How to Check How Many Devices Are Connected to Your Wi-Fi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you noticed your internet has slowed down and pages are loading slowly? Perhaps unauthorized devices—neighbors, guests, or even hackers—have connected to your Wi-Fi network and are using your data. According to research KasperskyMore than 30% of home networks have at least one unauthorized connection. But how can you know exactly how many gadgets are using your Wi-Fi right now?

In this article we will look at 7 proven methods — from standard router tools to specialized programs for PCs and smartphones. You'll learn how to distinguish your devices from others, block suspicious connections, and even set up notifications about new gadgets on the network. And for owners Keenetic, TP-Link And ASUS we have prepared step-by-step instructions taking into account the features of their firmware.

Important: Some methods require administrator rights or access to router settings. If you rent a place with pre-configured Wi-Fi, contact your provider—making any changes yourself may violate your contract.

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

The most reliable way is to log into your router's control panel. This method works on 99% of models, including MikroTik, Zyxel, D-Link and budget routers from providers (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline). You only need a computer or smartphone connected to the Internet.

Instructions:

• 🌐 Open your browser and enter in the address bar 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (less often - 192.168.8.1 for some TP-Link). If the page doesn't open, check the IP address on the router sticker.
• 🔑 Enter your login and password (by default it is often admin/admin or admin/password). If it doesn’t work, reset the settings using the button. Reset on the body.
• 📊 Find the section DHCP, Local area network or Wireless (the names are different). Look for tabs like Connected devices, Client List or ARP table.
• 📱 The list will display all gadgets with their MAC addresses, IP and names (if supported). Pay attention to unknown devices with unusual names (for example, android-123456).

Interface example ASUS RT-AX88U:

⚠️ Attention: If a device with the name Tenda_XXXX or HUAWEI-XXXX, but you don't have such gadgets—this could be a sign of a neighbor's connection. In some cases, hackers spoof names, so check MAC addresses (they are unique for each device).

Check the MAC address using a search engine (sometimes manufacturers indicate the model)

Disable the guest network if it is enabled.

Change your Wi-Fi password to a more complex one (at least 12 characters with numbers and special characters)

Enable MAC address filtering (if supported by your router)-->

2. Using mobile applications (for Android and iOS)

If accessing your router settings is inconvenient, use specialized apps. They scan your local network and display all connected devices, including hidden ones. The best options are:

• 📱 Fing (Android/iOS) — identifies the device manufacturer by MAC address, tests network speed, and searches for vulnerabilities.
• 🛡️ NetScan (Android) - shows connection history and notifies about new gadgets on the network.
• 🔍 WiFi Guard (iOS) — Compares current connections with your "whitelist" and blocks unfamiliar ones.

How to use Fing:

1. Download the app from App Store or Google Play.
2. Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
3. Click Scan — after 10-20 seconds, a list of devices will appear indicating their types (smartphone, TV, camera, etc.).
4. Click on the unknown device → Ping or Port scanningto make sure it is active.

Sample report Fing:

[192.168.1.100] iPhone (Apple) - Active
[192.168.1.102] Smart-TV (Samsung) - Active
[192.168.1.107] Unknown (TP-Link) — Suspicious device: The MAC address belongs to the routers, but there is no second router on your network

⚠️ Warning: Applications like Fing Devices in sleep mode or with network discovery disabled may not always be detected. For accuracy, repeat the scan at different times of day.

Smartphone|Laptop|Tablet|Desktop PC-->

3. Windows Command Prompt (for advanced users)

If you prefer to work without third-party programs, use built-in tools WindowsThis method will show all active connections on your local network, including those that may be hidden in the router's web interface.

Instructions:

1. Click Win + R, enter cmd and run the command prompt as administrator.
2. Enter the command to view the ARP table:

   arp -a

   It will show all IP addresses and corresponding MAC addresses on your network.

3. For more detailed information, use:

   net view

   or for advanced scanning:

   nbtstat -a [IP address]

Output example arp -a:

Interface: 192.168.1.5 --- 0x12
Internet Address Physical Address Type
192.168.1.1 aa-bb-cc-dd-ee-ff dynamic ← This is your router
192.168.1.100 11-22-33-44-55-66 dynamic ← Your laptop
192.168.1.105 99-88-77-66-55-44 dynamic ← Unknown device

To find out the manufacturer by MAC address, use the service MAC Vendors (enter the first 6 characters of the address). For example, the address B0:C4:E7... belongs Samsung Electronics.

4. Specialized programs for PC (Wireshark, Advanced IP Scanner)

For a thorough network analysis, use professional tools. They will show not only the number of devices, but also their activity, bandwidth consumption, and even potential vulnerabilities.

Top 3 programs:

• 🔧 Wireshark — the "gold standard" for network traffic analysis. Allows you to filter packets by MAC address and identify suspicious activity (such as port scanning).
• 📡 Advanced IP Scanner — scans the local network and displays open ports, device names, and their manufacturers. Supports exporting reports to .csv.
• 🛡️ GlassWire — monitors traffic in real time and creates activity graphs. Useful for identifying devices consuming unusually large amounts of data.

How to use Advanced IP Scanner:

1. Download the program from official website (the free version is sufficient).
2. Run a scan – the program will automatically detect the range of IP addresses in your network.
3. After scanning, sort the devices by column Manufacturer. Look out for unknown brands or devices with names like MediaDevice or Generic.
4. Right-click on the suspicious device → Open in browser or Ping for further verification.

Sample report Advanced IP Scanner:

⚠️ Attention: Programs like Wireshark Require knowledge of network protocols. Misuse (for example, packet capture on public networks) may violate data privacy laws.

5. Checking through provider applications (Rostelecom, Beeline, MTS)

Many internet providers offer their own mobile apps for managing routers. These often make it easy to check connected devices and block unknown devices with a single click.

Application examples:

• 📶 Rostelecom — Personal Account — shows a list of devices and connection history for the last 7 days.
• 🌐 My Beeline — allows you to set traffic limits for individual gadgets.
• 📡 MTS Connect — sends notifications about new connections and offers "guest mode" for temporary users.

How to check devices via Rostelecom:

1. Open the application and log in.
2. Go to the section My devices or Wi-Fi.
3. Click List of connected — a table with names, MAC addresses, and connection time will open.
4. To lock your device, swipe it left and select Ban.

The advantages of this method:

• ✅ No need to remember the router's IP address or login/password.
• ✅ Remote control option (for example, turning off children's internet access at night).
• ✅ Integration with your tariff plan (you can see how much traffic each device consumes).

⚠️ Please note: The functionality of provider apps depends on the router model. If your router was included with a plan more than 3 years ago, some features (such as MAC blocking) may be missing. In this case, use the web interface.

How to bypass MAC address blocking?

Some advanced users change the MAC address of their device (this is called MAC spoofing). To protect yourself from this

1. Turn on MAC filtering in the router settings (section Wireless → MAC Filter).

2. Add only your devices to the "whitelist".

3. Disable the function WPS - it allows you to connect to the network without a password.

4. Use an encryption standard WPA3 (if supported).

6. Analyzing traffic through a router (for advanced users)

If you are not satisfied with just seeing the list of devices and want to understand, how much traffic do they consume, use built-in monitoring tools. This will help identify:

• 🎮 Devices that "eat up" traffic (for example, torrents or online games).
• 🕵️ Suspicious activity (constant connections to unfamiliar servers).
• 📱 Gadgets that remain connected 24/7 (may be infected with a virus).

How to enable monitoring on Keenetic:

1. Log into your router's web interface.
2. Go to Statistics → Traffic.
3. Select the period (eg. Last 24 hours).
4. Sort devices by column Outgoing traffic or Incoming traffic.

Example of a traffic report:

If you see a device with abnormally high traffic (e.g. 5+ GB in an hour), it could be:

• 🖥️ A computer with a running torrent client.
• 📹 IP camera that transmits video to the cloud.
• 🛡️ A device infected with a mining virus or botnet.

7. Alternative methods (for non-standard situations)

Sometimes standard methods don't work—for example, if you don't have access to your router or it's managed by your ISP. In these cases, try:

Method 1: Disconnect all your devices

1. Turn off Wi-Fi on all your gadgets (smartphones, laptops, TVs).
2. Look at the indicator WLAN or Wi-Fi on the router:

   - If it is blinking, there are active connections on the network.

   - If it is constantly lit, there are no connections (or the router is in energy-saving mode).

Method 2: Ping all IP addresses on the network

If you know the IP range of your network (eg. 192.168.1.1–192.168.1.255), you can manually ping each address:

for /L %i in (1,1,255) do ping -n 1 192.168.1.%i

Devices that respond to ping are active. For automation, use a script on Python or Bash.

Method 3: View router logs

In the section System Tools → Logs (or System Log) look for entries like:

[Wi-Fi] New station: MAC=00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E, IP=192.168.1.105
[DHCP] Assigned IP 192.168.1.107 to host 'Android-1234'

This will help you track when and which devices connected to the network.

⚠️ Note: Some routers (especially budget ones) only store logs for 24 hours. If you suspect a hack, set up log sending to email or the cloud (if supported).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connected devices

Is it possible to find out who is connected to my Wi-Fi if I am not the network administrator?

No. Without access to the router settings or special permissions, you won't be able to see the full list of devices. However, you can try scanning the network using apps like Fing, but they will only show gadgets that are currently active.

How to distinguish your device from someone else's by MAC address?

Each device has a unique MAC address. To find your gadget's MAC address:

• On Android: Settings → About phone → General information → Wi-Fi MAC address.
• On iPhone: Settings → Wi-Fi → ⓘ next to network → Wi-Fi Address.
• On Windows: run in command line ipconfig /all and find the line Physical address.

Compare these addresses with the list in the router.

What should I do if an unknown device named "Direct-TV" or "MediaBox" appears on the network?

These could be:

• 📺 Your neighbor's TV is connected to your network by mistake (if you have the same SSID).
• 🎥 IP camera or media player (for example, Xiaomi Mi Box or Apple TV).
• 🛡️ A hacker's device disguised as a household appliance.

Actions:

1. Try disabling it through the router's web interface.
2. Change the network name (SSID) and password.
3. If the device reappears, check the router for malware (update the firmware).

Is it possible to limit the number of connected devices?

Yes, most modern routers allow you to set a limit. For example, in TP-Link it's done like this:

1. Go to Wireless → Wireless MAC Filtering.
2. Select mode Allow (allow only specified MAC addresses).
3. Add the MAC addresses of your devices to the list.
4. Save the settings.

Please note: this method does not protect against MAC address spoofing. For added security, combine it with a strong password and encryption. WPA3.

Why does an unknown gadget appear and disappear from the list of devices?

Possible reasons:

• 📱 A neighbor's smartphone or tablet that automatically connects to your network (if you previously shared the password).
• 🚗 Smart device in the car (for example, Tesla or multimedia system) that searches for known networks.
• 🤖 A botnet or virus that scans vulnerable routers (especially if you have a weak password like 12345678).

Solution: enable the function in the router Hide SSID (Although this isn't a panacea) and set a strong password. If the problem persists, reset the router to factory settings and update the firmware.