How to view a list of Wi-Fi clients on a MikroTik router: all the methods

Managing connected devices is a key task for administering a Wi-Fi network, especially when it comes to routers. MikroTikThese devices are popular among professionals due to their flexible settings, but their interface can be confusing for beginners. If you want to know, How to view Wi-Fi clients on a MikroTikThis article will help you understand all the available methods, from graphical utilities to the command line.

Unlike home routers, where the list of connected devices is usually displayed in two clicks, MikroTik offers several monitoring methods. The method you choose depends on your needs: whether you simply need to see the MAC addresses of devices or need detailed statistics on traffic, connection time, and signal strength. We'll cover all current options, including Winbox, WebFig, terminal and even a mobile application, and we will also give advice on analyzing the obtained data.

It is important to understand that functionality may vary depending on the router model and version. RouterOSFor example, in older firmware versions, some options may be hidden or work differently. If you are using a device with Wireless CM2 (as in MikroTik cAP XL), the interface will differ from the classic one Wireless in models of the type hAP ac²But don't worry—we've taken these nuances into account and will examine each case in detail.

1. View Wi-Fi clients via Winbox

Winbox — the most popular management solution MikroTik, and no wonder: the program is lightweight, fast, and requires no installation. To see a list of connected devices, follow these steps:

1. Connect to the router via Winbox (by MAC, IP or via a list of neighboring devices).
2. Select a section in the left menu Wireless (or Wireless CM2 for new models).
3. Double-click on the desired Wi-Fi interface (for example, wlan1).
4. Go to the tab Registration — all connected clients will be displayed here.

In the table you will see:

• 🔹 MAC-Address — unique device identifier;
• 📶 Signal Strength — signal level in dBm (the closer to 0, the better);
• ⚡ Tx/Rx Rate — data transmission/reception speed;
• ⏱ Uptime — connection time;
• 📡 AP — the access point to which the device is connected (relevant for multi-AP configurations).

If the list is empty, check:

• 🔌 Are the devices connected to the correct network (SSID);
• 🔄 Is the table updated (button Refresh up);
• 🛡 Is the firewall blocking it?IP → Firewall) access to Wi-Fi.

Connect to the router via MAC or IP|

Open Wireless section|

Select the correct interface (wlan1, wlan2, etc.)|

Refresh the data using the Refresh button.

⚠️ Attention: IN RouterOS v7 interface Wireless may look different than in v6If you don't see the tab Registration, please update Winbox to the latest version or use WebFig.

2. Using WebFig to monitor connected devices

WebFig - web interface MikroTik, which works directly in the browser. It's convenient if you don't have access to Winbox Or you prefer to manage your router from your phone or tablet. To view Wi-Fi clients:

1. Open your browser and enter the router's IP address (e.g. 192.168.88.1).
2. Log in (using login and password, if they have been changed from the factory settings).
3. In the menu on the left, select Wireless → click on the desired interface.
4. Go to the tab Registration Table.

IN WebFig The data is updated automatically, but you can manually refresh the table using the button RefreshAdditional options are also available here:

• 📊 Graphs — channel loading graphs;
• 🔍 Scan — scanning the airwaves for other networks;
• 📋 Export — export the list of clients to a file.

If you need to monitor connections in real time, WebFig there is a built-in Log (Logs → Wireless), which records all events, including device connections and disconnections. This is useful for diagnosing problems, such as if a device keeps disconnecting.

3. Command Line (CLI): Quick View via Terminal

For experienced users, the most effective way is command line (CLI). It works through SSH, Telnet or straight into Winbox/WebFigThe main advantage is speed and the possibility of automation (for example, monitoring scripts).

To see the list of clients, run the command:

/interface wireless registration-table print

The output will look like the table from Winbox, but in text format. To filter, use the following parameters:

• 🔍 View clients of a specific interface:

  /interface wireless registration-table print where interface=wlan1

• 📡 Sort by signal strength:

  /interface wireless registration-table print where interface=wlan1 order-by=signal-strength

• 📤 Export data to a file:

  /interface wireless registration-table print file=clients.txt

If you need detailed information on a specific client (for example, his IP address), use the following combination of commands:

/ip dhcp-server lease print where mac-address=00:11:22:33:44:55

To automate monitoring, you can create a script that will send notifications when new devices are connected. Here's an example of a simple script:

:local oldClients [:toarray [/interface wireless registration-table find]]
:delay 5s
:local newClients [:toarray [/interface wireless registration-table find]]
:foreach newClient in=$newClients do={
:if ([:tonum [:find $oldClients $newClient]] = 0) do={
/tool ​​e-mail send to="admin@example.com" subject="New Connection" \
body=("Device connected: " . [/interface wireless registration-table get $newClient mac-address])
}
}

⚠️ Attention: IN RouterOS v7 The syntax of some commands has changed. If you see an error no such command, check the firmware version with the command /system resource print and check with the official documentation.

4. MikroTik mobile app: control from your phone

Official app MikroTik For Android And iOS Allows you to control your router directly from your smartphone. Its functionality is limited compared to Winbox, but it's enough to view the client list. Here's how:

1. Install the app from Google Play or App Store.
2. Add a router by entering its IP address, login and password.
3. In the main menu, select Wireless → the desired interface.
4. Tap on the tab Clients (or Registration (depending on the version).

The application is convenient for quick monitoring, but has limitations:

• ✅ Shows basic information (MAC, signal, connection time);
• ❌ No detailed traffic statistics;
• ❌ Data cannot be exported;
• ❌ Some versions lack sorting.

If you need more features, consider third-party apps such as MikroTik Dude (for network monitoring) or Termux (to access CLI through SSH). However, please note that they require additional settings.

5. Viewing Clients via a DHCP Server: An Alternative Method

If for some reason you are unable to obtain a list of clients via Wireless, you can use the data DHCP serversThis method will show all devices assigned an IP address by the router, including those connected via cable. Instructions:

1. IN Winbox or WebFig go to IP → DHCP Server.
2. Open the tab Leases — all leased IP addresses will be displayed here.
3. In the column MAC Address You will see the device IDs.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Shows all devices on the network, not just Wi-Fi;
• 🔹 You can see it Hostname (device name), if transmitted;
• 🔹 Data is updated in real time.

Flaws:

• ❌ Does not show signal level and connection speed;
• ❌ The list may contain devices that have already been disconnected, but their IP lease has not yet expired;
• ❌ No information about Wi-Fi connection time.

To clear out obsolete entries, use the command:

/ip dhcp-server lease remove [find where status=waiting]

6. Additional tools: scripts, graphs, and notifications

If you need to do more than just view a list of clients, analyze their activity, MikroTik offers advanced tools:

• 📈 Traffic graphs: V Winbox go to Interfaces, select the Wi-Fi interface and open the tab TrafficHere you can see the channel loading in real time.
• 🔔 Notifications about new connections: set up the script (an example is given in the section about CLI), which will send an email or SMS when a new device appears.
• 📊 Activity logging: V Logs (System → Logs) filter events by wirelessto track connections/disconnections.
• 🔄 Automatically disable unwanted devices: by using Firewall You can block connections by MAC address:

  /ip firewall filter add chain=forward mac-address=00:11:22:33:44:55 action=drop comment="Blocked device"

To visualize data you can use Grafana or Zabbix, integrating them with MikroTik through SNMP or APIThis is relevant for large networks where it is important to track trends (for example, peak loads).

IN RouterOS v7 experimental support has appeared Wireless Wire (wireless bridge), which can affect the display of clients in the registration table. If you use this feature, check the settings in /interface wireless wireframe.

⚠️ Attention: When using scripts to block devices, make sure you don't block your own MAC address. Test firewall rules in standby mode before applying them. log, and not drop.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about viewing Wi-Fi clients on MikroTik

/interface wireless registration-table print file=clients.csv