How to Know If Someone Is on Your Home WiFi Who Shouldn’t Be
You gave your WiFi password to a neighbour once, years ago. Or a contractor came to do work and you let them connect. Or your teenager shared it with a few friends. Now you’re not sure exactly who has it — or whether anyone unexpected is connected right now.
This is more common than people think, and it’s worth checking. Here’s how to see exactly which devices are on your home network, and what to do if something doesn’t look right.
Why It Matters
When a device joins your WiFi network, it’s on the same local network as everything else in your home — your laptops, your phones, your work computer. A device on your network can potentially see other devices on that network and attempt to access shared folders or printers. It also uses your internet bandwidth, which you’re paying for.
This isn’t about assuming the worst about everyone who’s ever been in your home. It’s about knowing what’s connected to a network that belongs to you.
How to Check Who’s Connected
Every router keeps a list of the devices currently connected to it. Here’s how to find it.
Step 1: Log into your router’s admin panel.
Find the IP address printed on the sticker on the back or bottom of your router — it usually looks like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Type that number directly into your browser’s address bar (not into a search engine) and press Enter. Log in using your admin credentials. If you haven’t changed these, they’ll be on the same sticker.
Step 2: Find the connected devices list. Look for a section called “Connected Devices,” “Device List,” “Client List,” or “DHCP Table.” The exact label depends on your router brand, but it’s usually under a menu called “Home Network,” “My Network,” or “Status.”
Step 3: Look at what’s there. You’ll see a list of devices, usually showing a device name and sometimes a type. Go through it and account for each one. Count your phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, streaming sticks, game consoles, smart speakers, and any other connected devices. It adds up faster than people expect.
What to Look For
Unfamiliar device names are the main thing to watch for. Most devices show up with a name that gives you a clue — something like “Sarah’s iPhone,” “SAMSUNG-SM-G998,” or “RokuExpress.” If you see a device name you don’t recognise and can’t account for, that’s worth paying attention to.
Keep in mind: some devices show up with odd auto-generated names that look unfamiliar even when they’re your own. Before assuming something is wrong, try turning off your devices one by one and watching the list to see what disappears.
What to Do If Something Looks Wrong
If you find a device you genuinely cannot account for, the fastest solution is to change your WiFi password. When you do this, every device on the network gets disconnected immediately — including any device that shouldn’t be there. Everyone in your household will need to reconnect with the new password, which takes a few minutes, but it’s the most effective reset.
You can change your WiFi password in the same router admin panel, usually under a section called “Wireless” or “WiFi Settings.”
Preventing This Going Forward
A few habits reduce the chance of this happening again.
Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption. These are the security protocols that protect your WiFi connection. WPA3 is newer and more secure; WPA2 is still solid. You can check and set this in your router’s wireless settings. Avoid WEP, which is outdated and no longer considered secure.
Be selective about sharing your WiFi password. For guests, consider setting up a separate guest network — most modern routers offer this. A guest network gives internet access without putting guests on the same local network as your personal devices.
Review your connected devices list a couple of times a year. It takes five minutes and keeps you informed about what’s on your network.
One Thing to Do
Log into your router’s admin panel and pull up the list of connected devices. Account for everything you see. If there’s anything you don’t recognise and can’t account for, change your WiFi password today.
If you’ve encountered suspicious activity or been targeted by a scam, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.