How do I see all devices connected to my WiFi?

The easiest method: log into your router admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and look for Connected Devices, DHCP Client List, or Attached Devices. This shows every device with its IP address, MAC address, and often a hostname. Alternatively, use a network scanner app like Angry IP Scanner (Windows/Mac/Linux) or Fing (iOS/Android).

How do I find an unknown device on my network?

Get the device's MAC address from your router's DHCP list. The first 6 characters of a MAC address are the OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier) that identifies the manufacturer. Look up the OUI at macvendors.com — this tells you who made the device (e.g., Apple, Samsung, Raspberry Pi Foundation). Cross-reference with your known devices.

What is a network IP scanner?

A network IP scanner sends ping requests or ARP queries to every IP address in your local subnet and reports which ones respond. It can collect hostname, MAC address, open ports, and vendor information. Angry IP Scanner, Advanced IP Scanner, and Fing are popular free options.

How to Find All Devices on Your Network

Whether you want to verify what's on your network, find the IP of a specific device, spot unauthorized users, or just take inventory of your home network — here are all the methods, from simple to comprehensive.

Method 1: Router Admin Panel (Easiest)

Your router already tracks every connected device and makes this list available in its admin panel. This is the fastest method and requires no additional software.

Log in at your router's IP (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
Find the connected devices section — the label varies by brand:

Brand	Where to Find Device List
NETGEAR	Attached Devices (left sidebar)
TP-Link	Advanced → Network → DHCP Server → DHCP Client List
ASUS	Network Map (homepage) or Clients list
Linksys	Device List or WiFi → Connected Devices
Xfinity	10.0.0.1 → Connected Devices, or xFi app
Eero	Eero app → tap network → Devices
Google/Nest WiFi	Google Home app → Wi-Fi → Devices

You will see device names (often the device's hostname), IP addresses, MAC addresses, and connection type (WiFi band or Ethernet). The list shows devices with active DHCP leases — devices that connected but have been off for more than the lease period may not appear.

Method 2: Windows — Command Line

arp -a — Shows the ARP cache (recently seen devices on your network):

arp -a

This lists IP addresses and MAC addresses. Entries in the 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x range are your local network devices. The gateway IP (your router) will be in this list.

nmap scan — If you have nmap installed:

# Scan your entire subnet (replace with your subnet)
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

# Faster scan with OS detection
nmap -sn --osscan-guess 192.168.1.0/24

Get your subnet: Run ipconfig, look for your IPv4 address and subnet mask. A 192.168.1.x address with 255.255.255.0 mask means your subnet is 192.168.1.0/24.

Method 3: Mac — Terminal

# Quick ARP scan of your subnet
arp -a

# Comprehensive scan with nmap (install via Homebrew: brew install nmap)
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

# Or use arp-scan (brew install arp-scan)
sudo arp-scan --localnet

Method 4: Linux

# ARP cache
arp -n

# arp-scan (install: sudo apt install arp-scan)
sudo arp-scan --localnet

# nmap
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

# ip neighbor (modern replacement for arp)
ip neigh show

Method 5: Fing App (iOS / Android)

Fing is a free mobile network scanner that discovers all devices, shows device types, MAC addresses, manufacturer identification, and open ports. It works on both WiFi networks. Download from the App Store or Google Play, tap Scan Network, and within 30 seconds you have a full inventory with manufacturer identification.

Fing's manufacturer identification is based on MAC address OUI lookup and is accurate for most modern devices. It correctly identifies iPhones, Android phones, computers, smart TVs, routers, and IoT devices.

Method 6: Angry IP Scanner (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Angry IP Scanner (angryip.org) is a free open-source desktop scanner that scans any IP range and shows hostname, ping response time, open ports, MAC address, and vendor. It is more detailed than the router's device list and can scan subnets beyond your home network.

Download from angryip.org, run the installer, set the range to your subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254), and click Start. Results appear in real time.

Method 7: Advanced IP Scanner (Windows)

Advanced IP Scanner (advanced-ip-scanner.com) is a Windows-only tool that shows device names, MAC addresses, manufacturer, and allows you to connect to devices via RDP or shared folders directly from the scan results. It also shows which devices are online vs. offline. Free, no installation required.

Identifying Unknown Devices

Once you have a list of MAC addresses, identify unknown devices using the OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier) — the first 3 bytes (6 hex characters) of a MAC address identify the manufacturer:

Example MAC Start	Manufacturer	Likely Device
A4:C3:F0	Raspberry Pi Foundation	Raspberry Pi
B8:27:EB	Raspberry Pi Foundation	Raspberry Pi (older)
00:17:88	Philips / Signify	Hue Bridge or bulb
18:B4:30	Nest Labs (Google)	Nest thermostat or camera
68:37:E9	Amazon Technologies	Echo, Fire TV, or Kindle
F0:03:8C	Apple	iPhone, iPad, Mac
B0:7D:64	Xiaomi	Phone or smart home device

Look up any MAC address at macvendors.com or maclookup.app to get the full manufacturer name.

Assign Fixed IPs to Key Devices

Once you have identified your devices, set DHCP reservations in your router for any device you might need to reach by IP — servers, cameras, printers, game consoles, NAS drives. DHCP reservations map a specific MAC address to a permanent IP, so the device always gets the same address even after reboots. This makes port forwarding and local access predictable.

Monitoring for New Devices

For ongoing monitoring, Fing offers a home network monitoring feature that alerts you when new devices join. Router admin panels from ASUS (AiProtection) and NETGEAR (Armor) also provide intrusion notifications. Alternatively, the open-source ntopng or NetFlow Analyzer provide continuous visibility on self-hosted network monitoring setups.