Hotspot Watcher

Help with your hotspot

Know the devices on your network.

Hotspot Watcher discovers local IP and MAC addresses, looks for advertised device names, and lets you add your own names and icons.

Requires iOS 27 or later

Start a scan

  1. On the iPhone providing the hotspot, open Settings > Personal Hotspot and enable Allow Others to Join.
  2. Connect another device to that hotspot. Keep it awake for the first scan.
  3. Open Hotspot Watcher, refresh the network list, and choose the hotspot's bridge interface. Tap Scan for devices and allow Local Network access if prompted.
  4. Tap a result to view details, save a name, or choose a smartphone, tablet, or computer icon.

You can also select another directly connected local network. Verify the selected interface and IP address before scanning.

What each result means

Responded

The device replied during the latest completed scan.

Cached

The address was in the network cache but did not reply. It may have disconnected.

Previous

The device was seen earlier in this session. Its current connection is unverified.

If something is missing

No devices or hotspot interface

Confirm another device is connected and awake. Return to Hotspot Watcher, refresh networks, check the selected interface, and scan again. If permission was denied, enable Hotspot Watcher in Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network.

No name or MAC address

Some devices do not advertise a Bonjour hostname. iOS may hide a MAC address, and private addresses can change. You can save your own name and icon in device details. A manufacturer match does not identify the device model or owner.

A scan stopped

Keep the app open while scanning. Automatic refresh runs only while the app is active. Start a fresh scan after returning to the app.

Discovery is a snapshot, not Apple's official hotspot client list. Sleeping devices and devices that block probes may be missed. Hotspot Watcher cannot turn on your hotspot, disconnect clients, inspect their traffic, or guarantee a complete list.

Contact support

Email Daniel at Walzak Software & AI LLC. Include your iOS version, app version, and what happened. Share screenshots or network addresses only if you are comfortable doing so.

Email support

daniel@walzak.org