How to Check Who's Connected to Your Wi-Fi Router: A Complete Guide (2026)

Have you noticed your internet has slowed down and your data usage is unusually high? Perhaps unauthorized devices—neighbors, guests, or even hackers—have connected to your Wi-Fi. According to Kaspersky, every fifth router in Russia has vulnerabilities that allow attackers to connect to the network without the owner's knowledge. In this article, we'll examine 7 proven methodsHow to check the list of devices on a router, identify unauthorized connections, and block them.

It doesn't matter if you use TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic or a router from your provider—the instructions will work for most modern models. We'll cover methods for both beginners (via the web interface) and experienced users (via Telnet And SSH). You'll also learn how to distinguish legitimate devices from fake ones and what to do if you detect a suspicious connection.

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

The most reliable and simple method is to access your router's control panel. This doesn't require any additional software, just a browser and internet access. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

  1. Find out your router's IP address. Usually it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1The exact address can be found on the sticker on the back of the device or in the documentation.
  2. Enter the address into the address bar of your browser (for example, http://192.168.0.1).
  3. Log in using your login and password (often by default) admin/admin or admin/password).
  4. Find the section with the list of connected devices. Depending on the firmware version, it may be called:
    • 🔹 DHCP clients (or DHCP Clients List)
    • 🔹 List of devices (or Attached Devices)
    • 🔹 Local area network (or LAN → Active Clients)

This is what the interface looks like on popular models:

Router brand Path to the list of devices Display example
TP-Link Basic Settings → Network Map Table with IP, MAC address and device name
ASUS Network Map → Clients List with device icons and connection time
Keenetic Devices → Device List Interactive map grouped by device type (PC, smartphone, IoT)
Rostelecom / MTS Local Network → Connected Devices Minimalistic list with MAC and IP
⚠️ Attention: If you haven't changed your router's default password, anyone connected to your network can access the settings and change them. The first thing you need to do after purchasing a router is to change the administrator login/password to complex ones (for example, generate it through KeePass).
📊 What brand is your Wi-Fi router?
TP-Link
ASUS
Keenetic
Rostelecom/MTS/Beeline
D-Link
Another

2. Using mobile applications from the manufacturer

Many brands offer official apps for managing your router from your smartphone. This is convenient if you need to quickly check connections without turning on your computer. Let's look at the most popular ones:

  • 📱 TP-Link Tether — displays a list of devices with their model (if detected), MAC address, and bandwidth consumption. A blocking feature for suspicious clients is available.
  • 📱 ASUS Router — displays connected gadgets on an interactive map, allowing you to set speed limits for each.
  • 📱 Keenetic — in addition to the list of devices, it shows the connection history and warns about new unknown gadgets.
  • 📱 My MTS/Rostelecom Personal Account — simplified versions for routers from providers, but with basic network browsing functionality.

How to use:

  1. Download the app from App Store or Google Play.
  2. Log in (you may need to link to your manufacturer account).
  3. Go to the section Devices, Net or Clients.
  4. Review the list. Unknown devices are usually marked as Unknown or New device.

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

If you're uncomfortable accessing the web interface or don't have access to the mobile app, you can use system commands. This method works on any device connected to the same network.

For Windows:

arp -a

The command will output an ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table, which will list all the IP and MAC addresses of devices on the local network. Note the lines with the type dynamic - these are active connections.

For macOS/Linux:

arp -n

Flag -n will show MAC addresses in numerical format (without trying to determine the hostname), which is more convenient for analysis.

To filter only active devices, use:

ping 192.168.0.255 & arp -a

This command sends a ping to the broadcast address (all devices on the network) and updates the ARP table.

⚠️ Attention: Teams arp show all devices on the local network, including those connected via cable. To isolate only Wi-Fi clients, compare the output with the data from the router's web interface.
How to decipher a MAC address?

The first 6 characters of the MAC address (eg. B8:27:EB) indicate the device manufacturer. You can check them on the website. MAC Vendors or via command: 

curl "https://api.macvendors.com/B8-27-EB"

This will help determine which brand produced the device (eg. Raspberry Pi, Samsung, Apple).

4. Traffic analysis using specialized programs

If you need to not only see a list of devices but also understand how much traffic they consume, use network monitoring software. They show:

  • 📊 Download/upload speed for each device.
  • 🕒 Connection time and activity history.
  • 🚨 Suspicious connections (eg port scanning).

Top 3 programs for analysis:

  1. Wireshark — a professional tool for deep packet analysis. Suitable for experienced users.
  2. GlassWire — user-friendly interface with traffic visualization. Free version available.
  3. Fing — a mobile app for scanning networks. Shows open ports and vulnerabilities.

Example of use Fing:

  1. Download the app to your smartphone (available for Android And iOS).
  2. Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
  3. Run the scan. The program will display all devices with the following information:
    • 🔹 IP and MAC addresses
    • 🔹 Manufacturer (by MAC)
    • 🔹 Open ports
    • 🔹 Device type (smartphone, PC, camera, etc.)

Check MAC address via MAC Vendors|Compare with your list of gadgets|Try disabling it through the web interface|Change your Wi-Fi password if you suspect hacking-->

5. Checking via Telnet/SSH (for advanced users)

If your router supports remote management via Telnet or SSH, you can get a list of connected devices directly from the console. This method is suitable for Keenetic, MikroTik and routers with firmware OpenWRT.

Steps to connect:

  1. Turn on Telnet/SSH in the router settings (usually in the section Control or System).
  2. Connect via terminal (Windows: PuTTY, macOS/Linux: built-in terminal):
    3. ssh admin@192.168.0.1
  3. Enter the administrator password.
  4. Run the command to view DHCP clients. Examples:
    • For OpenWRT: 
      cat /tmp/dhcp.leases
    • For Keenetic: 
      show ip dhcp binding
    • For MikroTik: 
      /ip dhcp-server lease print

The output will contain lines like:

192.168.0.100   B8:27:EB:XX:XX:XX   2026-05-15 14:30   iPhone-12

Where:

  • 🔹 192.168.0.100 — Device IP address.
  • 🔹 B8:27:EB:XX:XX:XX — MAC address.
  • 🔹 2026-05-15 14:30 — DHCP lease time.
  • 🔹 iPhone-12 — host name (if defined).
⚠️ Attention: Not all routers support Telnet/SSH by default. On devices from providers (for example, Rostelecom) This feature is often disabled for security reasons.

6. How to distinguish your devices from others

You've received a list of connected devices, but how do you know which ones are yours and which are not? Here's the verification process:

  1. Compare with famous gadgets:
    • 📱 Check the MAC addresses of your smartphones, tablets, and laptops (you can find them in the device's Wi-Fi settings).
    • 💻 On Windows, you can find the MAC address of your network card using the command: 
      ipconfig /all | find "Physical Address"
    • 🖥️ On macOS/Linux: 
      ifconfig | grep ether
  2. Check the manufacturer by MAC:
    • 🔍 Use services like MAC Vendors or Wireshark OUI Lookup.
    • 🔍 For example, MAC 3C:5A:B4 belongs Google (maybe it is Google Home or Chromecast).
  3. Analyze hostnames:
    • 🏷️ Devices Apple often have names like iPhone-12 or MacBook-Pro.
    • 🏷️ Android- gadgets can be displayed as android-xxxxxx.
    • 🏷️ Smart devices (IoT) often have brand names: Yeelight, Xiaomi-Gateway.
  • Disable suspicious devices:
    • 🚫 Find the function in the router's web interface Blocking or MAC filter.
    • 🚫 Add the MAC address of the unknown device to the blacklist.

    If you find a device with an unfamiliar MAC address, but you're not sure it's yours, temporarily disable it and observe:

    • 🔌 Check if your gadgets have lost internet connection.
    • 📈 See if your network speed has changed.
    • 🔍 If nothing has changed, it was most likely a third-party client.

    7. Additional security measures after inspection

    Have you spotted a suspicious device or just want to protect your network? Here 5 essential steps to enhance security:

    • 🔒 Change your Wi-Fi password complex (at least 12 characters, with letters, numbers, and special characters). Use generators like 1Password or Bitwarden.
    • 🔄 Update your router firmwareOutdated versions often contain vulnerabilities. Check for updates in the section System or Software update.
    • 🛡️ Enable WPA3If your router supports WPA3, select it instead WPA2This is a new encryption standard that is resistant to most attacks.
    • 🚫 Disable WPS. Function Wi-Fi Protected Setup is vulnerable to brute-force attacks. Find it in your security settings and disable it.
    • 📋 Configure the MAC filterAllow connections only for known MAC addresses (whitelist). Disadvantage: you'll have to add each new device manually.

    For maximum protection, consider the following options:

    • 🌐 Guest networkCreate a separate network for guests with limited access to local resources.
    • 🕒 Wi-Fi scheduleTurn off the power when you are away (for example, at night).
    • 📡 Hiding the SSIDDisable network name broadcasting to prevent it from being visible in the public list. However, this isn't a panacea: experienced users can still find hidden networks.

    If you suspect that your router has been hacked (for example, settings have been changed without your knowledge), follow these steps: factory resetTo do this:

    1. Find the button Reset on the back panel of the router (usually recessed into the case).
    2. Press and hold it for 10-15 seconds (until the indicators start flashing).
    3. Reconfigure your router using the instructions in the first section.
    ⚠️ Attention: Router interfaces and available features may vary depending on the model and firmware version. For example, older devices may not support WPA3 or MAC filterBefore setting up, check the capabilities of your model in the official documentation.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about checking Wi-Fi connections

    Is it possible to check connected devices without access to the router?

    Yes, but with limitations. You can:

    • 🔍 Use programs like Fing or Angry IP Scanner to scan the network from your device.
    • 🔍 View the ARP table via the command line (described in section 3).

    However, these methods will show not all clients (For example, devices in sleep mode may not be displayed.) A full list requires access to the router.

    How to block a device by MAC address?

    Algorithm for most routers:

    1. Log into your router's web interface.
    2. Find the section MAC filter (or Access control).
    3. Add the MAC address to the blacklist (or remove it from the whitelist if this mode is used).
    4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

    Example for TP-Link:

    Wireless Mode → MAC Filter → Enable Filter → Add MAC → Save
    What should I do if there are many unknown addresses in the device list?

    Possible causes and solutions:

    • 🔌 Smart devices (IoT): Light bulbs, sockets, and cameras often have non-obvious names. Check their MAC addresses using the manufacturer's apps (e.g., Mi Home For Xiaomi).
    • 📱 GuestsPerhaps someone in your household has connected a new gadget. Ask your family members.
    • 🚨 Hacking: If the addresses do not belong to your devices, change the Wi-Fi password and check the router for malware (for example, via Dr.Web CureIt! for routers).
    Is it possible to find out what websites a connected device visits?

    Yes, but this requires additional settings:

    • 📊 On routers with firmware OpenWRT or DD-WRT You can enable traffic logging.
    • 📊 Use programs like Wireshark (requires skills in working with network protocols).
    • 📊 Set up parental controls (for example, in routers) ASUS there is a function AiProtection).

    Please note: tracking traffic from other devices may violate privacy laws (for example, Article 137 of the Russian Criminal Code on violation of the privacy of correspondence).

    Why are some devices displayed in the list but not active?

    This is normal. The router stores information about devices that:

    • 🔌 They were connected previously, but are now disconnected (for example, the smartphone is in sleep mode).
    • 🕒 Have a reserved IP (static MAC binding).
    • 🔄 Received an IP via DHCP, but are not sending traffic (for example, a smart speaker is waiting for a command).

    To see only active devices, refresh the web interface page or run the command arp -a after pinging the broadcast address.

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