How to find out the phone's name on a Wi-Fi network: from the router to specialized utilities

Have you ever noticed that your router's list of connected devices displays strange names like android-12345678 or iPhone-9A7B instead of user-friendly names? Or maybe you need to find a specific phone on your local network to set up file sharing or troubleshoot connection issues? In this article, we'll cover All working methods to determine the phone's name on a Wi-Fi network — from standard router tools to advanced network scanners.

It is important to understand that the "phone's network name" is not the same as the device model (for example, Samsung Galaxy S23 or iPhone 15 Pro). We are talking about network host name (hostname) that the device broadcasts on the local network. This name can be generated automatically (based on the model or MAC address) or manually entered by the user. We'll show you how to find it, change it, and why it sometimes displays incorrectly.

1. Checking via the router's web interface

The easiest way is to look at the list of connected devices on your router's administration page. Most modern routers (from TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic and others) show not only MAC and IP addresses, but also network names of devices.

How to do it:

  • 🌐 Open your browser and enter the router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). The default login and password are indicated on the device sticker.
  • 📋 Go to a section like DHCP Clients List, Connected Devices or Local area network (the name depends on the model).
  • 🔍 Find the device with the type in the list Wireless or Wi-Fi — its network name will be indicated next to it (if the router recognized it).

On some routers (for example, MikroTik) network names may not be displayed fully or in encrypted form. In this case, MAC address binding: Copy the device's MAC address from the list and compare it with the phone's MAC address (read the next section to find out how to find it).

📊 What router do you use at home?
TP-Link
ASUS
Keenetic
MikroTik
D-Link
Another
⚠️ Attention: If the router device list shows instead of the name Unknown or N/A, this may mean that the phone is not broadcasting its network name (for example, due to privacy settings in Android 12+ or iOS 17+). In this case, use the alternative methods from this article.

2. How to find out your phone's MAC address for network identification

A MAC address is a unique identifier for a network adapter that never changes (unlike an IP address). If you know your phone's MAC address, you can match it with the router's device list, even if the network name isn't displayed.

Instructions for different platforms:

  • 📱 Android:
    1. Open Settings → About phone → General information → Status (the path may differ depending on the version Android and shells, for example, MIUI or One UI).
    2. Find the item Wi-Fi MAC address or Wi-Fi address.
  • 🍎 iPhone/iPad:
    1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi.
    2. Tap the icon i next to the name of your network.
    3. The MAC address will be listed in the field Wi-Fi address.

    IN Android 10+ And iOS 14+ the function is used MAC address randomization To protect your privacy, this means that when connecting to a new network, your phone may generate a temporary MAC address that's different from your real one. To see your real MAC address:

    • On Android: disable randomization in Settings → Wi-Fi → Advanced → Privacy → Use random MAC address (select Never).
    • On iPhone: go to Settings → Wi-Fi → [your network] → Disable private MAC address.

      • 3. Using network scanners (for advanced users)

      If your router doesn't show network names or you want to get more information about connected devices, this will help. network scannerThese programs analyze the local network and collect data about all hosts, including their names, MAC and IP addresses, and sometimes even device models.

      Popular tools:

      Name Platform Peculiarities Link (search)
      Fing Android, iOS, Windows, macOS Shows device names, open ports, manufacturer by MAC App Store / Google Play
      Advanced IP Scanner Windows Scans the IP range, determines NetBIOS and MAC names Official website
      nmap Windows, Linux, macOS A command-line utility for deep network scanning (requires knowledge) apt install nmap (Linux)
      Angry IP Scanner Windows, Linux, macOS Portable version, scans without installation GitHub

      Example of use Fing:

      1. Install the application on your phone or PC.
      2. Run a network scan (button Scan).
      3. Find the phone you need in the list of devices - the application will show it host name, MAC, IP and even the model (if it is determined from the database).

    For nmap (for advanced users) use the command:

    nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

    This command will scan all IP addresses in the range 192.168.1.1–192.168.1.254 and will print hostnames if available.

    ⚠️ Warning: Scanning other people's networks without permission may violate your ISP's internet usage rules or cybersecurity laws. Use these tools only on your local network.

    4. How to change the phone's network name

    If you don't like your phone's current network name (for example, it's too generic or contains random characters), you can change it. The process is different for Android And iOS.

    On Android:

    • 📝 Network name matches device name in the settings. To change it:
      1. Open Settings → About phone → Device name (path may differ).
      2. Enter a new name (eg. My_Samsung_S23).
      3. Please reconnect to Wi-Fi for the changes to take effect.

    On iPhone/iPad:

    • 🍏 The device name changes like this:
      1. Go to Settings → General → About → Name.
      2. Enter a new name (eg. iPhone_Ivan_Petrov).
      3. Reconnect to Wi-Fi.

      After changing the name, it will be updated in the router's device list and network scanners. not immediately, but within 5-10 minutes (Depends on your router's DHCP settings). If the name hasn't changed, try rebooting your phone or router.

      Make sure the new name is saved in your phone settings|Reconnect to Wi-Fi (turn the network off and on)|Refresh the list of devices in your router or scanner|Wait 5-10 minutes for DHCP to update|Reboot your router if the name has not changed-->

      5. Finding the phone name via the command line (Windows/Linux)

      If you have a computer running Windows or Linux, connected to the same network as your phone, you can use standard network commands to find the device.

      Method 1: Team arp (Windows)

      1. Open Command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
      2. Enter the command: 
        arp -a

        It will show a table of IP and MAC addresses mapping.

      3. Compare the MAC addresses from the output with the phone's MAC address (see section 2).

      Method 2: Team nmblookup (Linux)

      1. Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
      2. Enter: 
        nmblookup -A 192.168.1.0/24

        (replace 192.168.1.0/24 to your subnet).

      3. The command will display the NetBIOS names of all devices on the network.

      Method 3: Ping + nslookup

      If you know the phone's IP address (for example, from a router list), you can try to find out its name like this:

      ping -a 192.168.1.100

      If reverse DNS resolution is configured, this command will return the hostname. However, most home networks have this feature disabled, so this method doesn't always work.

      6. Why is the phone name not displayed on the network?

      Sometimes your phone's network name may be hidden or displayed incorrectly. Let's look at the main causes and how to fix them:

      • 🔒 Privacy settings:
        • IN Android 12+ And iOS 14+ MAC randomization and hostname translation restriction are enabled by default. Disable these features (see Section 2).
        • Some manufacturers (eg Xiaomi or Huawei) additionally encrypt network information in their shells.
      • 📡 Router problems:
        • Outdated router firmware may not support modern device discovery protocols. Update the firmware via the web interface.
        • The protocol is disabled mDNS (Multicast DNS), which is responsible for recognizing names on the local network. Enable it in the router settings (section LAN or Local area network).
      • 🛠️ Technical limitations:
        • If the phone is connected via guest network on the router, its name may not be broadcast.
        • Some corporate networks block hostname forwarding for security reasons.

      If none of the methods helped, try alternative approach:

      1. Install a network monitoring application on your phone (for example, Network Analyzer For Android/iOS).
      2. Run a local network scan directly from your phone - the app will show its own network name.
      How can I check if my phone is broadcasting its name to the network?

      Download the app Termux For Android (or use the terminal on iPhone with jailbreak) and run the command:

      hostname

      If the command returns a name (for example, pixel-6-pro), then the phone broadcasts it. If not, the name is hidden at the OS level.

      7. Security: What can you find out from the phone's name on the network?

      Knowing your phone's network name alone doesn't give an attacker access to your data. However, when combined with other vulnerabilities, this information can be used to:

      • 🕵️ Targeted attacks: if the name contains your real name or device model (eg. iPhone_Ivan_Ivanov), this simplifies social engineering.
      • 🔗 Tracking: By name and MAC address you can identify your device on different networks (if randomization is not used).
      • 🖥️ Vulnerability exploitation: Some malware scans the network for devices with known vulnerabilities (for example, old versions Android).

      How to protect yourself:

      • 🔐 Use common name without personal information (eg Phone_1 instead of Galaxy_S23_Ivan).
      • 🔄 Enable MAC address randomization on public networks.
      • 🛡️ Turn off the feature Network Discovery (network discovery) in settings Windows, if it is not needed.
      • 🔗 Regularly update your router firmware and phone software to patch vulnerabilities.
      ⚠️ Attention: If an unknown name appears in the list of devices on your router (for example, hacker-pc or backdoor), immediately change your Wi-Fi password and check your network for connected devices. Your Wi-Fi may be hacked.

      FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

      Is it possible to find out the name of a phone on the network if it is connected via VPN?

      No. A VPN encrypts all traffic, including network identifiers. On your local network, only the VPN server's IP address will be visible, not your phone's. However, your router will still see the connection to its network (but not the hostname).

      Why does the router display the phone name, but the network scanner does not?

      It depends on the scanning method. The router gets the name directly through the protocol. DHCP, and scanners (for example, nmap) may use other protocols (eg, NetBIOS or mDNS), which may be disabled on your phone. Try a different scanner or check your phone's network settings.

      How can I find out the name of a phone on the network if I don't have access to the router?

      If you are not a network administrator (for example, in an office or guest Wi-Fi), you can:

      1. Use a network scanner (eg. Fing) from your phone or laptop.
      2. Ask the network administrator to provide information (if this is a corporate network).
      3. Connect your phone to another network (for example, via a mobile hotspot) and check its name there.

      Please note: scanning other people's networks may violate our terms of use.

      Is it possible to determine the phone model by its name on the network?

      Sometimes yes. Some phones broadcast a name that includes the model (for example, Xiaomi-Redmi-Note-11 or SM-G991B - This Samsung Galaxy S22). However, modern operating systems often hide this information. To accurately determine the model, it is better to use specialized applications like Aida64 (For Android) or CoconutBattery (For iOS).

      What should I do if my phone's network name is reset after rebooting?

      This may be due to:

      • Malfunction DHCP client on your phone (try resetting the network settings in Settings → System → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi settings).
      • Problems with the router firmware (update it via the web interface).
      • IP address conflict (assign a static IP to the phone in the router settings).

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