How to Tell Which Devices Are Connected to Your Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide

Have you noticed your internet speed has suddenly dropped, or is the activity indicator in the corner of your router's screen flashing even at night? Or do you want to make sure no one is accessing your network? Identifying which devices are using your Wi-Fi is the first step to monitoring the security and optimizing your home network.

In this article we will look at 7 proven methodsHow to check connected gadgets—from standard router tools to advanced terminal commands. You'll learn how to distinguish yours from iPhone 15 from the neighbor's Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, what's happened MAC address Why it can't be 100% forged, and how to block unwanted "guests" in two clicks. No IT expertise required: all methods are adapted for everyday users.

Important: If you rent a place to live or use a corporate network, some methods may be restricted by your administrator. In this case, please contact the router owner or your system administrator.

1. Checking via the router's web interface (universal method)

The most reliable and accurate way is to go to the router control panel. This is where you'll see all active connections, including hidden devices that may not be visible in mobile apps.

The instructions are suitable for most models: TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, Zyxel, MikroTik and others. Let's look at an example. TP-Link Archer C6:

1. Connect to the Wi-Fi network you want to test (or use an Ethernet cable).
2. Open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1If you can't access the router, check the IP address on the router's sticker.
3. Enter your login and password (by default it is often admin/admin or admin/empty password).
4. Go to the section Wireless → Wireless Statistics or DHCP → DHCP Client List.

In the table you will see:

• 📱 Device name (if it is not hidden - for example, Vasily's iPhone or Samsung-Galaxy-S23).
• 🔢 MAC address (unique species identifier 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).
• 🌐 IP address (For example, 192.168.0.103).
• ⏱️ Connection time.

Check your router's network connection|Reboot the router using the button on the router's case|Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox)|Reset the router's settings using the Reset button (hold for 10 seconds)-->

⚠️ Note: If the list contains devices with names android-XXXX, Unknown If you see any unknown MAC addresses, this could indicate a connection from your neighbors or malware on your devices. Check them with an antivirus.

2. Using mobile apps (for quick checking)

If you're too lazy to mess around with your router settings, you can use specialized apps. They scan your network and display connected devices directly from your smartphone.

Top 3 verified apps:

• 📱 Fing (Android/iOS) — identifies the device manufacturer by MAC address, shows open ports and vulnerabilities.
• 🔍 WiFi Analyzer (Android) - visualizes channel load and client list.
• 🛡️ NetScan (iOS) - scans the local network and saves connection history.

How to use Fing:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Click Scan — the program will automatically detect your network.
3. In the section Devices A list with names, IP and MAC addresses will appear.
4. Click on any device to see additional information (manufacturer, model, response time).

The downside of mobile apps is that they don't always show up. All devices (for example, those connected via cable or hidden in the router settings). For a complete picture, combine this method with the first one.

3. Commands for Windows (via command line)

If you prefer working on a PC, you can do without third-party programs. Built-in tools Windows allow you to get a list of devices on the local network.

Open Command line (Win + R → enter cmd → Enter) and perform in order:

arp -a

This command will display the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table with the IP and MAC addresses of all devices with which your computer has communicated. However, this will only show devices that have recently interacted with your PC.

ping 192.168.0.255
arp -a

The first command sends a ping packet to all devices on the network (replace 192.168.0.255 (To your broadcast address if the subnet is different), and (2) updates the ARP table. All active devices will now appear in the list.

To find out the manufacturer by MAC address, copy the first 6 characters (for example, 00:1A:2B) and find them in the database MAC VendorsThis way you'll know whose device it is: Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi etc.

4. Commands for macOS and Linux (terminal)

Users Mac or Linux You can use the terminal to analyze your network. This method is more accurate than in Windows, as it displays more detail.

For macOS:

nmap -sn 192.168.0.0/24

Replace 192.168.0.0/24 to your subnet (you can find out with the command ifconfig | grep "inet "). The command will scan all IP addresses in the range and list devices with MAC, hostnames and status (up/down).

For Linux (For example, Ubuntu):

sudo apt install nmap # if not installed
sudo nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

Additionally, you can use arp-scan:

sudo arp-scan --localnet

This utility will show all devices on the local network, including those that do not respond to ping (for example, some IoT gadgets).

⚠️ Warning: Scanning the network with nmap or arp-scan May be blocked by corporate firewalls. There are no restrictions at home.

5. How to identify unknown devices

You have found an unfamiliar MAC address or name in the list of connections ESP_123456How can I tell what kind of device it is and who owns it?

Verification algorithm:

1. Check your gadgetsTurn off all your devices one by one (smartphone, laptop, TV, smart light bulb) and see which one disappears from the list.
2. Use MAC address databases: The first 3 bytes of the MAC (e.g. B8:27:EB) are unique to each manufacturer. Check them on sites like MAC Vendors or Arul John.
3. View DHCP leases: In the router settings, find the section DHCP → DHCP Clients. Device names can be saved here even if they are currently disabled.
4. Check out IoT gadgets: Smart sockets (Xiaomi, TP-Link Tapo), cameras (Ezviz, Hikvision), columns (Amazon Echo, Yandex Station) often have standard names of the form tapo_plug_1234.

Critical Information: If a device with the manufacturer's MAC address is detected on the network Raspberry Pi Foundation (For example, B8:27:EB or DC:A6:32), but you don't have Raspberry PiThis could be a sign of a hacker connecting via a mini-computer. Immediately change your Wi-Fi password and check your router for unknown port forwarding rules.

6. Blocking unwanted devices

If you detect a foreign device on your network, you can block it. The methods depend on the router model, but the general logic is the same:

Method 1: Filtering by MAC address

1. Log into your router's web interface.
2. Find the section Wireless Mode → MAC Filter.
3. Add unwanted MAC addresses to the blacklist (or allow only your addresses in the whitelist).
4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

Method 2: Change your Wi-Fi password

The most radical but effective method: change the network password in the section Wireless Mode → Security SettingsAll devices will be disconnected and will only be able to connect after entering a new password.

Method 3: Disabling DHCP for a specific IP

In the section DHCP → Address Reservation You can bind an unwanted MAC to a non-existent IP (for example, 192.168.0.254) to prevent the device from receiving network settings.

⚠️ Note: MAC address blocking is not 100% secure—an experienced user can change their device's MAC address. For added security, combine this method with changing your password and disabling the feature. WPS in the router settings.

What to do if your router is hacked?

If you find unknown port forwarding rules in your router settings (Port Forwarding), changed DNS servers, or unfamiliar administrator accounts are signs of a hack. Immediately:

1. Reset the router to factory settings (button Reset).

2. Update your router firmware to the latest version.

3. Set a complex administrator password (at least 12 characters with numbers and special characters).

4. Disable remote access to the router (Remote Management).

5. Check all connected devices for viruses.

7. Real-time network monitoring

To avoid manually checking the device list, set up automatic monitoring. This will help detect new connections promptly.

Option 1: Built-in router tools

Some models (eg ASUS RT-AX88U or Keenetic) have a function New device notificationsEnable it in the settings, and the router will send alerts via email or mobile app whenever a new device appears on the network.

Option 2: Third-party programs

• 🖥️ GlassWire (Windows/macOS) — displays traffic graphs by device and notifies about new connections.
• 📊 PRTG Network Monitor — a professional solution for network monitoring (there is a free version).
• 🌐 OpenWRT + ntopng — for advanced users with custom firmware.

Option 3: Scripts for automatic scanning

If you are friendly with technology, you can write a simple script in Python using the library scapy, which will scan the network every 5 minutes and send a report via email. Example code:

from scapy.all import ARP, Ether, srp
import smtplib

def scan_network(ip_range):
arp = ARP(pdst=ip_range)
ether = Ether(dst="ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff")
packet = ether/arp
result = srp(packet, timeout=3, verbose=0)[0]
devices = []
for sent, received in result:
devices.append({'ip': received.psrc, 'mac': received.hwsrc})
return devices

Sending a report by email (set up SMTP)
...

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to determine which device is connected if its name is hidden?

Yes, even if the device name is not displayed (eg. Unknown or android-XXXX), it can be identified by:

• MAC address (the first 3 bytes indicate the manufacturer).
• IP address (try connecting to it through a browser - some devices, such as IP cameras, have a web interface).
• Ports (use nmap -sV [IP] to scan for open ports).

If this is your device but the name is hidden, check its settings: on Android the path may be Settings → About phone → Device name.

Why do unfamiliar gadgets with names like "ESP_123456" appear in the list of devices?

These could be:

• Yours IoT devices (smart lamps, sockets, sensors) - often have standard names from the manufacturer.
• Devices neighbors, if your Wi-Fi is not secure enough (for example, it uses an outdated protocol WEP instead of WPA3).
• Virtual devices, created by some programs (for example, VirtualBox or BlueStacks).

To check, disconnect all your devices from the network and see if the unknown device disappears. If not, change your Wi-Fi password.

How do I find out which device is consuming the most traffic?

Most modern routers have built-in traffic statistics. For example:

• IN TP-Link: Advanced Settings → Traffic Statistics.
• IN ASUS: Administration → Traffic Log.
• IN Keenetic: Internet → Monitoring.

If there is no such function, use programs like GlassWire or NetBalancer (Windows) They show real-time traffic for each device.

Is it possible to see devices connected to a neighbor's Wi-Fi?

No, you can only see devices connected to yours router. Other people's networks are protected, and scanning their devices without permission is illegal (in some countries, this is considered hacking).

Exception: If the neighbor uses a weak password or an outdated security protocol (WEP), it is theoretically possible to connect to its network. But this is illegal and unethical.

What should I do if an unknown gadget appears and disappears from the list of devices?

This could be a sign of:

• Automatic connection (for example, a friend's smartphone that previously connected to your network and now searches for it automatically).
• Malicious software on one of your devices that creates "shadow" connections.
• Smart device with an unstable connection (for example, a motion sensor that wakes up only when motion is detected).

Recommendations:

1. Turn on connection logging in the router (if there is such a function).
2. Check all your devices with an antivirus (for example, Kaspersky Internet Security or Malwarebytes).
3. Set up guest network for IoT devices to isolate them from the main network.