How to Tell If There's an Unknown Device on Your Home Network
It can be a little unsettling to think there might be an unknown device lurking on your home network. Don't worry, we'll walk you through how to investigate and figure out what's what.
Before you panic and start blocking devices, it's really helpful to try and work out what the mystery device is first. Often, it's something harmless!
Why You Might See Unknown Devices
It's pretty common to spot devices on your network that you don't immediately recognise. This doesn't always mean a hacker has infiltrated your home! Modern homes are filled with smart gadgets, and sometimes these appear with generic names or odd identifiers.
- New smart TV, speaker, or appliance
- A visitor's phone, tablet, or laptop
- A device belonging to a housemate or family member you weren't aware was connected
- A device from a past visitor that is still remembered by your Wi-Fi
Check Your Router's Connected Devices List
Your Wi-Fi router is the heart of your home network, and it keeps a list of everything currently connected. This is usually the first and best place to start your investigation. Accessing your router's settings might sound a bit technical, but it's usually quite straightforward.
- Find your router's IP address (often printed on a sticker on the router, or search online for your router model).
- Open a web browser and type the IP address into the address bar.
- Log in with your router's username and password (also often on a sticker, or the default might be 'admin'/'password').
- Look for a section like 'Connected Devices', 'DHCP Clients', 'Device List', or 'Network Map'.
Identify Devices by Name or MAC Address
Once you're in your router's connected devices list, you'll see a lot of information. Each device will usually have a name (like 'John's iPhone' or 'Living Room TV') and a MAC address. The MAC address is a unique serial number for that specific network adapter.
- Compare the names you see to devices you own or that are in your home.
- Check the MAC addresses of your known devices (you can usually find this in the device's network settings, e.g., on a phone, go to Settings > About Phone > Wi-Fi MAC Address).
- Search for the first few pairs of digits of an unknown MAC address online (this can sometimes tell you the manufacturer, e.g., 'A4:XX:XX' might be Apple).
Temporarily Disconnect Known Devices
If you're still not sure about a devices, try this detective trick: disconnect *all* your known devices from the Wi-Fi. This means turning off Wi-Fi on your phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and unplugging any smart speakers or other connected gadgets. Then, check your router's connected devices list again.
- Disconnect all known devices from your Wi-Fi network.
- Refresh your router's connected devices page.
- Any devices that remain on the list are your prime suspects for being truly unknown.
What to Do If You Find a Truly Unknown Device
If you've gone through the steps and are confident there's still a truly unknown device connected, it's time to take action. The safest first step is to change your Wi-Fi password. This immediately kicks everyone off your network, including the intruder.
- Change your Wi-Fi password to a strong, unique one.
- Reconnect all your legitimate devices using the new password.
- Consider enabling a 'guest network' on your router for visitors so they don't need your main password.
- Regularly review your connected devices list as a good security habit.
Key takeaway
By systematically checking your router and cross-referencing devices, you can calmly identify most unknown devices. If you do find something genuinely suspicious, changing your Wi-Fi password is the quickest way to secure your network and keep your home safe.