How to See Who's Using Your Wi-Fi: The Complete 2026 Guide

Have you noticed your internet has slowed down and your data is running out suspiciously quickly? Perhaps unauthorized devices have connected to your Wi-Fi. According to research Kaspersky 2023, every fifth router In Russia, there are vulnerabilities that allow attackers to connect to the network without the owner's knowledge. Even if you set a strong password, neighbors or guests could still access it after their visit, and some programs automatically connect to open networks.

In this article you will find 7 proven methodsHow to find out who's using your Wi-Fi—from viewing a list of devices in the router's web interface to analyzing network traffic using specialized apps. We'll cover instructions for popular router models (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, MikroTik), we will show you how to use the command line on Windows And macOSWe'll also explain how to block other people's devices. At the end of the article, you'll find an FAQ with answers to frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi security.

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

The most reliable way to find out who's using your Wi-Fi is to access your router's control panel. This doesn't require any additional software; a browser on your computer or smartphone is sufficient. The login address and authorization information are usually located on a sticker on the bottom of the device (e.g., 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).

Step-by-step instructions:

• 🌐 Enter the router's IP address in the browser's address bar (for example, tplinklogin.net For TP-Link).
• 🔑 Log in using your username and password (often by default) admin/admin).
• 📊 Find the section DHCP, Local area network or Wireless mode (the name depends on the model).
• 📋 Browse the list of connected devices - they will be indicated there IP addresses, MAC addresses and names of gadgets.

If you haven't changed the factory settings, your login and password may be the default ones for your model. You can find them on the manufacturer's website or in the table below:

⚠️ Note: If you can't log in to the control panel, someone may have changed your administrator password. In this case, you will need resetting the router settings to factory settings (button) Reset on the back panel).

2. Using mobile applications for network analysis

If it is inconvenient to access the router settings, you can use specialized applications for Android or iOSThey scan the local network and display all connected devices, including those hidden in the web interface. Popular programs:

• 📱 Fing — identifies the device manufacturer by MAC address and shows open ports.
• 🛡️ NetCut — allows you not only to view the list of gadgets, but also to block them.
• 🔍 WiFi Analyzer — visualizes network load and helps find the optimal channel.
• 📊 IP Tools — includes Ping, Traceroute and port scanner for deep diagnostics.

Example of working with Fing:

1. Download the app from Google Play or App Store.
2. Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
3. Click Scan - after 10-20 seconds a list of devices will appear with the indication IP, MAC addresses and the name (if any).
4. Unknown gadgets can be added to the blacklist directly from the application.

The advantage of mobile apps is that they work even if you don't have access to the router (for example, on a guest network). However, some features (like blocking) require root rights on Android or jailbreak on iPhone.

3. Viewing connected devices via the command line (Windows/macOS/Linux)

For experienced users, there's a way to check the network without third-party programs—using the command line. This method works on all operating systems and doesn't require any additional software.

Instructions for Windows:

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

   arp -a

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

3. To see active connections, use:
   

   netstat -ano | findstr ESTABLISHED

Instructions for macOS/Linux:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter:
   

   nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

   (replace 192.168.1.0 to your subnet, if it is different).

3. For detailed traffic analysis:
   

   sudo tcpdump -i en0

   (requires administrator rights).

How to find out your subnet?

Open command prompt and type ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (macOS/Linux). Look for the line IPv4 address — the first three digits (for example, 192.168.1) and there is your subnet.

A critical detail: the arp -a command shows cached addresses, not current connections. For up-to-date data, use nmap or specialized utilities.

4. How to identify "friend" and "foe" devices on the network

Even if you see a list of connected gadgets, it's not always clear which ones are yours and which are not. Here's how to tell them apart:

• 📱 Smartphones and tablets: usually have names like iPhone-12, Galaxy-S21 or Xiaomi-11TCheck the names of your devices in your Wi-Fi settings.
• 💻 Laptops and PCs: can be displayed as DESKTOP-XXXXXXX (Windows) or MacBook-Pro (macOS).
• 🎮 Smart devices: cameras (Xiaomi Camera), televisions (LG-webOS-TV), columns (Amazon-Echo) usually have brand names.
• ❓ Unknown devices: if the name consists of random letters/numbers (eg. android-1a2b3c4d) or the manufacturer is unidentified - this is a reason to be wary.

To create a "whitelist" of your gadgets:

1. Write it down MAC addresses all your devices (you can find them in the network settings of each gadget).
2. Compare with the addresses from the list of connected devices in the router.
3. Check unknown MAC addresses using services like MAC Vendors (search by first 6 characters).

Disconnect all your devices from Wi-Fi|See if there are any active connections left|Check unknown MAC addresses through MAC Vendors|Block suspicious devices in your router settings-->

⚠️ Warning: Attackers can spoof MAC addresses to masquerade as legitimate devices. If you notice suspicious activity (for example, your laptop is "connected" to the network when it's off), change your Wi-Fi password immediately.

5. How to block other people's devices: 3 ways

If you detect any unwanted devices, you should disable them immediately. Here are three reliable methods:

Method 1: Blocking by MAC address

Most routers allow you to create blacklist or white list MAC addresses. For example, in TP-Link:

1. Go to Wireless Mode → MAC Filtering.
2. Select mode Ban (blacklist) or Allow (white list).
3. Add MAC addresses of other devices or specify only your own.
4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

Method 2: Change your Wi-Fi password

The simplest yet most effective method is to change the network password:

1. Log in to your router's control panel.
2. Go to Wireless → Wireless Security.
3. Select encryption type WPA2-PSK (or WPA3, if supported).
4. Create a complex password (at least 12 characters, with numbers and special characters).
5. Save the changes - all devices will be disconnected and will need to reconnect.

Method 3: Disabling DHCP and manually assigning IP

For advanced users:

1. Turn it off DHCP server in the router settings.
2. Assign static IP addresses to your devices only.
3. Other people's gadgets will not be able to obtain an IP address and connect to the network.

After blocking, it is necessary to:

• 🔄 Reboot your router.
• 🔍 Check the list of connected devices again.
• 🔒 Update your router firmware (in the section System Tools → Software Update).

6. Signs that strangers have connected to your Wi-Fi

There's not always time to check the list of devices. Pay attention to these indirect signsthat someone is using your Wi-Fi:

• 🐢 Internet speed has dropped sharply without objective reasons (check on speedtest.net).
• 📉 Traffic is running out faster than usual (View statistics in your provider's personal account).
• 🔌 The Wi-Fi indicator on the router is blinking excessively.when all your devices are turned off.
• 🔒 Unknown devices appear on the home network (for example, in Google Home or Apple HomeKit).
• 📵 The router reboots spontaneously - this could be a sign of an attack.

If you notice at least two of these signs, check your network immediately. According to data Roskomnadzor, in 2023 37% of incidents Home networks were associated specifically with unauthorized access via Wi-Fi.

To minimize risks:

• 🔐 Use WPA3 instead of the outdated one WEP or WPA.
• 🔄 Update your router firmware regularly.
• 🚫 Turn it off WPS - This function is easy to hack.
• 📡 Hide SSID (network name) so that it does not appear on the public list.

⚠️ Warning: If you use guest network, make sure it's isolated from the main network. On some routers, the guest network has access to local resources (printers, network drives) by default.

7. Additional security measures for Wi-Fi networks

Even if you've blocked all unauthorized users, it's worth taking additional steps to protect your network:

For maximum protection:

• 🔗 Set up VPN on a router (For example, OpenVPN or WireGuard).
• 📊 Turn on connection logging (chapter System Tools → Journal).
• 🛡️ Install firewall on the router (if supported).
• 🔄 Check the list of connected devices regularly (once a month).

If your router supports IEEE 802.11w (Deauthentication protection), be sure to enable this feature. It prevents attacks where an attacker disconnects your devices from the network to reconnect themselves.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Wi-Fi Security

Is it possible to find out who exactly connected to my Wi-Fi (name, address)?

No, you can only determine the MAC or IP address device manufacturer and approximate location (if it's a mobile device with GPS enabled). To identify a specific person, you need to report unauthorized access to the police—they can request data from the provider.

What should I do if my neighbor hacked my Wi-Fi and refuses to disconnect?

Steps:

1. Change your password to a complex one (for example, k7#pL9!qR2$vN4).
2. Enable MAC address filtering.
3. Disable WPS and hide SSID.
4. If your neighbor continues to connect, contact your ISP to change the router's MAC address or file a police report under Article 272 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Unauthorized access to computer information").

Can a virus on my computer "share" my Wi-Fi with others?

Yes, some viruses (eg. Trojan.Win32.Fsysna) can turn your PC into an access point or open ports for external connections. Check your system with an antivirus (Kaspersky, Dr.Web) and use netstat -ano to search for suspicious connections.

How can I check if a smart device (like a camera) is stealing my data?

Some smart gadgets (especially cheap ones with AliExpress) can send data to external servers. Check:

1. Disconnect your device from the network and see if the speed increases.
2. Use Wireshark for traffic analysis.
3. Check if it connects to suspicious IPs (for example, in China if you are in Russia).

If your suspicions are confirmed, update your device's firmware or stop using it.

Is it possible to find out which websites connected devices have visited?

Yes, but for this you need:

1. Install on the router DNS server with logging (For example, Pi-hole).
2. Use specialized software like GlassWire (for Windows).
3. Turn on traffic logging in the router settings (if supported).

Please note: collecting such information may violate the law on personal data, if we are talking about other people's devices.