Modern home networks are becoming increasingly complex: smartphones, smart speakers, TVs, and laptops require a stable connection. Users often experience sudden drops in internet speed or intermittent disconnections for no apparent reason. In such situations, the first step is to check whether an unauthorized user has connected to your network.
Company routers Xiaomi While they have a well-designed interface, access to detailed statistics may be hidden in different menu sections depending on the firmware version. Understanding how to quickly access the list of active clients is a basic home network administration skill. This will allow you not only to monitor traffic but also to quickly block unwanted connections.
In this article, we'll take a detailed look at all available monitoring methods: from a mobile app to in-depth configuration via a web interface. You'll learn how to identify your devices in the list, detect hidden threats, and configure notifications about new connections. This approach will ensure maximum security and performance your local network.
Using the Mi Wi-Fi mobile app for monitoring
The fastest and most convenient way to check who is using your Wi-Fi is to use the official app Mi Wi-FiThis tool is available for Android and iOS platforms and allows you to manage your router remotely. After logging in to the app, you gain full access to real-time traffic statistics.
The main interface screen typically displays a pie chart or a list of active devices. By clicking on the corresponding section, often called "Devices" or "Connected Devices," you'll see a complete list of all devices currently accessing the internet through your router. This displays not only their names but also the current connection speed.
⚠️ Warning: If you see a device with an unfamiliar name, don't rush to block it. It might be a smart light bulb, robot vacuum, or set-top box that displays under the manufacturer's technical name rather than a user-friendly name.
The app also allows you to sort devices by connection type (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) and limit their speed. This is especially useful if a family member starts downloading large files and hogs the entire bandwidth. guest access It is also controlled from here, allowing you to temporarily disable the internet for.
Checking via the router's web interface
If you don't have a smartphone handy or require more detailed technical information, you should use the web interface. To do this, connect to the router's network using any convenient method and enter the gateway IP address in the browser's address bar. By default, for devices Xiaomi this is often an address 192.168.31.1 or domain name miwifi.com.
After entering the administrator password, you'll be taken to the control panel. Depending on your firmware version (Chinese or global), the interface may differ, but the logic remains the same. Find the section, which may be called "Status," "Clients," or "Devices." This section displays a table of all connections with MAC addresses.
The web interface provides more in-depth data than the mobile app. You can see the time elapsed since the last connection and the amount of data transferred. This helps identify devices running in the background, such as security cameras or smart home servers.
Accessing advanced settings often requires switching to "Advanced" or "Professional" mode. This mode displays not only wireless connections but also wired connections via LAN ports. This is critical for diagnosing issues with a wired connection to a PC or gaming console.
☑️ Network security check
Analyzing the list of connected clients
Once you receive a list of devices, it's important to interpret the data correctly. Router Xiaomi often assigns names automatically based on DHCP request data. However, many devices may appear simply as "Unknown" or a string of characters. The key identifier here is MAC address — unique identifier of the network interface.
Compare the number of active devices with the actual number of gadgets in your home. Don't forget to include devices that may be in standby mode but still communicate with the router to receive notifications. If the numbers match, but the speed is low, the problem may be with the channel or interference, not with your neighbors.
Pay attention to the connection type. Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as sensors and light bulbs, typically operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Smartphones and 4K TVs often connect to the 5 GHz band. The sudden appearance of an unknown device in the 5 GHz band with high traffic activity is a reason to investigate immediately.
What is MAC filtering?
This is a security feature that allows network access only to devices with specific MAC addresses. Even with the Wi-Fi password, an intruder won't be able to connect if their physical address isn't on the router's whitelist.
Table of common device identifiers
When analyzing the connection list, you'll encounter various manufacturer names. Knowing which brand corresponds to a MAC address prefix or hostname greatly simplifies troubleshooting. Below is a table with examples of how popular devices may appear on the network. Xiaomi.
| Manufacturer / Brand | Display name example | Typical MAC prefix | Operating frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple (iPhone, iPad) | iPhone, iPad | XX:XX:XX (Apple Inc.) | 2.4 / 5 GHz |
| Samsung Electronics | Galaxy S..., Samsung TV | XX:XX:XX (Samsung) | 2.4 / 5 GHz |
| Xiaomi Smart Home | mihome..., lumi... | XX:XX:XX (Xiaomi) | 2.4 GHz |
| Intel Corporation | Windows laptops | XX:XX:XX (Intel) | 2.4 / 5 GHz |
Using this table, you can quickly filter out your devices. If a device with an unknown manufacturer's prefix or a suspicious-looking name appears in the list, it's a signal to take action. In modern routers, Changing the Wi-Fi password causes the connection to be broken on all devices at once., which is the most effective way to dump all the "extra" users.
Blocking unwanted devices and restricting access
Once you detect an intruder, you must immediately restrict their access. In the router interface Xiaomi This is done using the "Blacklist" or "Block" function. After adding the intruder's MAC address to the blacklist, the router will ignore all connection attempts, even if the Wi-Fi password is correct.
However, simply blocking your password may not be enough if it has been compromised. An attacker may have installed password-guessing software. Therefore, after blocking your password, it is recommended to change your wireless network security key. Use complex passwords that contain mixed-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
⚠️ Please note: When you change your Wi-Fi password, all your personal devices (TVs, phones, tablets) will lose internet connection. You will have to re-enter the new password on each one. Prepare the new code in advance so you don't forget it.
It's also worth paying attention to the "Guest Network" feature. If you frequently have friends over, it's best to connect them to the guest Wi-Fi. This isolates their devices from your main local network, which may contain NAS storage, printers, and smart home devices, providing an additional layer of security. security.
Additional measures to protect your Wi-Fi network
Monitoring connected devices is a reactive measure. It's much more effective to build security so that unauthorized access is impossible altogether. First, make sure your router Xiaomi The WPS function is disabled. This protocol is outdated and has vulnerabilities that make it easy to guess the PIN code.
Use a modern encryption standard WPA2/WPA3Older WEP or WPA (TKIP) standards can be cracked in minutes using readily available software. In your wireless network settings, select mixed encryption mode or only WPA2/WPA3 Personal.
Don't forget to update your router firmware. Developers Xiaomi Patches are regularly released to close security holes. Automatic updates can be enabled in the system settings so that the router automatically keeps its software up-to-date. This will protect you not only from hackers but also from software bugs.
In conclusion, regular monitoring of connected devices is a simple yet vital procedure for any router owner. Combining a mobile app for quick checks and a web interface for in-depth analysis gives you complete control over the situation. Following basic security rules will allow you to enjoy fast, uninterrupted internet.
How to find out the MAC address of your phone?
On Android, go to Settings -> About Phone -> Status (or Settings -> Wi-Fi -> Tap the network name). On iPhone: Settings -> General -> About -> Wi-Fi Address.
Why does the router show more devices than I counted?
This may be due to one device having multiple network interfaces (e.g. Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time) or using the MAC address randomization feature to protect privacy by appearing as a new device each time.
Can my neighbor use my Wi-Fi if I change the password?
No, if you've changed your password and updated it on all your devices, your neighbor won't be able to connect, even if they've saved the old password on their device. The old credentials will become invalid.