# How to See Devices Connected to Your Wi-Fi on Windows 11

URL: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-see-devices-connected-to-wifi-windows-11/
Published: 2026-11-13 | Author: Ankit Kumar
Tags: Windows 11, Wi-Fi, Network
Summary: See what is on your Wi-Fi from a Windows 11 PC: the router's device list, arp -a, and File Explorer, and how to identify and remove a device you do not know.
Recommended app: Network Insights, https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/network-monitor/ (Microsoft Store: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NGCWN2BKVSC?hl=en-us&cid=mytechnician-web). Optional; every step below uses built-in Windows tools.

## The Problem
The internet is slower than it should be, or you want to know whether a neighbour is using your Wi-Fi. Windows shows the network you are on, but not who else is on it.

Only the router has the full list, because every device asks it for an address. Windows can show part of the picture.

## Pick a Method
Start at the top. Each row down handles a case the one above cannot.

| Method | Cost | Best when |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Router device list](#step-1) | Free | You can sign in to the router |
| [arp -a in Terminal](#step-2) | Free, built in | No router password, quick check |
| [File Explorer Network](#step-3) | Free, built in | Finding PCs, printers, and TVs |

## Step 1: Check the Router's Device List
1. Press **Win + R**, type `cmd`, and press **Enter**.
2. Run `ipconfig` and note the **Default Gateway** under your Wi-Fi adapter, for example `192.168.1.1`.
3. Type that address into the browser's address bar.
4. Sign in. The password is often on a sticker on the router, or in your internet provider's app.
5. Look for **Connected devices**, **Attached devices**, **Device list**, or **DHCP clients**.

The list shows each device's name, IP address, and MAC address. Many provider routers have an app that shows the same list on your phone.

## Step 2: List Nearby Devices with arp -a
Windows keeps a short table of devices it has exchanged traffic with on the local network.

1. Open **Terminal**.
2. Run:

```
arp -a
```

3. Under your Wi-Fi adapter's address, each **dynamic** entry is a device this PC has talked to recently. Entries ending in `.255` and starting with `224.` or `239.` are broadcast and multicast addresses, not devices.

The [arp table](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/arp) is a partial view. A phone that has not talked to this PC will not appear, so use the router list when you need everything.

> **Want a running list on this PC?** [Network Insights](https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/network-monitor/) keeps a list of the devices this PC has talked to, with first-seen and last-seen times, and can alert you when a new one appears or the router's address changes.

## Step 3: See Shared Devices in File Explorer
1. Open **Settings** → **Network & internet** → **Wi-Fi** → your network, and set **Network profile type** to **Private network**. Only do this on your own home network.
2. Open **File Explorer** and choose **Network** in the left pane. Turn on network discovery if Windows asks.

PCs, network printers, smart TVs, and media servers that announce themselves appear here. Phones and most smart-home devices do not.

## Step 4: Identify a Device You Do Not Recognise
* **Check the name.** Phones and laptops usually report a name such as "Pixel-8" or "DESKTOP-4FJ2K".
* **Check the MAC address.** The first six characters identify the maker. Search for them with the words "MAC vendor lookup".
* **Allow for private addresses.** Phones on iOS, Android, and Windows can use a random MAC address per network, so a family phone can look unfamiliar.
* **Switch things off.** Turn off devices one at a time and refresh the router list to see which entry disappears.

## Step 5: Remove a Device You Do Not Want
1. In the router, change the Wi-Fi password and use **WPA2** or **WPA3** security. Every device has to reconnect with the new password.
2. Turn off **WPS** in the router settings. It is a common way in.
3. Reconnect your own devices. Anything that stays off the list is gone.

Blocking a single device by MAC address in the router works too, but a determined user can change their MAC address. A new password is the reliable fix.

## FAQ

### Can Windows 11 show all devices on my Wi-Fi without the router?
No. Windows sees only devices that talk to this PC or announce themselves on the network. The router's list is the only complete one.

### Why do I see devices with strange names?
Smart plugs, TVs, speakers, and printers often report a model code instead of a friendly name. Check the MAC vendor, or switch devices off one at a time to match them.

### Does someone on my Wi-Fi slow down my internet?
Only when they use it heavily, for example streaming or downloading. Change the password if you find a device that should not be there.

Related: [fix slow Wi-Fi speeds](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-slow-wifi-speeds-windows-11/) and [find your Wi-Fi password](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-find-wifi-password-windows-11/).

---
Source: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-see-devices-connected-to-wifi-windows-11/ (My Technician, free Windows 10/11 troubleshooting guides).
Related tool: Network Insights (Network Insights shows real-time bandwidth usage, active connections, and per-app network traffic on Windows 10 and 11.): https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/network-monitor/
More guides: https://www.mytechnician.tech/llms.txt