How to check devices connected to Wi-Fi on Redmi

Owning a modern smartphone Xiaomi or Redmi It's often assumed that this gadget becomes the control center of the home's digital ecosystem. However, users often encounter situations where internet speeds suddenly drop and ping times in games skyrocket, which could indicate unauthorized access to your wireless network. Understanding how to see who's connected via Wi-Fi on a Redmi is a basic skill for ensuring the security of personal traffic and protecting confidential data.

It is worth clarifying an important technical detail right away: the smartphone itself, even the most advanced one Android device, doesn't have a built-in feature for scanning the entire network for intruders without third-party software or access to the router's administrative panel. The operating system restricts direct access to the gateway's ARP tables for security reasons, so to get a complete picture, we'll need to use either the router's web interface or specialized utilities that can legally bypass these restrictions.

In this article, we'll take a detailed look at all available methods for monitoring network activity, from traditionally accessing your router settings through a browser to using powerful network scanners. You'll learn how to distinguish your devices from others, block uninvited guests, and set up reliable protection to prevent similar incidents in the future. The only way to get 100% accurate information about all connected clients is to access your router's admin panel, since it is the one that assigns IP addresses.

Using built-in MIUI features and the Mi Wi-Fi app

Company Xiaomi strives to create a unified ecosystem, and for many users who own routers of the same brand, the control process becomes as simple as possible. Owners of devices with the shell MIUI or HyperOS can use the official application Mi Wi-Fi, which allows you to manage your network directly from your smartphone. This is the most native method, eliminating the need to install questionable software from unverified sources.

After installing the application and authorization via Mi Account, the system automatically detects a compatible router on the local network. The program interface provides a visual connection map, displaying device names, their IP addresses, and even current traffic consumption in real time. This allows you to instantly identify anomalies, such as if an unknown laptop starts downloading large files, hogging your bandwidth.

However, functionality may vary depending on the router model. If you have a third-party device, the built-in tools Xiaomi may be useless for deep diagnostics. In this case, it's worth considering alternatives, but for infrastructure owners Xiaomi This solution is optimal in terms of operating speed and integration with the system.

• 📱 Download the official app Mi Wi-Fi from the store GetApps or Google Play.
• 🔗 Log in to the app using your Mi Account.
• 👁️ Go to the "Manage" or "Clients" section to view the list.
• ⚙️ If necessary, tap on the device to limit its speed or block it.

Logging into the router's admin panel via a browser

The most universal and reliable method that works with absolutely any router (TP-Link, Asus, Keenetic, MikroTik), is to log into its web interface. You don't need special superuser rights on the phone itself to do this. Redmi, you only need to know the gateway address and login credentials. This method gives you access to the "brain" of your network, where the complete truth about connections is visible.

First, you need to find out the gateway's IP address. On smartphones Xiaomi This can be done by going to Settings → Wi-Fi → Tap the name of the active networkIn the menu that opens, find the line "Gateway" or "Router" - this is usually an address of the form 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1Enter this address into the address bar of any browser (Chrome, Yandex Browser) on your phone.

⚠️ Attention: Router interfaces can vary significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you can't find the client section, look for tabs labeled "Wireless," "Status," "Client List," or "DHCP Server."

After successful authorization (the login and password are often located on a sticker on the bottom of the router, if you haven't changed them), go to the wireless network section. A table of all active connections will be displayed there. Here you'll see MAC addresses All devices, which is the unique identifier of the network card. Compare the list with your gadgets: TVs, phones, laptops, and smart plugs.

In some router models, especially in firmware from Keenetic or MikroTik, you can not only view the list but also apply filtering immediately. You can create a rule denying access to a specific MAC address or even change the Wi-Fi password directly from this menu, forcibly disconnecting all users.

Network Scanner Apps for Android

If you find fiddling with your router's web interface difficult or inconvenient on a small smartphone screen, specialized scanner apps can help. They automatically analyze your local network and provide a detailed report on all detected nodes. One of the most popular and functional programs for this purpose is Fing, although there are worthy analogues like Network Scanner or Wi-Fi Analyzer.

The operating principle of such snails is simple: after launching and granting permission to access the local network, the program sends out broadcast requests and collects responses from all devices. Algorithm The app matches MAC addresses against a database of manufacturers so you can easily tell if "Device-Android" is your phone and "IntelCorp" is your laptop.

It's important to note that these apps operate at the level of your phone. This means they only see devices that respond to requests. Some advanced users can configure their devices to hide from scanning, but for everyday users, this functionality is sufficient. Fing or its equivalents are more than sufficient. They also allow you to run speed tests and check for open ports.

• 📥 Install a scanner app (for example, Fing) from Google Play.
• 📡 Click the "Scan" or "Search for devices" button.
• 🔍 Study the list: pay attention to unknown names or manufacturers.
• 🚫 Use the blocking function (if supported by your router) or change the password.

Identifying devices by MAC address

The most difficult part of monitoring is understanding who is who in the connection list. Devices often appear as "Unknown" or a string of numbers. This is where MAC address (Media Access Control Address) is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface during manufacturing. The first six characters of this address (OUI) identify the device manufacturer, significantly simplifying identification.

For example, if you see a device with an address starting with 00:1A:2B, and a search of the OUI database says that it is Apple, and you don't have equipment of this brand, you should be wary. Similarly, prefixes Samsung, Huawei, Espressif (often used in smart light bulbs) will help you get a complete picture of your home gadget zoo.

To find out the MAC address of your phone Redmi For comparison, go to Settings → About phone → General information Or in the Wi-Fi settings. Write it down or take a screenshot so you know exactly which device is yours when scanning the network. This will prevent false alarms and panic.

What is MAC address randomization?

In modern versions of Android (starting with version 10), a random MAC address is enabled by default for each new network. This means your phone may appear in the router's client list under a different address, making it more difficult to identify but increasing privacy in public places. For a home network, this feature can be disabled in the settings of a specific Wi-Fi connection by selecting "Use device MAC address."

Methods for blocking unwanted users

Once a rogue device is detected, it's essential to respond immediately. Simply disabling it with a scanner app is often insufficient, as the attacker may reconnect automatically. The most effective method is MAC address filtering (Blacklist/Whitelist) in the router settings. You add the intruder's address to the blacklist, and the router physically blocks them from establishing a connection, even if they know the password.

The second, more radical but effective method is to completely change your Wi-Fi network password. After changing the security key, all devices will be disconnected, and you'll only have to reconnect your own devices. This ensures that if the password is stolen or cracked, access will be completely blocked. When changing your password, be sure to select a strong encryption type, such as WPA2-PSK or WPA3.

⚠️ Attention: Some providers provide subscribers with routers with limited functionality, blocking access to security settings. In this case, the only option is to call the provider's technical support or replace the equipment with your own.

It is also a good practice to create Guest networkThis is a separate Wi-Fi network with a different name and password that doesn't have access to your local network (printers, NAS storage, files on computers). Share the guest network password with your friends to keep your main network secure and under control.

Hacking prevention and security settings

Once you've figured out how to view connected devices, it's important to consolidate your success and prevent future intrusions. The weak point is often not the password's complexity, but outdated router software. Manufacturers regularly release updates that patch security holes that allow hackers to access the admin panel.

It is recommended to disable this function. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). Despite the convenience of connecting without entering a password (just press a button), this protocol has critical vulnerabilities that allow someone to brute-force the PIN code and gain access to the network in a matter of hours using specialized software. On routers Xiaomi and other modern models, it is better to keep this function turned off.

Don't forget about physical security either. If the router is in an accessible location (for example, in an office or a summer house), someone could press the button. Reset and reset the settings to factory defaults, gaining full control. Hide the equipment or configure remote access only through trusted IP addresses, if supported.

Is it possible to find out what websites a connected device visits?

Simply seeing a device in the list of connected devices on the router or in the app won't allow you to see its browser history or specific pages. This requires more sophisticated traffic monitoring tools (sniffers), which aren't typically built into consumer routers and require extensive technical knowledge to configure. However, the router owner theoretically has the technical ability to see the domain names of requested resources if the traffic isn't HTTPS, but modern encryption standards make the content of the messages inaccessible.

Why are there "unknown" gadgets in the device list?

Often, "unknown" devices are your own smart home devices: light bulbs, vacuum cleaners, outlets, or set-top boxes. They may not have a user-friendly name and appear as "ESP8266," "Tuya," or simply a string of characters. Before panicking, try turning off Wi-Fi on all your gadgets one by one and see which one disappears from the list.

Does cryptocurrency mining affect Wi-Fi speed?

Yes, if someone connects to your network and uses it for mining or other heavy-duty tasks, it will create a huge load on the channel. However, mining itself relies on the device's computing power (graphics card/processor), while Wi-Fi is used only for data transfer. The problem will be with internet speed and ping, not with the router overheating from the computing.