Many Xiaomi smartphone owners face sudden declines in mobile internet speeds or unexplained traffic consumption. Often, the cause is active background updates of applications, but there is a more alarming scenario - unauthorized access to your local network. If you distribute the Internet through an access point or just want to secure your home Wi-Fi, you need to know exactly what gadgets are currently on the network.
In the operating system MIUI And the new HyperOS has built-in tools to monitor connections, but they're not always obvious to the average user. MAC-Understanding these processes will help you respond quickly to suspicious activity.
In this article, we will take a look at all the verification methods available, from standard Android settings to advanced network scanners, and learn not only to identify “neighbors” across the network, but also to effectively block them and prevent repeated intrusions. The security of your personal data depends on controlling the entry points into your digital ecosystem.
Use of built-in MIUI and HyperOS functions
The fastest way to get the basic connectivity information is to go to the standard shell tools, and in Xiaomi smartphones, the Security app is pre-installed on all the brand devices, which aggregates network activity data and allows you to visually assess the load on the communication channel.
To get started, you need to run the Security app and find the Wi-Fi partition. Depending on the firmware version, this item may be called "Wi-Fi Assistant" or "Network Analysis," where the system displays the current connection status and suggests optimization, during which active nodes are often identified.
However, it is worth noting an important nuance: standard Android tools on a phone that acts as a client do not always show a complete list of all devices on the network, unless you have superuser rights (Root).
- 📱 Open the Settings menu and go to the Wi-Fi section".
- 🔍 Click on the arrow next to your network name to view details.
- 📡 In some versions MIUI This displays a list of other devices on the same network.
- ⚙️ Use the "Device Management" button in the "Security" application".
⚠️ Attention: The phone's built-in functionality often hides devices that are in sleep mode or not sharing data right now.
☑️ Basic security check
If you're giving away the Internet from your smartphone, it's a little bit easier. In the Settings hotspot menu → Wi-Fi hotspot → Connected devices, you'll see a comprehensive list of all the customers. You can not only see the name of the gadget, but you can also instantly break the connection or add the device to the blacklist.
Network analysis through third-party applications
When built-in tools are scarce, specialized tools from Google Play come to the rescue, using system APIs to scan the local network, sending requests to all possible addresses and recording responses, which allows a full map of connections, regardless of device activity.
One of the most popular and reliable tools is the Fing app, which does not require root rights and works on any version of Android. IP-address, MAC-addresses, equipment manufacturers and even models of routers or surveillance cameras.
Another worthy option is Network Analyzer, which provides more technical information, including ping to the gateway, DNS-For advanced users who want to understand what's going on in their network, this is an indispensable assistant.
Why do apps see more than settings?
When using such programs, it is important to pay attention to permissions. Network scanners need access to the local network and, in some cases, permission to determine the location, since in Android this is due to the ability to scan the Wi-Fi environment.
- 📥 Download a verified network scanner (such as Fing or Who Uses My WiFi).
- 🔌 Make sure your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the devices being checked.
- 🚀 Run the scan and wait for the search process to complete.
- 📝 Compare the devices found with your list of techniques.
Checking through the router web interface
The most reliable method that gives information directly from the source of the Internet distribution is to log into the router's admin panel. The router knows about each connected device, because it assigns them to them. IP-address DHCP. This method works even for sleeper devices that are simply registered on the network.
You'll need the default gateway address to log in. On Xiaomi phones, you can find it in the Wi-Fi settings: click on the network name, and in the Gateway or Router field, you'll see an address, usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Type this address into the browser address bar.
After entering the login and password (often indicated on the sticker at the bottom of the router, if you have not changed them) go to the section, which may be called DHCP Client List, Customer List, Network Map, or Status, and you can see all active tenants. IP-address.
| Parameter | Description | Importance for verification |
|---|---|---|
| IP Address | Unique address of the device on the network | High (for locking) |
| MAC Address | Physical address of the network card | Critical (immutable ID) |
| Lease Time | Time for rent IP-address | Medium (indicates activity) |
| Device Name | Device name (often given by the user) | Low (can be faked) |
And that's where you can see devices that aren't displayed in apps on your phone, like wired computers or smart sockets that rarely get in touch. MAC-The address can be immediately entered into a filter or blacklist (Blacklist) directly in the router interface.
How to Identify Unknown Devices
When you find a device on the list, don't panic. Often, modern gadgets have names that don't tell the user anything, for example, android-d9f21a It's important to interpret this data correctly so that you don't block your own smart technology.
The first step is to check the number of devices you have at home: count how many smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, consoles and IoT devices (light bulbs, vacuum cleaners, cameras) if you have 15 devices on your router list and you only have 5 gadgets, then 10 of them are strangers or forgotten.
The second step is analysis. MAC-The first six characters of this code (OUI) They point to the manufacturer. There are online databases where you can type in this prefix and get to know the brand. For example, if you see a Huawei device and you have all the Apple hardware, that's a reason to check, unless you have a Huawei router.
- 🔎 Turn off Wi-Fi on all your devices in turn and watch which one disappears from the list.
- 🏠 Check it out. MAC-Addresses on the stickers of your smart devices (TVs, lamps).
- 📵 Temporarily turn off the router and turn on the devices one at a time, watching for the emergence of new lines.
- 📂 Save a screenshot of the list for comparison in the future.
⚠️ Note: Some devices may use the "random" function MAC-address (Randomized) MAC) This means that the same device can appear in the router's list as new every time you reconnect.
Methods of blocking and protecting the network
Once an uninvited guest is identified, they must be blocked. MAC-You can create a whitelist (access is allowed only to your own) or blacklist (access is forbidden to specific addresses).
The second, more radical method is to change the Wi-Fi password, which will shut down all devices, and then you have to re-enter the password on your hardware, which ensures that if the password is stolen or picked up, the attacker will lose access.
It is also recommended to disable WPS in router settings, which is designed to make connection easier, but has known vulnerabilities that allow attackers to recover passwords by brute force in a matter of hours.
💡
Changing the Wi-Fi password to a complex one (at least 12 characters, letters and numbers) is the only 100% guarantee of resetting access for all unauthorized devices.
Don't forget to update your router's firmware regularly.Manufacturers often close security holes through which hackers can access a customer list or admin panel.Configure automatic updates if your router model supports it.
Frequent problems with monitoring connections
Users often encounter a situation where the device is displayed as “Unknown” or has a strange device. IP-This could be related to settings. DHCP, when the router issues addresses from a non-standard pool, or using static IP client-side.
Another problem is dead souls, devices that were plugged in a month ago and renovated or sold may remain on the DHCP lease list until the timer expires, but are not active right now, but are formally listed on the table.
In some cases, antivirus software on Xiaomi phones can block network scanners, considering their actions suspicious. If the application does not find devices, try adding it to exceptions or temporarily disabling network protection.
- 🔄 Restart the router to clear the table ARP arch-record.
- 📶 Check if guest network mode is turned on, which isolates devices.
- 🛡️ Make sure the router firewall is active.
- 📱 Check out Xiaomi’s power saving settings that can “kill” background scanners.