The fastest way to see who is connected to your WiFi is your router's admin page, which lists every device that has joined. If you can't or don't want to log in, a phone app can scan the network and list the devices for you. Below are four methods, how to read the results, and what to do about a device you don't recognize.
Maybe the connection has been crawling. Maybe you just moved into a rental and want to know what's already on the network. Or maybe a neighbor has your password. In every case the starting point is the same: get the full list of connected devices, then work out which ones are yours.
Why check who is on your WiFi?
- Slow speeds. Every device shares your bandwidth. An unknown one streaming or downloading can slow everyone down.
- Security. Someone who shares your password can reach other devices on the network, such as printers, storage drives and smart-home gear.
- Unknown hardware. In a hotel or Airbnb, a device you can't identify on the guest network is a reason to look closer. See how to check a hotel room for hidden cameras.
- Housekeeping. Old phones and forgotten smart plugs stay on the list for years.
Signs someone else is using your WiFi
None of these prove anything alone, because a slow connection has many causes. Together they're a reason to check the device list:
- Pages and video slow down for no clear reason, especially when everyone in the house is idle.
- The router's activity light blinks constantly while your own devices are off or asleep.
- The device list is longer than your household. The count is the quickest sign.
- You hit data caps early on a plan that used to be enough.
- Unfamiliar names appear, or the same device shows up under several entries.
- Settings changed on their own. A new admin password or a different WiFi name points to someone with router access.
Before you suspect a neighbor, remember that smart plugs, TVs and phones with private addresses make the list look longer than it is. The checks below separate those from real intruders.
How to see who's connected to your WiFi: 4 ways
Method 1 — Your router's admin page
This is the most complete view, because the router is the one device that knows everything that has joined.
- Connect to the network.
- Open a browser and enter the router address. It is usually
192.168.0.1,192.168.1.1or10.0.0.1. The correct address and the admin login are usually printed on a label on the router. - Sign in and open Connected Devices, Attached Devices, DHCP Clients or Device List. The name varies by brand.
- Note each entry's device name, IP address and MAC address.
If you changed the admin password and forgot it, you may need to reset the router. That also wipes its settings, so try the label and your ISP's documentation first. In a hotel or rental you won't have the admin login, so skip to Method 3.
Where the device list lives on common routers. Addresses and menu names change between models and firmware, so treat this as a starting point and check the label on your router.
| Router | Admin address | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| TP-Link | tplinkwifi.net or 192.168.0.1 | Wireless statistics, or Tether app clients |
| Netgear | routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1 | Attached Devices |
| ASUS | router.asus.com or 192.168.50.1 | Network Map, then Clients |
| Linksys | 192.168.1.1 | Device List |
| D-Link | 192.168.0.1 | Status, then Connected Clients |
| Xfinity / Comcast | 10.0.0.1 | Connected Devices, or the Xfinity app |
| eero, Google Nest, Orbi | No web page for most settings | Use the manufacturer's app |
Method 2 — Your router or ISP app
Many routers now ship with a phone app, and mesh systems always do. These apps usually show a friendlier list than the web page: device names, icons, who is online right now, and a button to pause or remove a device. If your router has an app, this is often the quickest option. Look under Devices, Clients or Network map.
Method 3 — Scan the network from your phone
A scanning app works on any WiFi you can join, including networks whose router you don't control. It sends small requests across the local network and lists the devices that answer.
- Join the WiFi network on your phone.
- Open a scanner app, such as Bluewex, and start a network scan.
- Read the list of devices, with names, manufacturers and addresses where the device shares them.
Bluewex lists the devices on the network you join and flags manufacturers that commonly make cameras. Download free →
One honest limit: iOS restricts what an app can enumerate on a local network more tightly than Android does, so an iPhone often shows a shorter list than an Android phone, and no scanner is guaranteed to see every device. If the router list and the app list disagree, trust the router.
Method 4 — The command line (for the technical)
On a Mac or Linux computer, arp -a prints the devices your computer has recently talked to on the local network. On Windows the same command works in Command Prompt. For a fuller sweep, a tool such as nmap can scan your network range. This is more work than the other methods and only shows devices that respond, so most people are better off with Methods 1 to 3.
On iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac
iPhone and iPad
Apple doesn't show other devices on the network in Settings. Use your router's app or admin page in Safari, or a scanner app. iOS limits how much a scanner can list, so the router list is usually fuller. Also check Settings > WiFi > (i) and note whether Private Wi-Fi Address is on, since it changes how your own phone appears.
Android
Android shows the same limits in its settings, but scanner apps usually list more devices than on iPhone. Your router's app is still the most complete source.
Windows
Open Command Prompt and run arp -a for a quick list of devices your PC has talked to. For a readable view, a free tool such as NirSoft's Wireless Network Watcher scans the network and lists names, addresses and manufacturers.
Mac
Open Terminal and run arp -a. ifconfig shows your own address, which tells you the range to scan. A scanner app gives a cleaner list.
How to tell which devices are yours
The list is only useful if you can read it. A typical entry has four parts:
- Name. Often generic, such as Galaxy-S23, iPhone or ESP_3F2A. Names are set by the device and are easy to fake.
- IP address. The device's address inside your network, like
192.168.1.23. It can change. - MAC address. A hardware identifier. The first half identifies the manufacturer, which is the most useful clue for an unnamed device.
- Manufacturer. If the entry says "Espressif", "Tuya" or "Hikvision", it is a smart-home or camera-type chip or brand, not a laptop.
- Block or pause it in the router page or app. Many routers offer a block, pause or "remove" button next to each device.
- Change the WiFi password to a long, unique one. This disconnects everything, and each device must rejoin with the new password. Re-join only your own devices.
- Use WPA3, or WPA2 if that's all your router supports. Avoid open networks and old WEP or WPA settings.
- Change the router admin password from the default, so no one can undo your changes.
- Turn off WPS if you don't use it. It's an old shortcut for joining that can be abused.
- Update the router firmware, or enable automatic updates if available.
- Make a guest network for visitors and smart-home gadgets, so they stay off your main devices' network.
Walk through your home and count what should be there: phones, laptops, tablets, TVs, streaming sticks, speakers, game consoles, printers, smart plugs, bulbs, thermostats and doorbells. Smart-home gear is where most "mystery" devices come from.
A trick that works: turn WiFi off on one device, refresh the list, and see which entry disappears. Repeat for anything you can't place.
Why a phone may show up under a strange name. Modern iPhones and Android phones use a private or randomized MAC address for each network by default. That makes the same phone look like a new device on a different WiFi, and it can show a generic name. It's normal, not a sign of an intruder.
What to do about an unknown device
Rule out your own gear first. Smart-home devices and private-MAC phones account for most surprises. If something is still unknown, work through the steps below in order.
How to remove and block an unknown device
About MAC filtering. Some routers can allow only listed MAC addresses. It adds a small hurdle, but addresses are visible on the air and can be copied, so use it as a backup, not your main defense. A strong password does more.
If the unknown device keeps coming back after a password change, the intruder may have router access. Reset the router to factory settings, set a new admin password, and set up the WiFi again.
Checking the WiFi in a hotel or Airbnb
On someone else's network you can't log in to the router, so a phone scan is the practical tool. Join the guest WiFi, run a scan, and look for devices that don't fit a rental: a camera brand, an unnamed device from a camera-chip manufacturer, or something with no clear purpose.
Be realistic about what this proves. Many rentals have legitimate cameras, such as a doorbell or exterior camera, and a hotel network has dozens of other guests. An unknown entry is a lead, not a verdict. A camera on its own wired network, or one that is powered off, won't show up at all. That's why a network scan should be one step in a full check, together with a visual search and a lens-glint sweep. Our guide to detecting hidden cameras covers the whole routine, and the Airbnb safety scan walks through it on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see who is connected to my WiFi from my iPhone?
Yes. Your router's app or admin page works from any phone, and a scanner app can list devices on the network you've joined. iOS limits what apps may enumerate, so an iPhone scan can be shorter than the router's own list.
Is there a way to see who's on my WiFi without logging in to the router?
Yes. A network scanner app on a phone or computer that has joined the WiFi can list the devices that respond. It is less complete than the router list, but it works on networks whose router you don't control.
How do I find my router's IP address?
It's usually printed on a label on the router, commonly 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. On a computer it appears as the default gateway in the network settings.
Can someone use my WiFi without my password?
Not if you use WPA2 or WPA3 and a strong password. Risks come from weak passwords, passwords shared too widely, an enabled WPS feature or outdated router firmware. Changing the password and updating the router closes most gaps.
Why do I see devices I don't recognize?
Usually they're your own: smart plugs, TVs, speakers and phones with private MAC addresses show up under generic names. Match each by manufacturer and by turning devices off one at a time before assuming an intruder.
Can a hidden camera show up in a WiFi device list?
A camera that joins the same WiFi network can appear in the list, often under a generic name or a camera-chip manufacturer. A camera that records to a card, uses its own network, is wired elsewhere or is switched off will not appear. A network scan helps, but it doesn't replace a physical check.
Does changing my WiFi password kick everyone off?
Yes. Every device is disconnected and must rejoin with the new password, so only people and devices you give it to get back on.
Is MAC address filtering enough to keep intruders out?
No. MAC addresses can be seen on the air and copied, so filtering is only a backup. A long unique password with WPA2 or WPA3 protects far better.
How can I tell if someone is using my WiFi?
Look for unexplained slowdowns, constant router activity while your devices are idle, and a device list longer than your household. Then compare the list against your own gear, one device at a time.
Does checking connected devices slow down my network?
No. A scan sends a few small requests and finishes within a minute or so.
The bottom line
Start with your router's page or app, because it has the full list. Use a phone scan when you don't control the router, match every entry against your own devices, and change the password if anything is off. If you're on a rental's WiFi, treat an unknown device as a reason to look around the room, not as proof.
If you want the scan on your phone, that's what Bluewex does, free on iOS and Android.
Related guides: How to Detect Hidden Cameras: 10 Ways · Do Airbnbs Have Hidden Cameras? · Bluewex Hidden Camera Detector