How to Check Who's Connected to My Wi-Fi: Online Methods and Hidden Router Features

Have you noticed your internet has slowed down and your data is running out early? Perhaps unauthorized devices have connected to your Wi-Fi network—neighbors, guests who forgot to disconnect, or even hackers. Checking connected devices Logging into your router should become a regular procedure, especially if you use a simple password or have never changed your security settings.

In this article we will look at all available methods — from built-in router features to specialized apps and online services. You'll learn how to not only detect "unnecessary" gadgets, but also track their activity in real time, block unwanted users, and protect your network from repeated intrusions. Important: Some methods require access to the router's admin panel, so prepare your login and password in advance (they're usually found on the device's sticker).

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

Any modern router - be it TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic or MikroTik — maintains a log of connected devices. This information is available in the admin panel, but the path to it varies depending on the model. Below are general instructions that will work for 90% of devices.

First, connect to your router via cable or Wi-Fi. Then:

  1. Open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (less often - 10.0.0.1). If the page doesn't open, check the IP address on the router sticker.
  2. Enter your login and password (by default it is often admin/admin or admin/empty).
  3. Find the section with connected devices. It's usually called:
    • 📡 DHCP Clients List (V TP-Link)
    • 🖥️ Network clients or Devices (V Keenetic)
    • 🔗 Wireless → Wireless Client List (V ASUS)

In the table you will see:

  • 🔹 IP address devices (for example, 192.168.0.103)
  • 🔹 MAC address (unique identifier, looks like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E)
  • 🔹 Host name (sometimes the device model is displayed, for example iPhone-12-Pro)
  • 🔹 Connection type (Wi-Fi or cable)

Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)

Update your router firmware via the section System Tools → Firmware Upgrade

Check if the section is hidden in "Advanced Settings"

Reset the router to factory settings (press the Reset button for 10 seconds) -->

How to distinguish your device from someone else's? Compare MAC addresses: on a phone or laptop, you can find it in the network settings (for example, on Android: Settings → About phone → General information → Wi-Fi MAC address). Unknown addresses are a reason to be wary.

Once a month

Only when the internet is slow

Never checked

I don't know how to do this-->

2. Online services for checking Wi-Fi (without access to the router)

If you can't access your admin panel (for example, if you're away from home), use online tools. They're less accurate, but they'll help you get the general picture. Important: Most services require installation of an application to one of the connected devices (for example, a phone).

Popular tools:

  • 🌐 Fing (fing.com) - shows all devices on the network, their IP, MAC address, manufacturer, and even open ports. There's a free version for Android And iOS.
  • 🌐 WiFi Map (wifimap.io) - in addition to scanning the network, it shows nearby access points and their load.
  • 🌐 NetCut - allows you not only to see the devices, but also disconnect them from the network (requires root access on Android).

Example of work Fing:

  1. Download the app and connect to your Wi-Fi network.
  2. Click Scan — after 10–30 seconds a list of devices will appear.
  3. Click on any device to see details: manufacturer (by MAC), open ports, connection history.
Service Platform Functions Cons
Fing Android, iOS, Windows Network scanning, ports, notifications about new devices The free version is limited to 1 network.
WiFi Map Android, iOS Network map, speed, security Lots of ads, not all features are free
NetCut Android (root) Device blocking, ARP spoofing Difficult to set up, requires superuser rights
Angry IP Scanner Windows, macOS, Linux Device ping, ports, report export There is no mobile version, complex interface

Warning: Online services cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. For example, if a device uses a VPN or proxy, its location and MAC address may be displayed incorrectly. For an accurate diagnosis, it's best to combine several methods.

3. Windows Command Prompt: Who's Connected to My Wi-Fi

If you have a computer running Windows 10/11, you can check connected devices without third-party programs. To do this, use the command arp (Address Resolution Protocol), which shows the correspondence between IP and MAC addresses.

Instructions:

  1. Open Command line as administrator (click Win + X → Terminal (Administrator)).
  2. Enter the command: 
    arp -a

    A list of all devices with which your computer interacted on the local network will appear on the screen.

  3. To see only active connections, first run: 
    ping 192.168.0.1 -n 1

    (replace 192.168.0.1 to your router's IP), then enter it again arp -a.

Example output:



Interface: 192.168.0.100 --- 0x12


Internet Address Physical Address Type


192.168.0.1 aa-bb-cc-dd-ee-ff dynamic


192.168.0.101 11-22-33-44-55-66 dynamic

Here:

  • 🔸 192.168.0.1 - most likely your router.
  • 🔸 192.168.0.101 — connected device (you can check its MAC through the phone/laptop settings).
How to find out the manufacturer of a device by MAC address?

The first 3 bytes of the MAC address (e.g. AA:BB:CC) indicate the manufacturer. Check them on the website. MAC Vendors. For example, 3C:5A:B4 - This Google (maybe connected Google Nest or Chromecast).

⚠️ Attention: Team arp -a shows all devices with which your computer exchanged data, not just those connected to Wi-Fi. If you've recently rebooted your router, the list may not be complete.

4. Mobile applications for Android and iOS

There are many utilities for smartphones that scan the network and display connected devices. We tested the top 5 apps and selected the most convenient ones.

Best Android Apps:

  • 📱 Fing — Network Scanner: simple interface, shows open ports, tests network speed.
  • 📱 Network Analyzer: visualizes the network as a diagram, checks the router security.
  • 📱 IP Tools: Includes Ping, Traceroute, WHOIS and Wi-Fi scanner.

For iOS:

  • 🍎 Network Analyzer Lite: free version with basic scanning features.
  • 🍎 IP Network Scanner: exports reports to CSV, supports IPv6.

How to use (using Fing as an example):

  1. Install the application and open it.
  2. Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
  3. Click Scan - after a few seconds a list of devices will appear indicating:
    • 📌 IP and MAC addresses
    • 📌 Manufacturer (by MAC)
    • 📌 Device type (smartphone, PC, IoT)
    • 📌 Last activity time
  • Click on any device to see additional information (open ports, connection history).

    • Limitations of mobile scanners:

    • 🚫 Devices connected via cable are not visible (if scanning is done from a phone via Wi-Fi).
    • 🚫 They may not recognize the manufacturer if the MAC address is forged (spoofed).
    • 🚫 They don't work if the router blocks ARP requests (rare, but it happens).

    5. How to block other people's devices in a router

    Found a suspicious device? There are two ways to block it: MAC address or through blacklist in the router settings. Let's consider both options.

    Method 1: Blocking by MAC (for all routers)

    1. Log in to your router's admin panel (see Section 1).
    2. Find the section MAC Filtering (or MAC address filtering). It is usually located in:
      • 🔧 Wireless → Wireless MAC Filtering (TP-Link)
      • 🔧 Security → MAC Filter (Keenetic)
  • Add the MAC address of the unwanted device to the blacklist and save the settings.

    • Method 2: Disabling the device via DHCP (for advanced users)

    If the router supports IP to MAC binding (DHCP Reservation), you can "trick" someone else's device:

    1. In the section DHCP → DHCP Reservation bind its MAC address to a non-existent IP (eg. 192.168.0.250).
    2. In the DHCP settings, reduce the address pool so that 192.168.0.250 was outside of it.
    3. Save the settings - the device will not be able to obtain an IP and connect.
      4. ⚠️ Attention: MAC blocking is not 100% reliable. An experienced user can spoof the MAC address (MAC spoofing) and bypass the restriction. For complete protection, change your Wi-Fi password to a complex one (at least 12 characters with numbers and special characters) and enable encryption. WPA3.

      6. Hidden router functions: activity log and notifications

      Many modern routers can do this keep a connection log and send notifications about new devices. These features are often hidden in advanced settings, but enabling them will help you monitor your network in real time.

      How to enable connection logging:

      • 📜 In TP-Link: System Tools → System LogHere you can see the connection history for the last 24 hours.
      • 📜 In ASUS: Administration → System Log → Wireless Log.
      • 📜 In Keenetic: System Monitor → Event Log.

    Setting up notifications (using Keenetic as an example):

    1. Go to Notifications → Notification Rules.
    2. Create a new rule with a trigger "New device on the network".
    3. Please provide your email or Telegram bot for notifications.
    4. Save - now you will receive messages every time you connect.

    What should I do if my router doesn't support notifications?

    Use third party services like Fingbox (hardware network scanner) or set up Raspberry Pi script, which will monitor the ARP table and send alerts. Example Python script:

    import subprocess

    import time
    


    known_devices = {"00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E": "My Phone", "AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF": "Laptop"}
    


    while True:
    

    result = subprocess.run(["arp", "-a"], capture_output=True, text=True)
    

    current_devices = set()
    

    for line in result.stdout.splitlines():
    

    if "dynamic" in line:
    

    mac = line.split()[3]
    

    current_devices.add(mac)
    

    if mac not in known_devices:
    

    print(f"New device detected: {mac}!")
    

    # Here you can add sending an email or Telegram message
    

    time.sleep(60)

    ⚠️ Attention: Router interfaces and available features depend on the model and firmware version. If your admin panel doesn't have these sections, check the device documentation or update the firmware.

    7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

    When checking connected devices, users often encounter common problems. Let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

    Error 1: The router does not show all devices

    • 🔌 Cause: Some devices are connected via cable, but you are only viewing wireless clients.
    • 🔧 Solution: Check the section LAN → DHCP Clients or Connected Devices (shows all gadgets, regardless of connection type).

    Error 2: Unknown devices with names "Unknown" or "Android"

    • 🔌 Cause: Many IoT devices (smart bulbs, cameras) do not broadcast their name to the network.
    • 🔧 Solution: Disable your gadgets one by one and see which devices disappear from the list.

    Error 3: After MAC blocking, the device reappears

    • 🔌 Cause: MAC address is spoofed (spoofing) or the device receives a new IP via DHCP.
    • 🔧 Solution: Turn on static DHCP lease (IP to MAC binding) and block by IP.

    Error 4: Apps show "no devices"

    • 🔌 Cause: The router is blocking ARP requests or client isolation mode is enabled (AP Isolation).
    • 🔧 Solution: Turn it off AP Isolation in the Wi-Fi settings or use another application (for example, Angry IP Scanner on PC).

    FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

    Is it possible to check who is connected to my Wi-Fi without logging into the router?

    Yes, using mobile apps (Fing, Network Analyzer) or command line (arp -a (in Windows). However, these methods are less accurate than checking through the admin panel.

    How to find out what device is hidden behind a MAC address?

    The first 3 bytes of the MAC address indicate the manufacturer. Check them on the website. MAC Vendors. For example, B8:27:EB - This Raspberry Pi, A 78:31:C1 — Apple.

    What should I do if I found someone else's device but can't block it?

    At first change your Wi-Fi password to complex (at least 12 characters, with numbers and special characters). If this doesn't help, turn on hiding SSID (but this is not a panacea) or configure guest network with limited access.

    Can my neighbor connect to my Wi-Fi if I use WPA2?

    Theoretically yes. WPA2 is vulnerable to attacks like KRACK or brute-force password (if it's weak). For maximum protection, go to WPA3 and turn it off WPS (this is a vulnerable fast connection protocol).

    How can I check if my neighbor is stealing my Wi-Fi if my speed drops at night?

    Install the application Fing and turn it on network monitoringIt keeps a connection history and will show you if new devices have appeared while you were away. Also check traffic usage in the provider's personal account.

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