Fing is a powerful yet user-friendly network scanner app available for both Android and iOS. It excels at scanning and analyzing Wi-Fi networks, offering a range of features to understand and manage your network effectively. One of its most popular capabilities is displaying a list of devices connected to a Wi-Fi network, allowing you to see exactly who or what is online on your home, office, or even public Wi-Fi. This guide will walk you through how to use Fing network tools to gain insights into your network.
Getting Started with Fing
Using Fing is straightforward. First, you need to install the app, which is free and readily available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Once installed, launch Fing and initiate a network scan. Typically, within a couple of minutes, Fing will display a comprehensive list of all devices connected to your current network. This list provides valuable information about each device, including its IP address, MAC address, operating system, device name, brand/company name, and even the device model or type.
The results from a Fing network scan can be incredibly insightful. Here are a couple of practical applications:
Identify Who’s Home or in the Office
Instead of asking around, you can quickly get a sense of who is present at home or in the office by simply checking the device list in Fing. By recognizing the devices connected, you can infer who is likely around. Furthermore, Fing offers an “Alert me when state changes” option. This feature allows you to track the status of specific devices, notifying you when a device connects to or disconnects from the network.
Detect Unknown Devices and Network Intruders
While Fing automatically attempts to identify devices with standard names, it also allows users to manually assign custom names or labels like “Favorite” to devices they recognize. This personalization makes it easier to spot unfamiliar devices in the network device list. If you notice unidentified devices, especially if your Wi-Fi network is experiencing slow speeds, it could indicate unauthorized access. In such cases, it’s wise to change your Wi-Fi password immediately to secure your network.
Fing is available for free download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Price: Free
