (of your Xbox) on another device (I used LinkLiar on my Mac and most seem to use Mac Makeup on Windows), connect to the wireless, accept the agreement/enter your code, disconnect, set your MAC address back on your device, and then connect with your Xbox. You can still do that if you’d like, but there is another way assuming you have a device that you can connect to the wireless, can get the MAC address from, and does not need connected to the wireless in the future (think: your smartphone).
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- Connect your device to the hotel’s wireless network
- Fill out the agreement and/or code that pops up
- Find the MAC address of the device you connected (Android | iOS)
- Disconnect your device from the hotel’s wireless
- Connect your Xbox One to the wireless (you will be told there’s one of a number of problems with your connection, which can vary depending on the system the hotel is using)
- Do not attempt any of the recommended steps and instead choose to edit your connection
- Go into the wireless connection’s advanced settings
- Scroll down to and select “Alternate MAC address”
- Put your other device’s MAC address in there (Note: Use dashes in place of colons)
Voila! Your Xbox One is now doing the spoofing of its own address. This was much easier for me than the old method of spoofing my Xbox’s MAC address on another device, connecting, unspoofing my other device, etc., etc.
I’m assuming all of the above can also be done with a wired connection too, but I’ve not had an opportunity to try it.
I’m still not sure why Microsoft can’t handle these types of network authentications now that they’ve included a full-blown version of Internet Explorer, but it is possible they just haven’t gotten to it considering how rushed they were to get the One out the door (let’s face it, we’re currently using a beta). We can only hope that they’ll include it in a future update.
Comments
Did you take your One on a plane to the east coast? I’m not sure if I’m proud or ashamed.
Of course. I just got it, I don’t get much time for it at home, I was all alone in a hotel. Seemed perfect. Won’t be a regular thing, but right after launch when everyone is playing nightly? Um, yeah.
THANK YOU!!! You saved our vacation!!!!! 😉
Glad to hear it!
Awesome dude, just what I was looking for, on 360 you didn’t have to put the dashes, I work out of town and was panicking . Thanks
I appreciate the info, it almost worked for me, but I am staying at Candlewood Suites and they have a dedicated “Gamer” network, which is working very well without spoofing. Given the choice, I’ll stay at one of these for that alone.
TO ALL TRYNG TO CONN TO HOTEL WIFI ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET THE PROVIDER OF FROM THE FRONT DESK PHONE NUMBER CALL THEM UP AND GIVE THEM THE IP ADDR FROM UR XBOX…..WHAT THEY WILL DO IS TAKE UR ROOM NUMBER AND UR IP ADDR AND ADD THOSE TO THIER NETWORK FREE OF CHARGE, THAT MEANS THEY WILL TAKE THE FIREWALL DWN PLUS LET U GAME ONLINE WITH NO PROB. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I DO THIS AS MY JOB FOR VARIOUS OF HOTEL GUEST THAT HAS GAMING SYSTEMS AND VPN
Nine times out of ten, I’ve found calling the front desk for help with the network an exercise in futility. I know they should be able to help me, but it’s simply not worth the effort.
I’ve been fighting with this thing for two days trying to get it to connect. I used to do the same thing on my 360. There was a place in the network set-up to put in an alternate MAC address. The only thing stopping it from working on my Xbox One was that I was using colons (Like it is supposed to be, Microsoft!) instead of the dash. Why the heck would that use a dash instead of a colon???
been staying at a comfort inn and their internet times out after two hours or so and require you to accept the agreement again. they do this in order to free up band width. because of this, the alternate device mac spoof won’t work. sucks balls. thanks for your help though.