How to See Which Devices Are Connected to Your Network from Linux
With nmap, including the clarification that the manufacturer shown is an estimate.
nmap is the standard tool for this on Linux — it doesn't come installed by default on many distributions, but gets added in seconds.
sudo apt install nmap
sudo nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24
Replace 192.168.1.0/24 with your network's actual
range (check your own IP with ip a if you're not sure —
it usually matches the first three numbers). -sn does a
quick scan, just to see what's "alive" on the network, without
scanning ports.
Use sudo — without administrator permissions, nmap
can't identify each device's manufacturer from its MAC address,
fairly useful information for recognising what each one is.
Tip: the manufacturer name nmap shows is an estimate based on the network chip, not always the manufacturer of the complete device — a Liteon wifi card inside an Asus laptop will show up as "Liteon", not "Asus". Don't be surprised if the name doesn't match what you expected.
If a device doesn't show up
This method only detects devices that respond actively — some with
aggressive power-saving modes might not answer at the exact moment of
the scan. For a truly complete list, your router's admin panel
(usually 192.168.1.1 in the browser) remains the most
reliable source.
Alternative: arp-scan
sudo apt install arp-scan
sudo arp-scan --localnet
Covers the same ground as nmap with -sn, with a
somewhat more direct output if you just need the list and nothing
more.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need sudo to use nmap?
Not for a basic scan, but without administrator permissions you won't get each device's manufacturer information, which is usually the most useful part for identifying them.
Why doesn't the manufacturer nmap shows match the device's actual brand?
Because it identifies the manufacturer of the specific network chip, not necessarily the brand of the complete device — it's common to see, for example, a component from a different manufacturer than the device's visible brand.
Why do some devices not show up in the scan?
Some devices with power-saving modes may not respond at the exact moment of the scan. Your router's admin panel shows a more complete list, including devices in sleep mode.