To see who's on your Wi-Fi, log into your router's admin page (using an IP like 192.168.1.1), check its "Attached Devices" list, use network scanner apps like Fing or Wireless Network Watcher on PC/Mac (using arp -a in Command Prompt/Terminal), or use your ISP/Google Home app for a quick overview, then change your password to block intruders.
Log in to your router's web interface to find a list of connected devices. On a PC or Mac, open Command Prompt or Terminal, type arp -a, and press Enter or Return to see IP addresses of connected devices. Try a third-party app like Wireless Network Watcher on Windows or Fing on mobile.
How to Find Unauthorized Devices on Your Network
Fing is the #1 Network Scanner: discovers all the devices connected to your WiFi and identifies them, with our patented technology used also by router manufacturers and antivirus companies worldwide.
Access your router's admin page via a web browser, usually by typing in the router's IP address. Log in with the admin credentials, which you can find in the router's manual or on the device itself if you haven't changed them. Look for a section like Attached Devices, Device List, or DHCP Client List.
The easiest way to check what devices are using your Wi-Fi is to access your router's admin panel and inspect the list of connected devices, typically available in a section called "Connected Devices," "Attached Devices," or "DHCP Client List." If you notice a device that you don't recognize, it could be a hacker.
Check connected devices and data usage
Open the Google Home app . At the top, tap Devices. The numbers next to "Devices" represent your total Internet (WAN) traffic to and from your network. Under each device, you can view how much data each device has downloaded and uploaded.
To access these features, log into your router's admin panel by entering its IP address into a web browser. Navigate to the traffic analysis or network monitoring section. You'll be able to see real-time data usage, view which devices are consuming the most bandwidth and identify any unusual spikes in traffic.
The easiest way to check who is using your WiFi is by using a network scanning tool like Fing. Fing is the #1 network scanner that quickly identifies all devices connected to your WiFi, whether you're using a mobile device or a desktop.
Encrypt your network.
To encrypt your network, simply update your router settings to either WPA3 Personal or WPA2 Personal. WPA3 is the newer — and best — encryption available, but both will work to scramble your information.
Your IP address: Network owners can see all devices connected to their WiFi network, including yours. They can also see your device's private IP address, which can be used to geolocate and potentially identify you.
The easiest way to see what's connected to your network is through your router's web interface:
Select the device you want to blocklist from the list of Connected devices (or go to Devices > Connected devices), click Allow button, then touch OK in the pop-up dialog box to blocklist the corresponding device and prevent it from accessing your Wi-Fi network.
Network administrators can employ various methods and tools to identify these unauthorized endpoints:
Using Command Prompt
Type ipconfig and press Enter to see your own IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway (router) To see other devices on the network that your computer has ever communicated with, type arp -a and press Enter.
Open your device's Settings app. Internet. The Wi-Fi network labeled "Connected" is the network your phone or tablet is connected to.
How Many Devices Can Connect to My WiFi Network? Typically, most wireless devices can connect up to 255 devices simultaneously from a single access point on your Wi-Fi network. These represent several different computers, phones, tablets, cameras and other equipment and may far exceed the need for a typical house.
What Are the Most Common Ways to Discover Devices on Your Network?
Unknown Device in Device Manager
In Connected Devices, you can see a list of devices connected to your modem. In Settings you can change different modem settings, make security changes, forward ports, use file sharing via a connected USB storage device and block websites.
If your neighbors have a Wi-Fi router on the same channel within range of your router or Wi-Fi gateway, it can cause interference.
Log in to your router's admin dashboard. Go to Wireless or Guest Network settings. Enable the Guest Wi-Fi option. Set a network name (SSID), a strong password, and choose WPA2 or WPA3 security.
For Unknown Devices, Consult Your Router Settings
However, I was able to get a little more information after typing my router's IP address into the address bar of my browser to access the router's web interface. Once there, you can look for an option like Attached Devices or Client List.