How To Tell If Your Neighbour Is Using Your Wi-Fi

A slow connection can be frustrating, especially when several people are streaming, gaming, or working from home. An unfamiliar device connected to your wireless network may indicate that someone has guessed your password, shared it without permission, or accessed an old router setting.

The safest approach is to check the router’s connected-device list before making assumptions. A phone, smart TV, printer, security camera, or gaming console may appear under a name you do not recognise. In an Australian home, an NBN modem-router supplied by Telstra, Optus, TPG, or Aussie Broadband can show these devices in different ways.

You can usually remove unwanted access without confronting a neighbour or installing suspicious software. Identify the device, change the Wi-Fi credentials, use modern encryption, and reconnect your own equipment carefully. These steps work for most homes, apartments, granny flats, and share houses.

Sign	Possible explanation	Sensible response
Internet slows at regular times	Streaming, updates, or an extra user	Check connected devices and data usage
An unfamiliar phone or laptop appears	A guest, old device, or unauthorised user	Match it against devices in your home
Wi-Fi password no longer works	Someone changed the network settings	Log in through the router or contact your ISP
Unknown devices return after removal	The password is still exposed or WPS is enabled	Change the password and disable WPS
Only one device has problems	Local device, signal, or DNS issue	Test the whole network before blaming Wi-Fi sharing

Check Which Devices Are Connected

Start by opening your router’s administration page or mobile app. Common addresses include 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.1.1, though the correct address is often printed on the modem label. Some Australian broadband providers manage settings through their own app, while others use a web dashboard.

Look for a menu called “Connected Devices”, “Attached Devices”, “Network Map”, “Client List”, or something similar. You may see device names, IP addresses, MAC addresses, connection types, and sometimes how much data each device has used. Take a screenshot or write down the list before disconnecting anything.

Compare the list with everything in your home. Remember that newer iPhones, Android phones, tablets, and laptops can use private or randomised MAC addresses. This means a familiar device may appear with a generic name or a changing identifier. Turn off Wi-Fi on your own devices one at a time and refresh the list to see which entry disappears.

An unknown device is evidence that needs checking, not proof that your neighbour is responsible. It could be a visitor’s phone, a smart speaker, a Fetch TV box, a printer, or an old device that reconnects automatically.

Confirm Whether Your Network Is Being Shared

Router logs can reveal useful patterns. Check the connected-device history, DHCP list, wireless events, or data-usage screen if your model provides one. A device that appears overnight, uses a large amount of data, or connects from outside your household deserves closer attention.

You can also run a speed test at different times of day using a reputable service. Compare the result with the speed included in your plan, but remember that an NBN connection can slow for reasons unrelated to an intruder. Wi-Fi distance, congestion, an outdated modem, and peak-hour network conditions can all affect performance.

In an apartment block or a closely packed suburb, nearby networks may appear in your Wi-Fi list because radio signals travel through walls and across driveways. Seeing a neighbour’s network name does not mean they are using yours. The key evidence is an unfamiliar client listed inside your router’s own network.

Avoid trying to access another person’s device, guess their credentials, or use tools designed to disrupt wireless connections. Those actions can create legal and technical problems. Focus on securing equipment and accounts that you own.

Change The Wi-Fi Password And Security Mode

If you find an unauthorised connection, change the wireless network name and password from the router settings. Use a long, unique passphrase with at least 14 characters. A series of unrelated words with numbers or punctuation is easier to remember than a short, complicated password.

Choose WPA3-Personal when every important device supports it. Otherwise, use WPA2-Personal with AES. Avoid WEP, WPA, and open networks because they provide weak protection. Many newer Australian routers offer a mixed WPA2/WPA3 mode, which can help older smart-home products remain connected while newer devices use stronger security.

Change the router administrator password as well. This is separate from the Wi-Fi password and protects the settings page itself. If you have used the same password for email, shopping, or banking, replace it there too. Do not share the administrator login with guests or tradespeople.

After saving the changes, all devices will disconnect. Reconnect your phone, computer, smart TV, printer, cameras, and consoles using the new details. If the router offers a QR code for joining the network, use it only with people you trust.

Block Unwanted Devices Safely

Some routers include a “Block”, “Pause”, or “Remove Access” button beside each connected device. This can stop the device immediately, but it is not a complete fix if the person knows the current password. Blocking by MAC address can also be unreliable because many modern devices randomise that address.

The stronger solution is to change the Wi-Fi password first, then disable WPS. WPS lets compatible devices join using a button or short PIN, and leaving it enabled can weaken your network security. Reboot the router after applying the changes and check the client list again.

For visitors, create a separate guest network rather than giving out the main password. A guest network can provide internet access while isolating shared devices such as storage drives, printers, and smart-home controls. Give it a different name and password, and turn it off when it is no longer needed.

If a device returns after the password change, check whether it belongs to your household. Reset old range extenders, smart plugs, cameras, and streaming boxes before reconnecting them. If the router settings keep changing or you cannot remove an account with administrator access, contact your ISP’s support team.

Keep Your Home Network Secure

Install firmware updates for the modem-router and update the operating systems on phones, computers, televisions, and smart devices. Updates can fix vulnerabilities that attackers use to enter a network. Replace an ageing router if it no longer receives security updates or supports WPA2 or WPA3.

Place the router in a central indoor position rather than beside a window or exterior wall. Reducing unnecessary signal range can make casual access from a footpath, neighbouring unit, or shared driveway less likely. Do not hide the router in a cabinet that blocks ventilation, because overheating can create dropouts that look like unauthorised usage.

Review the device list every few months, especially after hosting guests, moving house, or adding smart-home equipment. Label known devices in the router app where possible. If you rent in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, or elsewhere, keep the ISP equipment details available before resetting anything, since some providers require specific connection settings.

The practical takeaway is simple: verify the device list, change both router and Wi-Fi credentials, disable WPS, reconnect trusted equipment, and use a guest network for visitors.