Devices on my Google mesh network

[SadFace]

I'm not actually sure if I have a Mesh or Nest router. I was wandering around in the Home App on my phone and SOMEWHERE I came across a list of connected devices, showing known items like my phone, my iPad and Mac, along with some others listed as Unnamed or Unknown, all showing some connected speed or activity. 

I disconnected my dryer, because I don't use the wifi features, then I wanted to identify the unknown itms that showed some activity. BUT I can't figure out how to get BACK to that screen. Now when I open Google Home App and tap on All devices, it ONLY shows the two access points (one in my guest room, and one in the kitchen). But NO list of specific items, like my Mac or iPad or anything else. 

HOW do I get back to that detailed list of devices, NOT just the two access points?

Thanks, Pat

[kcruzgonzalez]

Hi @SadFace,

Thanks for posting on the community. I understand you were able to see a detailed list of every device connected to your Google Nest WiFi network, including their connected activity, but now you can't find that specific screen again. I can certainly help you find that detailed list of your connected devices.

The screen you are looking for is located within the WiFi settings of your Google Home app, which manages your Nest or Google WiFi system. The main "Devices" tab on the Home app's main screen typically only shows your smart home devices (like speakers, lights, and thermostats), but the network-level device list is accessed differently.

Here are the step-by-step instructions to get back to the full list of devices connected to your WiFi network:

• Open the Google Home app on your phone.
• On the main screen, look for and tap the WiFi icon. This icon usually looks like a green or grey dome/wave symbol.
  • Note: On some versions of the app, this icon may be located under the Favorites tab or next to the Devices tab, but it should be clearly a WiFi symbol.
• On the next screen, you should see your WiFi network's status. Tap the "Devices" tab on that menu.
• This should bring you to the comprehensive list of all devices connected to your network—both currently active and those that have connected recently.

Once you are on that screen, you can tap on the "Unnamed" or "Unknown" items to view more details, such as their IP address and MAC address, which are the keys to identifying them. You can then rename them within the app (e.g., "Guest Tablet 1") to make them easier to identify in the future.

Please let me know if following these steps gets you back to the list you were looking for!

Regards,

Kevin

[SadFace]

Thanks so much, Kevin! That's exactly what I was looking for! I was on the icon next to the WiFi (four small squares). I THOUGHT I'd tapped the WiFi also, but apparently not. 

Now I see devices I recognize and 5 that are the same light-blue-gray a the named devices, and the 5 all say "Unnamed device" Idle. Each shows Type Unknown, Connection status Great, connection (some are on 2.4 and some on 5.0 Ghz) and each has a MAC address and IP address. Is there a way for me to detect exactly WHAT those unnamed devices are? 

I guess I could pause all of them and see what breaks, but I was hoping for a logical way to go forward.  

Farther down the list are quite a number of grayed-out items - some are iphones, and a mac that I used to own, plus screen after screen of unnamed devices, all showing offline. Is there a way to delete those? 

Thanks for your help!  Pat

[kcruzgonzalez]

Hi @SadFace,

Thank you for your response. I'm glad the initial steps I provided helped you find the detailed list of connected devices! I understand you have a few follow-up questions about identifying the "Unnamed devices" and cleaning up the list of "Offline" devices, and I'd be happy to guide you on the next best steps.

• The easiest way to identify an unnamed device is to unplug a different device in your home one at a time. If the "Unnamed device" disappears from the list shortly after you unplug a specific gadget, you've found a match! You can then rename it in the app (e.g., "Living Room Lamp Plug").
• The "Pause and Test" Method (Your Idea): You can certainly pause the connection for an unnamed device and then check if a specific, expected gadget (like a smart speaker or a light) loses its functionality.
  • On the detailed device list screen, tap on one of the "Unnamed device" listings.
  • Look for the "Pause" button and tap it.
  • Wait a minute, then check the smart devices in your home. When you find one that no longer works, you can un-pause the connection and then use the rename feature in the app to label it.

• The MAC Address Search: If you are comfortable, you can use the MAC address shown for the unnamed device and search for the first three pairs of characters (known as the Organizationally Unique Identifier or OUI) on a third-party website (like a MAC address lookup tool). This can sometimes tell you the device's manufacturer (e.g., "TP-Link," "Samsung"), which can give you a major clue as to what the device is.

Deleting Grayed-Out "Offline" Devices

The greyed-out items in your list represent devices that have connected to your network in the past but are currently offline. This is essentially your network's memory of past connections.

Unfortunately, the Google Home app and Nest WiFi system currently do not provide an option to permanently delete or manually remove these greyed-out offline devices from the list. The network automatically manages this list, and devices typically remain on it for some time after they have disconnected, but eventually, the list should clear itself of very old, inactive devices.

I recommend you submit this as feedback through this feedback form, as this is a common request from users who wish to clean up their list of past/legacy devices like old phones and computers.

Please let me know if the "Pause and Test" method successfully helps you identify and rename those five devices!

Regards,

Kevin

[SadFace]

Kevin, Again, thanks for your helpful reply. I did just complete the feedback form, but no one really knows if anyone reads those or takes any action!

I followed your directions and checked on the 5 unnamed devices and recorded their MAC OUIs to research. Two of them revealed that they were AMPAK Tech, but nothing more. Googling on AMPAK brought up a reddit thread where someone posted 4 years ago about looking for an AMPAK OUI;  he had SimpliSafe security, and when he checked their app, found that his cameras were the culprits. I did the same and was able to identify those items. FYI, I found that I could change the NAME of the device, but it still showed up on the list as and Unnamed Device in the list ( I couldn't edit the "Type" from Unknown) - but when I quit the home app and reopened it, the change was applied. 

Mysteriously, when I went back to review unnamed devices a couple had just disappeared, leaving one last unnamed device whose MAC OUI pointed to Hunan-FN-link; googling that took me to another reddit thread where someone said they found it on their robot vacuum -that's what mine turned out to be also!

So thanks for your patience and guiding hand to get my devices identified.   Pat