To remove an unknown device from your Wi-Fi, open your router’s application or administration page, check the connected-device list and block the unfamiliar device. Then change both your Wi-Fi and router administrator passwords, use WPA2 or WPA3 security, disable WPS and update the router firmware to prevent the device from reconnecting.
How to Check Who Is Using Your Wi-Fi
Most modern routers show every device currently or recently connected to the network. You can check this list using the router’s mobile application or administration page.
The option may be labelled:
- Connected devices
- Client list
- Attached devices
- Network map
- Device manager
- DHCP clients
- Online devices
The exact name and location depend on your router manufacturer.
Method 1: Check Through the Router Application
If your router or mesh system has an official application:
- Connect your phone to the home Wi-Fi network.
- Open the router’s official application.
- Sign in using the router administrator account.
- Open Devices, Clients or Network Map.
- Review the list of connected and recently connected devices.
- Select an unfamiliar device to view its details.
The application may display the device name, IP address, MAC address, connection band and current network activity.
Avoid downloading unofficial router-management applications. Use the application listed by your router manufacturer or internet service provider.
Method 2: Check Through the Router Administration Page
You can also inspect connected devices through a web browser.
- Connect your phone or computer to the router.
- Open a browser.
- Enter the router’s local IP address.
- Sign in with the router administrator username and password.
- Find Connected Devices, Client List or a similar section.
Common router addresses include:
192.168.0.1192.168.1.1192.168.1.25410.0.0.1
These are only common examples. Check the label on the router, its official application or its manual if none of them works.
The router administrator password is not necessarily the same as the Wi-Fi password. The administrator password controls access to the router settings, while the Wi-Fi password connects devices to the network.
How to Identify an Unknown Device
A device with an unfamiliar name is not automatically an intruder. Smart TVs, speakers, security cameras, printers and other connected products may appear under generic or confusing names.
Check the following information before blocking anything:
| Information | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Device name | May identify the manufacturer or product |
| MAC address | Identifies the network interface |
| IP address | Shows the device’s address on your network |
| Connection band | Shows whether it uses 2.4GHz, 5GHz or 6GHz |
| Connection type | Indicates Wi-Fi or Ethernet |
| Activity | Shows whether the device is currently transferring data |
Turn off devices one at a time
One practical method is to disconnect or switch off your known devices individually while watching the router’s device list.
Start with:
- Smart televisions
- Streaming devices
- Printers
- Security cameras
- Smart speakers
- Game consoles
- Tablets
- Old phones
- Smart plugs and lights
Refresh the list after turning off each device. If an entry disappears, you have probably identified it.
Check the MAC address
The router may display a 12-character MAC address, such as:
A1:B2:C3:D4:E5:F6
You can compare this with the Wi-Fi MAC address shown in the device’s network settings.
However, modern Android phones, iPhones, tablets and computers may use private or randomized MAC addresses. The address displayed by the router may therefore differ from the device’s permanent hardware address.
A phone using a private address may also appear as a new device after its privacy settings change.
Look up the manufacturer
The first part of a MAC address can sometimes indicate the device manufacturer. This can help distinguish a television, phone or smart-home device from an unfamiliar computer.
Manufacturer identification is not conclusive because randomized addresses and third-party network components can hide or change this information.
How to Block an Unknown Device From Wi-Fi
After confirming that a device does not belong to you or an authorised guest, block it through the router.
- Open the router application or administration page.
- Select Connected Devices or Client List.
- Choose the unknown device.
- Select Block, Pause, Deny or Remove.
- Save the change if required.
Some routers place blocked devices in an access-control or blacklist section.
Blocking the device’s MAC address may stop its current connection, but it should not be your only security measure. A device can reconnect if it uses a different address or if the router’s access controls are reset.
Change Your Wi-Fi Password
Changing the Wi-Fi password is the most effective immediate response when you believe an unauthorised person knows your existing password.
- Sign in to the router’s administration page or application.
- Open Wireless, Wi-Fi or Network Settings.
- Select the primary Wi-Fi network.
- Create a new, strong password.
- Save or apply the change.
- Reconnect your trusted devices using the new password.
Changing the password will normally disconnect every wireless device, including your own phones, televisions, cameras and smart-home equipment.
Use a password that is:
- Long and unique
- Different from the router administrator password
- Not based on your name, phone number or address
- Not reused from another account
- Difficult for neighbours or visitors to guess
A longer passphrase containing unrelated words can be easier to remember while remaining difficult to guess.
Do not simply add one number to the old password. Anyone who knows the previous password may be able to guess the replacement.
Change the Router Administrator Password
The router administrator password protects the settings used to change your network name, Wi-Fi password, DNS configuration and security options.
If the router still uses its default administrator credentials, change them immediately.
- Sign in to the router.
- Open Administration, System or Account Settings.
- Find the administrator-password option.
- Create a unique password.
- Save the change.
- Store the password securely.
Your Wi-Fi password and router administrator password should be different.
The US Federal Trade Commission recommends changing both default router settings and passwords because access to the administrator account could allow someone to undo other security protections.
Use WPA3 or WPA2 Encryption
Check the router’s wireless-security setting and use:
- WPA3-Personal, when supported by all important devices
- WPA2/WPA3 transition mode, if older devices require compatibility
- WPA2-Personal with AES, when WPA3 is unavailable
Avoid using:
- Open or unsecured Wi-Fi
- WEP
- Original WPA
- WPA using TKIP
WEP and older WPA configurations are outdated and should not be used to protect a home network. If an older router does not support WPA2 or WPA3 after a firmware update, consider replacing it.
The FTC’s home Wi-Fi guidance recommends WPA3 Personal or WPA2 Personal encryption.
Disable WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, is designed to connect devices without manually entering the full Wi-Fi password. Depending on the router, it may use a physical button or PIN.
Although convenient, WPS can create an unnecessary entry point into the network.
To disable it:
- Open the router settings.
- Find WPS, normally under Wi-Fi or advanced settings.
- Turn it off.
- Save the setting.
You can continue connecting devices normally with your Wi-Fi network name and password.
Turn Off Remote Router Management
Remote management allows the router’s administration panel to be accessed from outside your home network.
Most home users do not need this feature. If enabled unnecessarily, it can increase exposure to online attacks.
Look for settings such as:
- Remote management
- Remote administration
- Web access from WAN
- Internet-side management
Disable remote management unless you have a specific need for it and understand how to secure it properly.
Update the Router Firmware
Firmware updates can fix security vulnerabilities, connection problems and device-management errors.
To update the router:
- Open its official application or administration page.
- Find Firmware, Software Update or Router Update.
- Check for an available update.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not disconnect the router while the update is installed.
Some ISP-supplied and mesh routers install updates automatically. Check the manufacturer’s support page if the router does not include a manual update option.
If the router no longer receives security updates, replacement may be safer than continuing to use unsupported hardware.
Create a Guest Wi-Fi Network
A guest network allows visitors to access the internet without receiving the password for your main network.
Use the guest network for:
- Visitors
- Temporary users
- Smart TVs
- Smart speakers
- Security cameras
- Low-cost smart-home products
- Devices that do not need access to your computers or storage
Choose a different password for the guest network. If the router provides an isolation option, enable it to prevent guest devices from communicating with devices on your primary network.
A guest network is particularly useful because changing its password will not disconnect important devices from the primary network.
Hide the Wi-Fi Name: Does It Improve Security?
Disabling SSID broadcasting hides the network name from the normal Wi-Fi list, but it does not make the network truly invisible.
Network-analysis tools can still detect a hidden wireless network. Hiding the network name can also make connecting legitimate devices less convenient.
A strong password, modern encryption and updated router firmware offer more meaningful protection.
Can You Kick Someone Off Wi-Fi Without Changing the Password?
Yes, many routers let you block, pause or remove a connected device. However, the person may reconnect if they still know the Wi-Fi password.
For better protection:
- Block the unknown device.
- Change the Wi-Fi password.
- Disable WPS.
- Use WPA2 or WPA3.
- Change the administrator password.
- Update the router firmware.
This combination is more reliable than using the block feature alone.
What to Do If the Unknown Device Keeps Returning
If an unknown entry reappears, first confirm that it is not one of your devices using a randomized MAC address.
If you still believe it is unauthorised:
- Change the Wi-Fi password again.
- Confirm that WPS is disabled.
- Check that the router uses WPA2 or WPA3.
- Change the router administrator password.
- Disable remote management.
- Remove unknown administrator accounts, if supported.
- Review DNS and port-forwarding settings for unexplained changes.
- Install the latest firmware.
- Contact the router manufacturer or ISP.
- Factory-reset the router as a final measure.
Before performing a factory reset, record your ISP and network settings. A reset erases the router’s configuration and requires you to set it up again.
If the router settings change without your permission even after a secure reset, stop using the device and contact the manufacturer or ISP.
Signs That Someone May Be Using Your Wi-Fi
Possible warning signs include:
- An unfamiliar device in the client list
- Unexpectedly high data usage
- Slow performance at unusual times
- Devices repeatedly disconnecting
- Router settings changing without your permission
- Unknown port-forwarding or DNS settings
- An administrator password that no longer works
Slow Wi-Fi alone does not prove that someone has accessed the network. Weak signal strength, ISP congestion, interference, background downloads and faulty hardware can cause similar symptoms.
How to Prevent Unauthorized Wi-Fi Access
Use this checklist to secure your network:
- Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption
- Create a long, unique Wi-Fi password
- Change the default administrator credentials
- Disable WPS
- Disable unnecessary remote management
- Keep the router firmware updated
- Use a guest network for visitors
- Separate untrusted smart devices when possible
- Review connected devices regularly
- Replace routers that no longer receive updates
- Keep the router firewall enabled
- Do not share the primary password publicly
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I see all devices connected to my Wi-Fi?
Open your router application or administration page and look for Connected Devices, Client List, Network Map or Attached Devices. The list normally includes device names, IP addresses and MAC addresses.
Why do I see an unknown device on my Wi-Fi?
It may be an unauthorised user, but it could also be a smart-home product, old phone, guest device or a device using a private MAC address. Identify it carefully before blocking it.
Will changing the Wi-Fi password remove unknown devices?
Yes. Changing the password normally disconnects all wireless devices. Only devices given the new password should be able to reconnect, provided the router uses secure encryption and WPS is disabled.
Can I block a device permanently?
You can add its MAC address to the router’s blocklist, but MAC addresses can change or be imitated. Changing the Wi-Fi password and securing the router provides stronger protection.
Does changing the Wi-Fi name disconnect devices?
Yes. Changing the SSID makes devices treat it as a different network. You will need to reconnect trusted devices using the new network name and password.
Should I factory-reset my router?
Use a factory reset only when you cannot regain control of the settings, suspect the configuration has been compromised or other troubleshooting steps have failed. Record necessary ISP information before resetting it.
Is an unknown device always a hacker?
No. Many legitimate devices appear under unclear names, and private MAC addresses can create unfamiliar entries. Verify your phones, televisions, cameras, printers and smart-home devices before assuming the network has been compromised.
Final Thoughts
When an unknown device appears on your Wi-Fi, identify it before taking action. If it is unauthorised, block it and immediately change both the Wi-Fi password and router administrator password.
Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption, disable WPS, install firmware updates and create a separate guest network. Reviewing your connected-device list regularly can help you detect suspicious access before it becomes a larger security problem.
