Who Is Connected to Your Wi-Fi? How to See It and Block Intruders

Is your internet crawling in the evening? Are your files downloading at a snail’s pace even though nobody seems to be doing anything heavy at home or at the office? Before you blame your provider, there is a simple question to ask: who is actually connecting to your network? A neighbour who is a little too curious, a former employee whose phone reconnects on its own, a device you forgot you installed. Every connected device shares the same bandwidth and, above all, the same access to your network.

The good news is that you do not need to be a technician to clean house. In a few minutes, you can list everything connected to your Wi-Fi, spot what has no business being there and close the door. Here is the method step by step, for the home as much as for a small business in Trois-Rivières or elsewhere in the Mauricie.

1. Why you should know who is connected to your Wi-Fi

An open or poorly protected network is an invitation. Devices connected to your Wi-Fi without permission do more than slow your connection down. They share the same local network as your computers, your backups and your printers. If one of them is infected or malicious, it is already inside your digital walls.

For a small business, the stakes go up a notch. A personal phone, a cheap camera or a forgotten connected object can serve as a way in to your client data. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security in fact recommends knowing at all times which devices are on your network and keeping guests separated. Taking stock of who is connecting at your place is the basic step. If you want to go further and hand this monitoring off, our managed IT services include exactly that kind of device tracking on your network.

Here is what an intruder on your Wi-Fi can lead to:

• A slower connection for everyone, especially at peak hours.
• Possible access to shared files and to the devices on the network.
• Use of your IP address for questionable activity, under your name.
• A higher risk of a virus spreading from one device to another.

2. The quick method: your router’s page

The most reliable way to see everything connected to your Wi-Fi is to go through the router itself. It is the router that hands out access, so it knows every device. Here is how to get in.

Open a browser on a device already connected to the network and type your router’s address in the address bar. The most common ones are 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1. On Windows 11, you can find that address by opening Command Prompt and typing ipconfig: it is the Default Gateway line.

Sign in with the router’s administration password. It is often on a label stuck to the bottom of the device. Once inside, look for a section called Connected devices, Devices, DHCP list or Network map, depending on the brand. You will see the name of each device, its IP address and its MAC address (a unique identifier).

A tip for reading the list properly

The names are not always clear. A phone may show up under a generic model name, a game console under a string of digits. The trick: temporarily turn off a device you recognize, refresh the list and see which one disappears. Working through them one at a time, you eventually identify everybody. Whatever is left with no explanation deserves your attention.

3. Checking from Windows 11 or from an app

If you would rather not dig around in the router, there are simpler options. On Windows 11, open File Explorer and click Network in the left menu. You will see some of the devices visible on the local network, such as computers and shared printers. It is not a complete list, but it gives you a quick first look.

For a more detailed picture, free network scanning apps exist for phones and computers. They sweep the network and show each device along with its manufacturer, which helps you put a name to an obscure identifier. That is handy when you want a regular look without opening the router page every time.

Whether you go through the router, through Windows or through an app, the goal stays the same: get a clear list, then compare it with what you actually own. Write your legitimate devices down on paper (computers, phones, TV, game console, printer, thermostat, cameras). Anything beyond that list is a candidate for a closer look.

4. How to recognize an intruding device

You have your list in front of you and one device means nothing to you. Before you panic, sort things out. Plenty of everyday objects connect to Wi-Fi without anyone thinking about it: a smart TV, a connected light bulb, a watch, a voice assistant, a robot vacuum. The manufacturer name shown in the list often helps you tie them back to something you own.

A device deserves a closer look when it combines several of these signs:

• A completely unknown name that matches none of your devices.
• A presence that persists even when you have turned off all your usual devices.
• A manufacturer you have never bought from.
• Network activity when nobody is supposed to be online.

If doubt remains after these checks, treat the device as unwanted and block it. We show you how in the next section. For a company with several employees and devices, sorting all this out can quickly become a headache: that is exactly the kind of situation where our team in Trois-Rivières can do the inventory for you.

5. Blocking an intruder and locking down your network

The simplest and most effective way to eject everything connected to your Wi-Fi without permission: change the network password. In the router’s administration page, go to the wireless settings, choose a strong new password, then save. Every unauthorized device drops off the network at once. All you have to do is reconnect your legitimate devices with the new password.

Take the opportunity to tighten security while you are in there. These settings sharply reduce the chance of an intruder coming back:

• Turn on WPA3 encryption if your router supports it, or WPA2 at a minimum. Microsoft and the hardware makers recommend these standards for a well-protected network.
• Turn off WPS, the push-button connection feature that also makes intrusions easier.
• Change the router’s administration password, especially if it is still the factory one.
• Create a separate guest network for visitors and connected objects, to keep them away from your main computers.
• Keep the router firmware up to date to close known flaws.

Some routers also let you block a specific device by its MAC address. That is useful for shutting out a persistent neighbour, but it can be worked around. Changing the password combined with solid encryption remains your best day-to-day protection.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if someone is using my Wi-Fi without permission?

Open your router’s administration page and look at the list of connected devices. Compare it with the devices you actually have. Anything that matches nothing you own is suspicious. A connection that suddenly slows down is another classic clue.

Does changing my Wi-Fi password disconnect intruders?

Yes. As soon as you change the network password, every connected device is disconnected, unwanted ones included. You then have to reconnect your own devices with the new password. It is the fastest and safest method.

Can a neighbour really reach my files through Wi-Fi?

If your network is poorly protected and your folders are shared without a password, it is possible. A device connected to your local network can try to reach shared resources. Solid encryption and a separate guest network greatly reduce that risk.

Secure your network with a team from the Mauricie

Cleaning up your Wi-Fi takes a few minutes, but keeping a network healthy over time takes a bit of follow-up, especially in a business. If you want a properly segmented network, devices under control and protection that holds up, our IT security services cover all of it for small businesses in Quebec. Have a doubt about a device or a suspicious connection? Contact OKTO Solutions in Trois-Rivières and we will look at it with you.