How to See Who Is Connected to Your WiFi (and Kick Off Strangers)

Originally published on Tutomod.

If the internet feels slower than your plan says, or you just get that suspicious feeling, it takes two minutes to see every device on your network.

Here's how to list what's connected, identify what each thing is, and politely show strangers the door.

Short version: Log into your router first, then find the device list. Details below.

The steps, start to finish

1. Log into your router. In a browser, go to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If neither loads, check the sticker on the router or search its brand plus 'default gateway'. Sign in with the admin username and password.
2. Find the device list. Look for a section called Attached Devices, Device List, Clients or DHCP Clients depending on the brand. You'll see every phone, laptop, TV and gadget on the network with its IP and MAC address.
3. Identify everything. Match devices by name first: most announce themselves, like John's iPhone or LG TV. Unknown entries? Turn off WiFi on your gadgets one by one and watch what disappears from the list. Tedious, but it works perfectly.
4. Block the intruder. Many routers let you block a device right from the list. If yours doesn't, the nuclear option below (changing the password) does the same job.
5. Change the WiFi password. In Wireless settings, set a new strong password under WPA2 or WPA3 security. Every device gets disconnected, and only the ones you rejoin come back. Annoying for ten minutes, clean forever.
   • Write the new password down before applying
   • Avoid WEP or 'open' networks, always WPA2 or WPA3

Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels

Tips that actually help

• Name your own devices in the router list as you identify them. Next audit takes thirty seconds.
• Printers, smart bulbs and old consoles all show up. Cheap 'unknown' gadgets are usually your own forgotten smart home gear.
• An app like Fing on your phone lists connected devices without logging into the router at all, handy for quick checks.

Quick answers

Can someone use my WiFi without me noticing?
If your password is weak or was shared around, yes. WPA2 or WPA3 plus a decent password makes it rare.

The list shows a device named 'Espressif' or 'Tuya'. Is that a hacker?
Almost always it's a smart bulb, plug or camera. Those chips are in half the smart home devices on Earth.

Photo by Field Engineer on Pexels

Keep reading

• How to Change Your WiFi Password in 5 Minutes
• How to Speed Test Your Internet Properly (and Understand the Numbers)
• How to Make a Simple Monthly Budget in Google Sheets (No Template Needed)

A quick audit every few months keeps your network yours. Once your devices are named, spotting a stranger becomes a ten second job.