How to find out how many devices are connected to your Wi-Fi router

Have you noticed your internet has slowed down and pages are taking longer to load? One possible cause is that too many devices are simultaneously using your Wi-Fi. But how can you check how many devices are actually connected to your router, and whether someone else is using your network?

In this article, we'll cover all available methods—from standard tools in the router's web interface to specialized PC programs and mobile apps. You'll learn how to view a list of connected devices on routers. TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, MikroTik and other popular brands, as well as how to track online activity in real time.

It's important not only to identify unnecessary devices, but also to understand how they affect internet speed. We'll tell you What number of connections is considered normal? For your home network, how to restrict access to unwanted devices, and what router settings will help protect your Wi-Fi from unauthorized use.

1. Checking via the router's web interface

The most reliable and universal method is to access your router's control panel. You don't need to install any additional software; a browser on any device connected to your network is sufficient.

This manual is suitable for most modern routers, but the menu item layout may vary slightly depending on the model and firmware version. If you have a router from a provider (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline), the interface can be simplified.

• 🌐 Open your browser and enter in the address bar 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1If these addresses don't work, look up your router's IP address in your computer's network settings or on the sticker on the device's body.
• 🔑 Enter your username and password to log in. By default, this is often admin/admin, but if you've changed them, use your data. On some routers (for example, Keenetic) the password is indicated on the bottom of the device.
• 📊 Find the section with a list of connected devices. It's usually called:
  • DHCP clients or Local Area Network (TP-Link, Mercusys)
  • Network Map or Devices (ASUS, Netgear)
  • Monitoring → Connected Devices (Zyxel, D-Link)

In this section you will see a table with MAC addresses, IP addresses and device names. Pay attention to the column Status or Activity - It shows which gadgets are currently online, and which ones have simply reserved an IP but are not using the network.

2. Where to find a list of devices on routers of different brands

Router interfaces vary depending on the manufacturer. We've compiled the current paths to the connected device sections for popular brands. If your model isn't listed, look for menu items with the words clients, devices or monitoring.

On routers from providers (for example, Rostelecom Sagemcom or MTS Smart Wi-Fi) the interface is often simplified. Look for the section My Devices or Connected Gadgets on the main page. If you can't find it, try accessing it through your provider's mobile app—the list of devices is usually displayed on the first screen.

3. Mobile applications for monitoring connected devices

If accessing the router's web interface is inconvenient, you can use official or third-party mobile apps. They allow you to check the list of devices directly from your phone, and some even send notifications about new connections.

Advantages of mobile applications:

• 📱 User-friendly interface adapted for smartphones
• 🔔 Notifications about new devices on the network
• 📊 Traffic usage charts by device
• 🔒 Block suspicious devices with one click

List of verified applications:

• 🔹 TP-Link Tether — for routers TP-Link And DecoDisplays a list of devices, internet speed, and allows you to manage the guest network.
• 🔹 ASUS Router — official application for routers ASUSThere is a function Family Protection to restrict access for children.
• 🔹 Keenetic — application for routers Keenetic with convenient network visualization and connection history.
• 🔹 Fing — a universal application for Android And iOSScans the network and displays all connected devices, even if you don't have access to the router.
• 🔹 WiFi Guard — checks the network for unauthorized connections and compares MAC addresses with your database of trusted devices.

The Fing app can detect devices that are not visible in the router's web interface if they are connected directly via cable or use a static IP. This is useful for diagnosing network problems when the router does not see some gadgets.

How does network scanning work in Fing?

The Fing app sends ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) requests to all devices on the local network and analyzes the responses. This allows you to discover devices even if they are not currently active but have a reserved IP address.

4. PC Software: Who's Connected to Your Wi-Fi

If you prefer to work from a computer, there are several convenient network monitoring programs available. They are suitable for Windows, macOS And Linux, and some don't even require installation.

Top 5 programs for monitoring connected devices:

• 🖥️ Wireless Network Watcher (free, for Windows) - scans the network and displays IP, MAC addresses, and device manufacturers. You can export the list to .csv.
• 🖥️ Angry IP Scanner (cross-platform) — quickly scans a range of IP addresses and identifies active hosts. Supports plugins for advanced analysis.
• 🖥️ Advanced IP Scanner — shows not only connected devices, but also open ports, which is useful for security diagnostics.
• 🖥️ LANScan (for macOS) - a simple local network scanner with the ability to ping devices.
• 🖥️ Nmap (for advanced users) - a powerful network scanning tool with scripting support. Scanning commands:

  nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

  or for a detailed analysis:

  nmap -O -sV 192.168.1.1-100

These programs are especially useful if you don't have access to your router (for example, on an office network) or if your router doesn't display a full list of devices. Wireless Network Watcher And Angry IP Scanner do not require administrator rights and work without installation.

Connect to the Wi-Fi network you are testing

Close programs that use the Internet (torrents, streaming)

Run the scanner as administrator (if required)

Compare the results with devices you know

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5. How to identify "extra" devices on the network

You've found a list of connected gadgets, but how do you know which ones are yours and which aren't? Here are a few signs to look out for:

• 🔍 Unfamiliar device namesIf the list contains Xiaomi_1234, and you don't have any devices Xiaomi, this is a reason to be wary. Pay attention to the name prefixes - they often contain the brand name (iPhone-, Samsung-, Huawei-).
• 🔍 Unusual MAC addresses. The first 6 characters of the MAC address (e.g. B8:27:EB) indicate the manufacturer. Check them through the service MAC Vendors Lookup.
• 🔍 Suspicious activityIf your device consumes a lot of traffic (for example, 100 Mbps) during off-hours, someone may be downloading torrents over your Wi-Fi.
• 🔍 Quantity discrepancyIf your family has 4 gadgets and 10 devices on the network, it's clear that someone else is using your internet.

To whitelist your devices:

1. Write down the MAC addresses of all your gadgets (they can be found in the network settings on each device).
2. Compare them with the list in the router.
3. Check unknown MAC addresses using online services or block them in your router settings.

If you spot a suspicious device, don't rush to block it immediately. It might be a guest device that connected to your network previously and was assigned a static IP. To confirm, disconnect all your devices from Wi-Fi and see if the "unwanted" device remains on the list.

6. How to limit the number of connected devices

If too many devices are connected to your router, it can slow down the internet speed for everyone. Here are some ways to limit access:

• 🔒 Change your Wi-Fi passwordThe easiest way to disable all unauthorized users is to use a complex password of 12+ characters, including letters, numbers, and special characters.
• 📜 Enable MAC address filteringIn your router settings, whitelist only the MAC addresses of your devices. This method isn't 100% foolproof (MAC addresses can be spoofed), but it will make it more difficult for attackers to gain access.
• 👥 Create a guest networkMost routers allow you to create a separate network for guests with limited access to local resources (such as printers or network drives).
• ⏱️ Set up an access scheduleLimit Wi-Fi usage (for example, turn off the internet at night) to reduce the number of connections.
• 📉 Limit speed for individual devicesOn routers ASUS, TP-Link And Keenetic there is a function QoS (Quality of Service), which allows you to allocate bandwidth to priority gadgets.

For example, on routers TP-Link MAC address restrictions are configured as follows:

1. Come in Advanced → Wireless → MAC Filtering.
2. Select the mode Allow the stations specified in the list to access the network..
3. Add the MAC addresses of your devices.
4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

7. How many devices can be connected to a router without losing speed?

The maximum number of connected devices depends on the router model and its technical specifications. Cheap routers for 2000–3000 rubles usually support 10–20 devices simultaneously, but the speed may drop after just 5–7 active connections. (for example, if everyone is watching 4K videos or playing online).

Approximate limits for different types of routers:

Performance is also affected by:

• 📶 Wi-Fi standard: routers with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) handle a larger number of devices better than older ones Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n).
• 🔄 Network frequency: net 5 GHz less busy than 2.4 GHz, but has a smaller coverage area.
• 🖧 Router processor and RAM: cheap models with weak hardware slow down when there are a large number of connections.

If you often have a lot of guests or have a lot of smart devices in your home (cameras, lights, speakers), consider purchasing Mesh systems or a router with support MU-MIMOThese technologies allow the router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, rather than one at a time, which significantly increases network throughput.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connected devices

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

Yes, but you need to configure it for this traffic monitoring on the router or use specialized programs like Wireshark (for advanced users). On routers ASUS And Keenetic There are built-in statistics of visited sites in the section Monitoring or Parental Control.

Please note: collecting such information may violate privacy laws if you track someone else's devices without their consent.

Why are gadgets displayed in the list of devices that are not at home?

This can happen for several reasons:

• The router stores in memory DHCP leases (issued IP addresses) even for disconnected devices. Refresh the list or reboot the router.
• Some devices (such as smart speakers) may wake up at night to update and appear online briefly.
• If you have it enabled UPnP, some programs (for example, torrent clients) can open ports, which the router interprets as a new connection.

How to block a device by MAC address on a router MikroTik?

On routers MikroTik blocking is carried out through Firewall:

1. Come in IP → Firewall → Filter Rules.
2. Create a new rule with a parameter Src. MAC Address (specify the MAC address of the device).
3. Tab Action → you choose drop.
4. Save the rule and apply the settings.

For permanent blocking, you can also add the MAC address to Wireless → Access List with action deny.

Can a neighbor connect to my Wi-Fi if he knows the password?

Yes, if they have your network password, they can connect even if you didn't grant them access. To prevent this:

• Change your Wi-Fi password regularly (every 3-6 months).
• Disable the feature WPS - It is vulnerable to hacking.
• Use an encryption standard WPA3 (if the router supports it).
• Turn on hiding SSID (but this is not a panacea - experienced users can find the network even if it is hidden).

Why are some devices not showing up in the router list?

Possible reasons:

• The device is connected via cable (Ethernet), and you only look at wireless connections.
• The gadget uses a static IP address that is not in the DHCP server range.
• The device is in sleep mode and does not send requests to the network.
• It's disabled on the router. ARP scan (rarely, but it happens on some firmware versions).

To see all devices, use programs like Angry IP Scanner or Fing — they scan the network regardless of the router settings.

Now you know how to check the number of connected devices and protect your network from unwanted guests. Regular monitoring will help maintain high internet speeds and avoid performance issues.