How to See Which Devices Are Connected to Your Wi-Fi on an Android Phone: All the Working Methods

Have you noticed that your internet has become slower than usual, or do you suspect that someone else has connected to your Wi-Fi network? From your phone to Android You can quickly check a list of all devices on your local network—even without accessing your router's settings. In this article, we'll cover 5 proven methods, including built-in system tools, specialized applications and hidden functions that not everyone knows about.

It's important to understand that some methods will only show active connections, while others will show all devices that have ever been online. Not all methods work on custom firmware. (For example, MIUI or ColorOS) due to manufacturer restrictions. If you need to not only see the list, but also track MAC addresses or block other people's gadgets, additional steps will be required - we will also describe them.

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

If you have access to your router settings, this method will the most complete information: list of all connected devices (including sleeping ones), their IP- And MAC-addresses, as well as activity history. Most modern routers (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, MikroTik) support this functionality.

To access the control panel:

• 🌐 Open the browser on your phone and enter in the address bar 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (the exact address is indicated on the router sticker).
• 🔑 Enter your login and password (usually by default admin/admin, if you haven't changed it).
• 📊 Find the section DHCP, Local area network or Wireless mode - there will be a tab there Client list or Connected devices.

In some models (eg, Xiaomi Mi Router) the list of devices is displayed directly on the main page. If the interface is in English, look for Connected Devices or LAN Hosts.

⚠️ Important: If you haven't changed the default router password, any user connected to the network can access its settings. Be sure to set a strong password in the "Password" section. System Tools → Password (or similar).

2. Using network scanning applications

If you don't have access to your router (for example, you're connected to a public network or using a provider router), help will come mobile scanner appsThey analyze the local network and show all active devices, their IP, MAC, manufacturer (by MAC-address) and sometimes even the model.

Top 3 verified apps:

• 📱 Fing — the most popular solution with a simple interface. The free version displays up to 5 devices, the full list is available in Fing Premium.
• 🛡️ NetScan — scans the network in seconds, identifies open ports and potential vulnerabilities.
• 🔍 Network Analyzer — in addition to the list of devices, it tests the network speed and shows the load on Wi-Fi channels.

How to use (using example) Fing):

1. Download the app from Google Play and open it.
2. Click Scan — the program will automatically detect your network.
3. In 10-30 seconds you will see a list of devices with their IP, MAC and the manufacturer (for example, Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi).
4. Click on any device to see additional data: response time, open ports, connection history (in the paid version).

⚠️ Note: Apps do not see devices that are in sleep mode or disabled the function Network Discovery (for example, some Windows PC). For a complete list, it's best to combine this method with checking through a router.

Check if you are connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the target devices|

Update the app to the latest version|

Reboot your router and scan again|

Try a different application (eg NetScan instead of Fing)-->

3. Commands via Terminal Emulator (for advanced users)

If you don't want to install third-party applications, you can use built-in Android tools via a terminal emulator. This method requires permissions. root only for advanced commands, but basic network scanning works without them.

Instructions:

1. Install Terminal Emulator for Android (For example, Termux or ConnectBot) from Google Play.
2. Enter the command to scan the local network:

   ping -c 1 192.168.1.1 && arp -a

   (replace 192.168.1.1 to the address of your router, if it is different).

3. The system will show a list IP- And MAC- addresses of all devices that have recently exchanged data with your phone.

For a more detailed analysis, you can use nmap (requires installation in Termux):

pkg install nmap
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

This command will scan everything IP-addresses in the range 192.168.1.1–192.168.1.255 and will display a list of active hosts. Please note: some devices (e.g., smart speakers or IP cameras) may not respond to ping, but still be online.

How to find out the manufacturer of a device by its MAC address

The first 6 characters of the MAC address (eg. B8:27:EB For Raspberry Pi or 78:31:C1 For Apple) indicate the manufacturer. The full list can be found on the website. IEEE or by searching on Google for "MAC vendor lookup".

4. Viewing via Android settings (limited functionality)

Standard settings Android do not show a full list of devices on the network, but in some cases you can see active connections to your phone (for example, if it works as an access point). This method will also help if you want to check which gadgets are connected to yours device by Wi-Fi Direct or Hotspot.

How to watch:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Hotspot & Tethering.
2. Click Connected devices - here will be a list of gadgets that are currently using your Hotspot.
3. For Wi-Fi Direct go to Settings → Connected devices → Wi-Fi Direct.

Unfortunately, this method will not show devices connected to the router, but it will help track who is using your phone as an internet source. On some firmware versions (for example, Samsung One UI) The connection history is also displayed here.

5. Traffic analysis through Google Home or Mi Home (for smart devices)

If your Wi-Fi network is managed through an ecosystem Google (Google Nest Wi-Fi) or Xiaomi (Mi Router), you can use proprietary applications to monitor connected devices. These programs not only display a list of gadgets, but also allow manage their access, set time or speed limits.

Example for Google Home:

• 📱 Open the app and select your Wi-Fi network.
• 🔄 Go to the section Devices - all connected gadgets will be here, including Google Nest, Chromecast and others.
• 📊 Tap on a device to see detailed traffic statistics, activity history, and the option to block it.

For Mi Home (routers Xiaomi):

• 🌐 Go to the app and select your router.
• 📋 Go to List of devices — all connected devices are displayed here, indicating their type (phone, laptop, smart bulb, etc.).
• 🔒 Tap on a device to block it or limit its speed.

⚠️ Attention: Branded applications only work with compatible routers. For example, Google Home will not see devices connected to TP-Link, A Mi Home - To ASUS.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

Each of the methods described has its pros and cons. Below is a comparison table to help you choose the best option based on your situation.

If you need the most complete information (including sleeping devices and connection history), it is better to use router web interface. For quick scan without access to the router settings will do Fing or NetScanIf you advanced user and want to analyze the network more deeply, use Terminal Emulator.

What to do if you find a suspicious device?

Found an unknown gadget online? Don't panic—first check to see if it belongs to someone else or someone else. If the device is definitely not yours, follow these steps:

1. Check the MAC address through a search engine (for example, enter D8:BB:2C (in Google) - this will help determine the manufacturer and model.
2. Change your Wi-Fi password in the router settings (section Wireless → Security). Use a complex password of 12+ characters with letters, numbers, and special characters.
3. Enable MAC filtering (if your router supports it). To do this:
• Collect MAC-addresses of all yours devices (you can find them in your phone settings: About phone → Status → Wi-Fi MAC address).
• Find the section in the router panel MAC Filtering and add only your addresses to the whitelist.

Update your router firmware — outdated versions often contain vulnerabilities that hackers exploit.

Disable WPS (if enabled) - This protocol is vulnerable to brute force attacks.

If a suspicious device continues to appear even after changing the password, it may mean that:

• 🔌 Your network has been connected neighbors via a repeating signal (if you have a weak password).
• 🕵️‍♂️ Your router infected with malware (For example, Mirai or VPNFilter).
• 📡 Someone is using your Wi-Fi through a firmware vulnerability.

In such cases it is recommended reset the router to factory settings (button Reset on the back panel) and reconfigure it with an emphasis on safety.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about checking Wi-Fi devices

Is it possible to find out which device is connected by its MAC address?

Yes, the first 6 characters MAC-addresses (for example, 3C:5A:B4) indicate the manufacturer. A full list of vendor codes can be found on the website IEEE or by searching for "MAC address lookup". For example:

• B8:27:EB — Raspberry Pi;
• 78:31:C1 — Apple;
• 50:65:83 — Samsung;
• A4:83:E7 — Xiaomi.

However, it is difficult to accurately determine the model (for example, iPhone 13 or Galaxy S22) By MAC It is impossible - additional data is needed for this.

Why does the network scanner show fewer devices than the router's web interface?

It's normal! Scanners (Fing, NetScan) show only active devices, which respond to network requests. At the same time, the router "sees" all the devices it has ever issued IP-address (even if they are currently turned off). Also, some gadgets (for example, smart speakers or IP cameras) may ignore scanning for security reasons.

Is it possible to lock a device directly from your phone?

Yes, but with some reservations:

• If you have a router that supports apps (Google Home, Mi Home, TP-Link Tether), you can block the device directly from the mobile application.
• If the router does not support mobile control, you will have to go to the web interface and block it. MAC-address manually (section MAC Filtering or Access Control).
• Some applications (eg. Fing Premium) allow you to send notifications to the router for blocking, but this does not work with all models.

Without access to the router settings, block the device from your phone impossible.

How can I check if someone is stealing my Wi-Fi if my speed is dropping?

A slowdown doesn't always mean someone is accessing your network. First, check:

1. Channel congestion - use the app Wi-Fi Analyzerto see if your channel is overloaded by neighboring networks.
2. Your devices' traffic — perhaps someone at home is downloading large files or watching 4K videos.
3. Internet speed from the provider - take the test Speedtest.net and compare with the tariff.

If this isn't the issue, check the list of devices on the network (methods described above). Please note:

• 📱 Unknown phones or tablets;
• 💻 Unfamiliar computers (especially with MAC-addresses Apple, Dell, HP);
• 🎮 Game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch);
• 🔌 Smart devices (cameras, lamps, sockets), which you did not install.

Do these methods work on iPhone?

Most of the methods described not suitable for iOS due to restrictions AppleOn . iPhone You can:

• Use scanner apps (Fing, NetScan - they are also in App Store);
• Log into the router's web interface via Safari;
• Use Shortcuts to execute network commands (but the functionality is greatly limited).

Methods with Terminal Emulator and settings Android on iPhone are not available.