How to find the IP addresses of devices connected to your Wi-Fi: all the methods

Why do you even need to know the IP addresses of devices on your Wi-Fi network? There could be several reasons, ranging from simple curiosity ("Who else is using my internet?") to serious security concerns. Perhaps you've noticed a suspicious slowdown in speed, or unknown MAC addresses have appeared in your router logs. Or maybe you just need to configure static routing or firewall rules for a specific device.

But before we move on to practice, it is important to understand: Obtaining IP addresses of other people's devices without their consent may violate privacy laws.In this article we will look at only legal methods, which apply exclusively to your own networkIf you're the administrator of your office or home Wi-Fi network, you have every right to control connected devices. However, if you're using someone else's network, it's best to stop right now.

It is also worth considering that IP addresses in the local network (LAN) are dynamically assigned through DHCP (unless configured manually). This means that after rebooting the router or device, the address may change. For stable identification, it is better to use MAC addresses, but this is a topic for a separate article.

Method 1: Viewing via the router's web interface

The easiest and most universal method is to log into your router's control panel. Most modern routers (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, MikroTik) provide a list of connected devices with their IP and MAC addresses.

To get there:

1. Find out Gateway IP address your network (usually this is 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.8.1). It can be found in the connection properties on your PC or in the router documentation.
2. Enter this address into the address bar of your browser.
3. Log in (the default login and password are often admin/admin, but it’s better to check on the device sticker).
4. Find the type section DHCP Clients, Connected Devices, Local area network or Clients.

Here's what it looks like using popular models as an example:

Please note: Some routers show only active connections, and some also have leased IPs (including those that are not currently in use). If you only need current devices, look for a speaker Status or Active.

⚠️ Attention: If you haven't changed your router's default password, anyone connected to the network can access this data. Always set a complex password for the admin panel!

Make sure your Wi-Fi connection is secured (WPA2/WPA3)

View the list of connected devices in the DHCP section

Check unknown MAC addresses using online databases (e.g. MAC Vendors)

Update your router firmware to the latest version-->

Method 2: Command Line (Windows, macOS, Linux)

If you don't have access to your router or prefer to work through the terminal, you can use standard network utilities. This method is suitable for local scanning your network and does not require administrator rights (except for some commands in Linux).

On Windows perform in cmd:

arp -a

This command will show the table ARP cache, which will list the IP addresses and corresponding MAC addresses of devices with which your computer has recently interacted. The downside of this method is that you won't see all network participants, only those with whom you've exchanged packets.

For a more complete scan, use:

for /L %i in (1,1,254) do ping -n 1 192.168.1.%i

Then run it again arp -aThis will force your PC to ping all possible addresses in the subnet (replace 192.168.1. to your subnet, for example 192.168.0.).

On macOS or Linux a similar result will be given by:

arp -n

For active network scanning, the following utility is suitable: nmap (requires installation):

nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

It will show all responding hosts with their IP and MAC, and will also try to identify the manufacturer by MAC address.

⚠️ Attention: Active network scanning (especially with a large number of requests) may be considered an attack by some security systems. On corporate networks, this could lead to your device being blocked.

What to do if arp -a shows few devices?

If in the output arp -a If there are few entries, this means your computer hasn't recently interacted with other devices on the network. To "wake up" the cache, you can:

1. Send a ping to the broadcast address (for example, ping 192.168.1.255).

2. Connect to network resources (for example, share a folder and connect to it from another device).

3. Use specialized utilities like Advanced IP Scanner or Angry IP Scanner, which actively scan the network.

Method 3: Mobile apps for network analysis

If you prefer to manage your network from your smartphone, there are many apps available for Android And iOS, which show connected devices. The most popular ones are:

• 📱 Fing (the free version scans the local network, shows IP, MAC, manufacturer and even open ports).
• 🔍 Network Analyzer (allows you to ping, traceroute and scan ports).
• 🛡️ WiFi Guard (specializes in detecting "extra" devices on the network).
• 📊 IP Tools (a comprehensive set of utilities, including a network scanner).

Example of working with Fing:

1. Install the app from Google Play or App Store.
2. Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
3. Start the scan (usually the button Scan or Network analysis).
4. In a few seconds, you will see a list of devices with IP, MAC, hostname (if available) and even the device model.

The advantage of mobile apps is their user-friendly interface and additional features, such as speed testing or vulnerability detection. However, they may not detect devices that block ICMP requests (for example, some smart TVs or IoT gadgets).

Important: Some apps require root access on Android for advanced analysis. Without root access, they may display incomplete data.

Method 4: Router logs and system logs

If you need to not just see current connections, but analyze them activity history, it's worth checking the router logs. There you'll find:

• 🔄 Connection/disconnection time devices.
• 📡 The protocol used (Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, etc.).
• 🚫 Blockages by MAC or IP (if firewall rules are configured).
• ⚡ Peak traffic consumption (useful for identifying power-hungry devices).

Where to look for logs:

• In the router's web interface: usually the section System Tools, Administration or Magazine.
• Through SSH (for advanced models like MikroTik or Ubiquiti): team log read.
• In Windows system logs (Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System) or Linux (/var/log/syslog).

Example of connection log from Keenetic:

[12:34:56] DHCP: Assign IP 192.168.1.100 to MAC 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E (Hostname: iPhone-X)
[12:35:01] Wi-Fi: Client 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E connected to 2.4GHz network (RSSI: -65dBm)

Logs not only help identify IP addresses but also identify suspicious activity. For example, if an unknown device connects to your network at night, it's time to check its security.

⚠️ Attention: Router logs can take up a lot of space on your device's memory. Set up automatic rotation or clearing to avoid overflowing.

Method 5: Using specialized software

Desktop programs are suitable for in-depth network analysis. They not only display IP addresses but also provide detailed information about devices, open ports, and even vulnerabilities.

Top 5 Network Scanning Software:

• 🖥️ Advanced IP Scanner (free, scans IP and MAC, allows you to remotely shut down your PC).
• 🔍 Angry IP Scanner (cross-platform, supports plugins for advanced analysis).
• 🛡️ Wireshark (advanced traffic analyzer, requires operating skills).
• 📡 SoftPerfect Network Scanner (shows shared resources, SNMP data and even remote Windows registries).
• 🔧 Nmap (console utility with GUI shells like Zenmap).

Sample report from Advanced IP Scanner:

Warning: programs like Wireshark or Nmap may be blocked by antivirus software or firewall software. If you scan someone else's network without permission, it may be considered unauthorized access (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Method 6: Analyze traffic through a firewall or router

If you need to not only see the IP, but also track activity devices (what sites they visit, what traffic they consume), you can use:

• 📊 Built-in traffic monitoring router (available in Keenetic, ASUS with firmware Merlin).
• 🔧 Pi-hole (ad blocker with DNS request logs).
• 🖥️ OpenWRT or DD-WRT (alternative firmware with advanced monitoring tools).
• 🛡️ GlassWire (a Windows program that shows network activity by IP).

Example log from Pi-hole:

2026-05-20 14:30:45 192.168.1.100 google.com A IN
2026-05-20 14:30:46 192.168.1.101 netflix.com A IN
2026-05-20 14:30:47 192.168.1.102 api.whatsapp.com A IN

These tools are useful for:

• 🔒 Blocking access to certain websites for specific IP addresses.
• 📉 Speed ​​limits for bandwidth-hungry devices.
• 🚨 Detection of suspicious activity (e.g., mass requests to unknown domains).

⚠️ Attention: Monitoring other users' traffic without their consent may violate privacy laws (e.g. Federal Law No. 152 "On Personal Data" (in Russia). Use these tools only for lawful purposes.

What to do if you find an unknown device?

Let's say you find an unfamiliar IP address with an unknown MAC address in your connection list. Here's the course of action:

1. Check the MAC address through the manufacturer database (for example, on the website MAC Vendors). This will help you understand which brand produced the device.
2. Try pinging the IP and see if the device responds.
3. Check if this is your device (for example, a smart light bulb or an old phone that hasn't been used for a long time).
4. If the device is someone else's:
   • Change your Wi-Fi password.
   • Enable MAC address filtering (although this is not a panacea - MAC addresses are easy to spoof).
   • Set up a guest network for untrusted devices.

If an unknown device appears regularly, it may be a sign of:

• 🔌 Password leaks (someone is connecting to your network).
• 🤖 Viral infections (botnet uses your router for attacks).
• 📡 Problems with neighboring networks (If they have a weak signal, their devices may automatically connect to your hotspot).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Wi-Fi IP Addresses

❓ Is it possible to find out the IP address of a device if it is not connected to the network?

No. An IP address is assigned to a device only when it connects to the network via DHCPIf the gadget is turned off or is out of Wi-Fi range, its IP will not be displayed in the lists.

❓ Why do device IP addresses change?

If it is enabled in the router DHCP server (enabled by default), devices automatically receive an IP address for a limited time (lease time). After this period expires or the router is rebooted, the address may change. To assign an IP address, configure static binding by MAC address in the router control panel.

❓ Is it possible to find out who is using a device using its IP address?

No. An IP address on a local network is tied only to a device, not a person. The most you can find out is device manufacturer (by MAC address) and its network name (hostname). To identify a user, additional data is required, which can only be obtained through legal means (for example, through corporate account systems).

❓ Is it legal to scan someone else's Wi-Fi network?

No. Unauthorized scanning of other people's networks (even if they are not password protected) can be classified as unauthorized access to computer information (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The exception is if you are the administrator of this network (for example, in an office) and have the right to monitor it.

❓ How do I hide my device from network scanning?

To prevent your gadget from appearing in the list of connected devices:

• Turn off replies to ping (in the firewall settings).
• Use a static IP outside the DHCP range.
• Configure firewall rules to block port scanning.
• Connect via VPN (this will hide your activity, but your IP address on the local network will remain visible).