How to See Who's Connected to My Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide to Checking and Blocking

Have you noticed that your internet has become slower and your data is running out early? Perhaps your Wi-Fi Outsiders have connected. According to research, one in five routers in Russia has an unsecured network or a weak password, allowing neighbors or hackers to use your internet without permission. This not only reduces speed but also creates security risks—your network could be used to spread viruses or conduct illegal activities.

In this article you will learn how check the list of connected devices On any router, identify unfamiliar devices and block them. We'll cover methods for popular models (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, MikroTik), as well as universal methods via mobile apps and the command line. In addition, you will learn how to configure guest network and encryption WPA3to prevent repeated intrusions.

1. How to check connected devices via the router's web interface

The most reliable way is to access the router's control panel. You don't need any special software for this; a browser on your computer or smartphone is sufficient. The login address is usually located on a sticker on the back of the device (e.g., 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). The default login and password are also there - often it is admin/admin or admin/password.

After logging in, find the section with active connections. Depending on your router model, it may be called:

• 🔍 DHCP clients or Device List (TP-Link, Mercusys)
• 🖥️ Clients or Network → Wireless (ASUS)
• 📡 My Network → Devices (Keenetic)
• 🛡️ «Wireless» → «Registration Table» (MikroTik)

In the table you will see MAC addresses, IP addresses and device names. Compare them with your own devices. Unknown devices can be blocked right here—there's usually a button next to each line. Block or «Disconnect».

2. Identifying foreign devices by MAC address

MAC address A MAC address (or physical address) is a unique identifier for a network device. It can be used to determine the device's manufacturer and even its type (smartphone, laptop, TV). The first six characters of the MAC address indicate the vendor. For example:

• 📱 00:1A:79 — Samsung
• 💻 3C:5A:B4 — Google (Pixel, Nest)
• 🖥️ 78:31:C1 — Apple (iPhone, MacBook)
• 📺 00:0A:EB — LG (TVs, monoblocks)

To find out the manufacturer by MAC address, use free services:

• 🌐 MAC Vendors Lookup (enter the address manually)
• 🔍 Arul’s MAC Address Database (detailed database)
• 📱 Android/iOS apps: MAC Address Lookup, Network Analyzer

If a device with a MAC address that doesn't belong to any of your devices appears on your network, it's cause for concern. This is especially true if the address begins with:

• 🚨 B8:27:EB — Raspberry Pi (often used for hacker attacks)
• 🚨 00:0C:29 — VMware (virtual machines)
• 🚨 00:50:56 — VMware or VirtualBox

sudo ifconfig wlan0 down
sudo ifconfig wlan0 hw ether 00:11:22:33:44:55
sudo ifconfig wlan0 up

3. Mobile apps for Wi-Fi monitoring

If accessing your router settings is inconvenient, use specialized apps. They scan the network and display all connected devices in real time. The best options are:

• 📱 Fing (Android/iOS) — identifies devices, their MAC addresses, and even network vulnerabilities. Includes a notification feature for new connections.
• 🔍 Network Analyzer (Android/iOS) — shows the speed and traffic of each device. Suitable for identifying data-hungry gadgets.
• 🛡️ WiFi Guard (Android) - Compares current connections with your whitelist and alerts you to unauthorized access.
• 📊 IP Tools (Android/iOS) - a universal tool with network scanning and ping test functions.

Example of working with Fing:

1. Install the app and connect to your Wi-Fi network.
2. Click "Scan" — after 10–20 seconds a list of devices will appear.
3. Click on an unknown gadget to see its MAC address, manufacturer, and IP.
4. If the device is someone else's, block it through the router (as described in first section).

Please note: Some applications (eg. WiFi Guard) require root rights on Android to block devices. Without them, they can only display a list of connected devices.

⚠️ Attention: Network scanning apps can show devices connected to neighboring Wi-Fi, if they're within range. Don't block them—it's pointless and can lead to conflicts.

4. Checking via the command line (Windows, Linux, macOS)

If you prefer to work without a graphical interface, you can use the command line. This method is suitable for experienced users and allows you to obtain detailed network information.

For Windows:

1. Open Command line (Win + R → enter cmd → Enter).
2. Enter the command:

   arp -a

   It will show a table of IP and MAC addresses mapping.

3. Compare IP addresses to your range (usually 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x).

For Linux/macOS:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter:

   nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

   (replace 192.168.1.0/24 to your subnet).

3. The system will display all active devices with MAC addresses and manufacturers.

To find out what IP address is assigned to your router, use:

• 🪟 Windows: ipconfig (look for the line Main Gateway)
• 🐧 Linux: ip route | grep default
• 🍎 macOS: netstat -nr | grep default

5. How to block someone else's device: step-by-step instructions

If you find a device that's not yours, you need to block it. There are several ways:

Method 1: Blocking by MAC address

1. Go to the router's web interface (as in first section).
2. Find the section MAC filter or «Wireless MAC Filter».
3. Add MAC address of other devices to blacklist.
4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

Method 2: Change your Wi-Fi password

The simplest method is change password from the network. To do this:

1. In the router panel, go to Wireless Mode → Security Settings.
2. Select encryption type WPA2-PSK or WPA3.
3. Create a complex password (at least 12 characters, with numbers and special characters).
4. Save the changes - all devices will be disconnected and will need to reconnect.

Method 3: Disable DHCP for unknown devices

If someone else's device connects via a static IP, you can limit the distribution of addresses:

1. Find it in your router settings «DHCP».
2. Specify the range of IP addresses to be issued (for example, 192.168.1.100–192.168.1.200).
3. Assign static IP addresses to your devices outside this range.

⚠️ Attention: MAC address blocking isn't foolproof—an experienced user can spoof a MAC address. Always combine this method with with a strong password And WPA3 encryption.

6. Additional measures to protect your Wi-Fi network

To prevent unauthorized connections, configure your router according to these recommendations:

• 🔒 Enable WPA3 - a new encryption standard that is harder to crack than WPA2If your router does not support WPA3, use WPA2-PSK With AES encryption.
• 🚫 Disable WPS This feature simplifies connection, but it has vulnerabilities. It can be found in the settings. "Wireless" → "WPS".
• 📡 Hide the SSID - Disable network name broadcasting in the settings Wireless → Hide SSIDThis won't protect you from experienced hackers, but it will reduce the number of accidental connections.
• 🛡️ Set up a guest network - If you need to give access to guests, create a separate network with limited rights. For example, in TP-Link this is done in the section Guest network.
• 🔄 Update your router firmware — Manufacturers regularly patch vulnerabilities. Check for updates in the section System Tools → Software Update.

Important: If your router is older than 5 years, it may not support modern security standards (such as WPA3). In this case, consider upgrading to a newer model—it's cheaper than paying for excess data or dealing with viruses.

7. What should I do if someone else's device reappears?

If someone else's device continues to connect after being blocked, it may be:

• 🔄 Attacker reset the router settings (for example, through a button Reset).
• 🕵️ Someone from the family gives the password to strangers (check children or guests).
• 📶 Your Wi-Fi intercepted through a signal repeater (for example, a neighbor's repeater).
• 💻 Your computer infected with a virus, which distributes access to the network.

Actions in such cases:

1. Reset your router to factory settings (button Reset for 10 seconds) and set it up again with a new password.
2. Check your computers for viruses by using Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool or Dr.Web CureIt!.
3. Reduce signal strength in the router settings (section Wireless Mode → Transmission Power). This will limit the coverage area to your apartment.
4. Change the Wi-Fi channel — Sometimes neighbors deliberately tune into your channel to intercept traffic.

⚠️ Attention: If someone else's device connects at the same time (for example, at night), this may be a sign targeted attackIn this case, it is recommended to not only block the MAC address, but also Change the password for the router control panel (by default this is often admin/admin).

Frequently Asked Questions