If you opened your router’s app and spotted a gadget called something like “DESKTOP-7F2Q9” or just “unknown” that you do not recognise, you are probably wondering how to remove an unknown device from Wi-Fi. It is an uncomfortable discovery. Someone — or something — could be riding on the connection you pay for every month, slowing it down and sitting inside your home network.
The good news is that kicking an intruder off your network is usually a ten-minute job once you know where to look. This guide walks you through finding mystery devices, disconnecting them safely, and locking the door behind them so they cannot wander back in. Everything here works with the routers most UAE homes use, whether your connection comes from e& or du.
Quick Answer
Log in to your router’s admin panel or your provider’s app and open the list of connected devices. Identify the stranger, then disconnect it or block its MAC address so it can never reconnect. Then change your Wi-Fi password — this forces every device off the network, and only the ones you reconnect get back on. Finally, set your security to WPA2 or WPA3, switch off WPS, and create a guest network for visitors so your main password stays private.
Why Unknown Devices Show Up on Your Network
Before you start blocking things, it helps to know how a stranger ended up on your network in the first place. The most common reasons are surprisingly ordinary:
- Someone has your password. You shared it with a guest months ago, a neighbour guessed the default password printed on the router, or a previous tenant of your flat never lost access.
- WPS is switched on. Many routers ship with WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) enabled, which lets devices join with a button press or a short PIN instead of the full password.
- The password is weak. Short, predictable passwords can be guessed or cracked with automated tools, especially in apartment buildings where dozens of networks sit within range of each other.
- It is actually yours. Smart TVs, plugs, bulbs, cameras and game consoles often appear under cryptic names. That “unknown” device might be the smart plug you installed last year.
- The router is glitching. After a reboot or firmware hiccup, some routers show duplicate or stale entries for devices that are no longer connected.
This is why the first step is always identification, not blocking. Disconnect the wrong gadget and you might knock your own security camera or TV offline. If you have never looked at your connected-device list before, start with our guide on how to check which devices are connected to your router.
How to Remove an Unknown Device From Wi-Fi: Step-by-Step
Follow these steps in order. The whole process takes about ten minutes.
Step 1: Log in to your router
You have two ways in. Most e& and du routers can be managed through the provider’s app on your phone, which is the easiest route. Alternatively, open a browser on a device already connected to your Wi-Fi and type your router’s admin address — it is usually printed on the sticker underneath the router, often something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Log in with the admin username and password, which are also on that sticker unless you changed them.
Step 2: Open the connected-devices list
Look for a menu labelled “Connected Devices”, “Client List”, “DHCP Clients” or “My Network”. This shows every gadget currently on your Wi-Fi, usually with a device name, IP address and MAC address (a string like 8C:3B:AD:12:9F:44). Count them and compare against what you own: phones, laptops, TVs, tablets, smart speakers, plugs and cameras.
Step 3: Identify the mystery device before touching it
Resist the urge to block first and ask questions later. Check the tips in the identification section below — a few minutes of detective work prevents you from locking out your own devices. If you are confident a device is not yours, move to Step 4.
Step 4: Disconnect or block the device
Most modern routers let you select a device and hit “Disconnect”, “Block” or “Pause”. Disconnecting kicks it off right now, but it can rejoin if it still knows the password. Blocking its MAC address is stronger: the router will refuse that specific device every time it tries to connect, even with the correct password. Note the catch — MAC addresses can be faked by someone determined, so treat this as one layer of defence, not the whole wall.
Step 5: Change your Wi-Fi password
This is the decisive move. In your router’s wireless settings, set a new, long password — a passphrase of four or five random words with a few numbers mixed in works well and is easy to remember. Changing the password instantly disconnects every device on the network. Reconnect your own phones, laptops and smart gadgets one by one with the new password. Anything that does not come back was either not yours or something you forgot about — either way, you now know about it.
Step 6: Put guests on a guest network
If the intruder got in because you shared your password with a visitor, stop sharing the main one. Almost every router can broadcast a separate guest network with its own password. Guests get internet access but cannot see your computers, cameras or smart-home devices. Hand out the guest password freely and change it whenever you like without disrupting your own devices.
How to Identify a Mystery Device
Device names on routers are rarely helpful. Here is a quick decoder for the cryptic names you will commonly see:
| What you see | What it probably is |
|---|---|
| “Unknown” or a blank name | Often an older gadget, or a phone using a privacy feature that hides its real name |
| DESKTOP-XXXXXX or LAPTOP-XXXXXX | A Windows PC |
| Android-XXXX or a phone model name | An Android phone or tablet |
| ESP_XXXXXX or Tuya-XXXX | A smart plug, bulb, switch or sensor |
| Amazon-XXXX or Echo-XXX | An Amazon Echo speaker or Fire TV stick |
| A string of letters and numbers | Could be anything — check the MAC address vendor below |
Three practical tricks help when the name tells you nothing:
- Look up the MAC address vendor. The first half of a MAC address identifies the manufacturer. Search it online and you may learn the device is made by, say, a camera brand you own.
- Check the connection details. A device that connected at 3 a.m. and transfers large amounts of data is more suspicious than one that joined at 7 p.m. when your family was home.
- Use the switch-off test. Turn off your smart devices one at a time and refresh the router’s device list. When the mystery entry disappears, you have found your culprit.
How to Keep Unknown Devices Off for Good
Removing the intruder is only half the job. Lock things down so it does not happen again:
- Use a strong password and WPA2 or WPA3. In your wireless security settings, choose WPA2-AES at minimum, or WPA3 if your router offers it. These are the modern Wi-Fi security standards — never use the ancient WEP or “Open” modes.
- Change the router’s admin password. If a stranger reached your admin panel, they could undo everything. Replace the default admin login printed on the router’s sticker.
- Switch off WPS. It is convenient, but the PIN method has well-known weaknesses. Turn it off in the wireless settings.
- Keep your router’s firmware up to date. Manufacturers patch security holes regularly, and an outdated router is an easy target. See our guide on how to update router firmware for the exact steps.
- Set up a guest network for visitors, as described above, so your main password is shared with as few people as possible.
- Review the device list monthly. A quick glance every few weeks takes a minute and catches problems early. Our full walkthrough on how to secure your home Wi-Fi covers this routine in detail.
There is also a financial angle worth remembering: an intruder on your network could intercept unencrypted traffic, which is one more reason to protect logins and banking sessions. Read our guide on UAE banking fraud protection to see what else you can do to keep your accounts safe.
When It Is Probably Harmless
Not every mystery device is an intruder. Before you worry, rule out the innocent explanations:
- Your own smart-home gear. Plugs, bulbs, doorbells and cameras from budget brands show up with factory names like “ESP_84F3A2”. Check the list against everything you have plugged in.
- Phones with randomised MAC addresses. Modern iPhones and Android phones can present a different MAC address to each network for privacy, which some routers display as “unknown”.
- Your provider’s set-top box. Some e& and du TV boxes connect over Wi-Fi and appear as generic entries.
- Duplicates after a reboot. If the router restarted recently, you may see the same device listed twice — once with its old IP address and once with the new one. These ghosts clear themselves within a day.
If the device list looks odd in other ways — devices dropping off, speeds collapsing — the issue may be the router itself rather than an intruder. Our roundup of common router problems and solutions can help you tell the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will changing my Wi-Fi password kick the unknown device off?
Yes. The moment you change the password, every device is disconnected and must rejoin with the new one. This is the single most effective step, and it is why we recommend it even after blocking a device — blocking handles the device, but a new password handles anyone who knows the old one.
Can I find out exactly who the device belongs to?
Not precisely. A router shows device names, IP addresses and MAC addresses, but not the owner’s identity. A MAC vendor lookup tells you the manufacturer, and the switch-off test described above identifies your own gadgets. If a genuinely unknown device persists and you suspect wrongdoing, keep screenshots of the device list with timestamps.
Is blocking a MAC address enough to keep them out?
It stops casual intruders, but MAC addresses can be spoofed by someone with basic technical knowledge. Treat MAC blocking as a useful extra layer alongside a strong password, WPA2/WPA3 encryption and disabled WPS — not as a replacement for them.
Should I reset my router to factory settings?
Only as a last resort. A factory reset wipes your password, guest network and every custom setting, and you will need to set the router up again from scratch. Try changing the Wi-Fi password, updating the firmware and disabling WPS first — that combination resolves the vast majority of cases.
The device keeps coming back. What now?
If a blocked device reappears, someone nearby likely still has your password or is rejoining through WPS. Change the Wi-Fi password to something long and unique, switch off WPS, update the firmware, and check for a guest network you forgot about. If it still returns after all that, contact your internet provider’s support line — they can check the router’s logs and, if needed, replace the unit.
Can someone steal my Wi-Fi even with a strong password?
It is far harder, but no system is perfect. Outdated firmware, WPS left enabled, or the old WEP encryption can each open a door that a strong password alone cannot close. That is why the full checklist — password, WPA2/WPA3, firmware updates, no WPS — matters more than any single step.
The Bottom Line
Seeing an unknown device on your network is unnerving, but it is a solvable problem. Identify the device, disconnect or block it, then change your Wi-Fi password so only your own gadgets get back on. Finish the job with WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, WPS switched off, up-to-date firmware and a guest network for visitors — and glance at your device list every few weeks. Ten minutes of maintenance now saves you from sharing your connection, your speed and your privacy with a stranger.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Paxi, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Paxi is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.