How Can I Check If Someone Is Using My Wi-Fi? 

Your Wi-Fi suddenly feels slower. A device you do not recognise appears on your network. Or maybe you shared the password with a guest or neighbour months ago and are wondering whether they still have access. 

The easiest way to check is to look at the devices currently connected to your router. From there, you can work out what belongs to your household, spot anything unfamiliar and change your Wi-Fi password if needed. 

One thing to keep in mind: an unfamiliar device does not automatically mean someone has gained access to your Wi-Fi. Phones, smart TVs, speakers and other connected devices can appear under names you do not immediately recognise. 

So before assuming the worst, check what is actually connected. 

Signs Someone Else May Be Using Your Wi-Fi 

Slow Wi-Fi on its own is not proof that another person is using your connection. 

There are plenty of other reasons your connection may feel slower, from weak Wi-Fi coverage to someone at home downloading a large game or streaming in 4K. 

But there are a few things worth checking if something feels different: 

• Your Wi-Fi has suddenly become much slower than usual 
• Downloads are taking longer 
• Streaming regularly starts buffering 
• You see devices connected that you do not recognise 
• Your connection slows down when nobody at home should be using much bandwidth 
• You have shared your Wi-Fi password with guests, neighbours or previous housemates

If the only problem is speed, start by checking your connection before assuming another user is the cause. You can run a broadband speed test to see how your current connection is performing. 

How to See What Devices Are Connected to Your Wi-Fi 

You normally will not see every device connected to your home Wi-Fi from your phone’s Wi-Fi settings. You need to check through your router instead. 

The steps below are for Imagine customers. If you use another broadband provider, check their support guide or router instructions, as the login details and menus may be different. 

If you have Imagine 5G broadband: 

1. Connect your phone or computer to your Imagine Wi-Fi.
2. Open a web browser and enter the IP address for your router. You can find the correct IP address for your device in our 5G router guide.  
3. If it is your first time logging in, you will be asked to create a password for secure router management.  
4. Once logged in, check the router dashboard for a section showing connected or network devices.  

If you have Imagine Fibre broadband: 

1. Connect your phone or computer to your Imagine Wi-Fi.  
2. Open a web browser and enter the IP address for your router. You can find the correct IP address for your device in our Fibre router guide.  
3. Enter the router login details shown on the sticker on the back of your router.  
4. Once logged in, check the router dashboard for a section showing connected or network devices.  

You may see phones, laptops, televisions, games consoles, tablets, smart speakers, security cameras and other connected devices. 

Do not worry if every name is not immediately obvious. 

A phone might appear under the manufacturer’s name or model number rather than something easy to recognise. The same can happen with TVs, smart-home devices and older devices that are still connected to the network.

How Do I Know If an Unknown Device Is Actually Someone Else? 

Found something you do not recognise? Check your own devices first. 

Homes have more Wi-Fi-connected equipment than most of us realise, and it is easy to forget about an old phone, tablet or smart device. 

Try this: 

• Ask everyone at home which devices they have connected 
• Check smart TVs, speakers, printers, cameras and consoles 
• Look for older phones and tablets 
• Turn one device off and refresh the connected-device list 
• Repeat until you can match the devices on the network

You may find that the mysterious device was sitting in your home all along. 

If you still cannot identify it, especially if you have shared your Wi-Fi details in the past, it is worth securing the network. 

What Should I Do If Someone Is Using My Wi-Fi? 

If there is a device you cannot account for, changing your Wi-Fi password is the simplest way to remove access. 

Once the password changes, devices using the old password should no longer be able to reconnect unless the new details are entered. 

A good next step is to: 

• Change your Wi-Fi password 
• Choose a strong password that is difficult to guess 
• Reconnect the devices you recognise 
• Check the connected-device list again 
• Avoid sharing the new password unnecessarily

This also gives you a clean start. Instead of trying to work out exactly who owns every device, you reconnect only the ones that should have access. 

Imagine customers can follow the relevant step-by-step guide for their broadband service: 

• How to change your Wi-Fi name or password on your 5G router  
• How to change your Wi-Fi name or password on your Fibre router 

Can Someone Using My Wi-Fi Make My Internet Slower? 

Yes, particularly when they are doing something that uses a lot of bandwidth. 

Every device connected to your network shares the available connection. 

If another device is downloading a large file, streaming high-quality video or gaming online, there is less capacity available for everything else. 

The effect is more noticeable when several devices are doing bandwidth-heavy activities at the same time. 

But it is important not to jump straight to the conclusion that another person is responsible. 

Your Wi-Fi may also feel slow because: 

• Several people in your household are online at once 
• A game or software update is downloading in the background 
• Your device is too far from the router 
• Wi-Fi coverage is weak in part of the house 
• The router is positioned behind furniture or inside a cabinet 
• Several smart devices are connected at the same time 

Not sure how your connection is performing? Run a broadband speed test to check your current speeds and see whether the issue could be with your connection. 

How to Keep Your Home Wi-Fi Secure 

You do not need to check the connected-device list every day. A few simple habits can make it much less likely that unwanted devices stay connected. 

Use a strong Wi-Fi password 

Avoid obvious passwords such as your surname, address or a simple number sequence. 

A longer password made from a combination of words, numbers and characters is harder to guess. 

Be careful who you share it with 

Giving the Wi-Fi password to a visitor gives their device access until the password changes. 

That may not matter for friends and family, but it is worth remembering if you have shared your password widely over time. 

Change old passwords when needed 

If a previous housemate, guest or neighbour no longer needs access, changing your password is the easiest way to make sure old devices cannot reconnect. 

Keep track of what is connected 

You do not need to recognise every technical device name immediately, but it is useful to have a rough idea of how many phones, TVs, laptops, consoles and smart devices should normally be connected. 

A sudden extra device is easier to spot when you know what usually belongs there. 

Keep your router up to date 

Router updates can include security and performance improvements. Where updates are managed automatically by your broadband provider, leave the router connected so updates can be applied when available. 

What If My Wi-Fi Is Still Slow? 

If you have checked the connected devices and your Wi-Fi is still slow, the problem may be your connection or Wi-Fi coverage rather than an unwanted user. 

Start with a broadband speed test. If speeds are consistently lower than expected, it may be worth checking what other broadband options are available at your address. 

Thinking about changing provider? Read our guide to switching broadband in Ireland before you move. 

Check what Imagine offers at your address →