How Can I See What Someone Is Doing When Connected To My Hotspot?

Using a mobile hotspot is an easy way to have WiFi on multiple devices even without a router. But when other people are using your hotspot, you may want to know what they’re doing. In this article, we will find out how you can see what someone is doing when they are connected to your hotspot!

While it’s easy to see what devices are connected to your hotspot, it can be quite challenging to actually see what people are doing on those devices. You can use an app to view what users are doing on your hotspot, but the applications need to be downloaded onto their devices. 

If you want to learn how to see which devices are connected to your hotspot, how to use an application to view what people are doing when connected, and even how to block someone from using your hotspot, keep reading!

How to See What Devices Are Connected to Your Hotspot

The first thing you should understand is how to see which devices are connected to your hotspot. 

And luckily, this is an incredibly simple process! Here’s what you need to do:

• Click the Setting icon on your mobile phone. 
• Navigate to Personal Hotspot (something it’s within the Cellular menu.)
• Once you select Personal Hotspot, if it’s on, a list of connected devices will appear on the bottom of the screen. 

It’s important to note that the names of the devices are often numerical and alphabetical sequences that don’t always make a lot of sense.

Although, sometimes the name will state the make and model of the device connected so if you know your roommate is using a Dell laptop, you can see when they are using your hotspot because it will say something like DELL -00-0909. 

But unless you know who is already connected to your hotspot and can defer which device is being used by individual people, it can be a challenge. 

Can You See What Someone is Doing When Connected to a Hotspot?

Now, can you see what someone is doing on those devices when they are connected to your hotspot?

Unfortunately, it is not easy to see what someone’s doing. Realistically, the technology itself is not set up to be able to see what someone else is doing when connected to your hotspot and without the proper applications, it’s pretty much out of the question. 

In fact, the only way to see what someone is doing is by having them download a software or app onto their device that allows the information of what they’re doing to be sent to you. 

Network Sharing Apps

For most of us, the tech knowledge required to set up a network sharing app on someone else’s device is simply too challenging and essentially impossible to use. 

However, if you do know a bit about computers and spyware, and you have access to the device you want to monitor, it is possible. 

The 3 most popular applications are as follows:

• WireShark
• Sniffer
• WiFiKill

It’s important to note that most of these programs work solely on computers, not mobile devices. Because cell phones are so easy to hack, they come equipped with programming to stop other devices from seeing what’s happening on your screen. 

So, if you don’t have access to the other person’s device, or if you’re not a tech guru, or the person connected to your hotspot is using a cell phone, the bad news is that you cannot see what someone else is doing on your hotspot. 

Can You Block Someone From Using Your Hotspot?

Finally, if you don’t want others using your hotspot due to the fact that you cannot see what they’re doing, there is an option to block the device. 

First of all, you can set a password to your hotspot that nobody knows. This is the easiest way to ensure no one is on your hotspot that you don’t approve of as they will not be able to access your hotspot without the password. 

To do so, simply navigate to the hotspot menu within your phone’s settings and opt to set a secret password. 

Also, you can block specific devices, but they need to first connect to your hotspot before you can block them. Once you see the device connected, simply click on it and select the option to block it. 

The Bottom Line

So, can you see what someone is doing when connected to your hotspot? Not really. 

Although it is technically possible with a spyware or network sharing app, unless you know a bit about computers and have access to the other device, it’s pretty much impossible.

But hopefully, you now understand how to block certain devices and set a password for your hotspot so that the people you don’t trust to use it won’t be able to.