How to get IP address and names of all devices in local network on Android

Getting IP Addresses and Names of Devices in a Local Network on Android

Knowing the IP addresses and names of devices in your local network can be helpful for various tasks, such as:

• Troubleshooting network issues
• Sharing files between devices
• Connecting to specific devices remotely

Android offers a few ways to achieve this, ranging from simple network scanning apps to using more technical command-line tools.

Method 1: Using a Network Scanning App

Available Apps

Several free apps available on the Google Play Store are designed specifically for network scanning. These apps typically provide a user-friendly interface for:

• Discovering devices on your network
• Displaying their IP addresses and hostnames (if available)
• Sometimes offering additional features like port scanning and network monitoring

Example: Fing

Fing is a popular network scanning app that provides a comprehensive overview of your network. Here’s how to use it:

1. Download and install the Fing app from the Play Store.
2. Launch the app and grant it the necessary permissions.
3. The app will automatically scan your network and display the detected devices.
4. Tap on a device to view its details, including its IP address, hostname (if available), MAC address, and other information.

Advantages

• Easy to use with a straightforward interface
• Provides a comprehensive overview of your network
• Often includes additional features like port scanning

Disadvantages

• May require internet connectivity for some features
• Can display misleading information for some devices

Method 2: Using the “arp” Command (Root Access Required)

The “arp” command is a powerful command-line tool that can display the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) cache. This cache contains information about IP addresses and corresponding MAC addresses for devices on your network. While this method requires root access, it offers greater flexibility and control over the information you retrieve.

Steps

1. Enable root access on your Android device.
2. Open a terminal emulator app (e.g., Termux).
3. Execute the following command:

arp -a

Output

? (192.168.1.1) at 00:00:00:00:00:01 [ether] on wlan0
192.168.1.2 (192.168.1.2) at 00:00:00:00:00:02 [ether] on wlan0
192.168.1.3 (192.168.1.3) at 00:00:00:00:00:03 [ether] on wlan0

The output will show the IP address, MAC address, and interface for each device in your network.

Advantages

• Provides accurate IP and MAC address mapping
• Offers more detailed information than network scanning apps

Disadvantages

• Requires root access
• May be challenging for users unfamiliar with command-line tools

Method 3: Using the “nmap” Tool (Root Access Required)

Nmap is a network scanning tool that can be used on Android with root access. It provides extensive capabilities, including:

• Discovering hosts on a network
• Scanning for open ports
• Identifying operating systems and services running on devices

Steps

1. Enable root access on your Android device.
2. Install the “nmap” package using a package manager like “apt” or “pkg”.
3. Open a terminal emulator app (e.g., Termux).
4. Execute the following command to scan for devices on your network:

nmap -T4 192.168.1.0/24

Output

Starting Nmap 7.92 ( https://nmap.org ) at 2023-10-26 14:00 UTC
Nmap scan report for 192.168.1.1
Host is up (0.00056s latency).
Not shown: 997 closed ports
PORT     STATE SERVICE
22/tcp   open  ssh
80/tcp   open  http
...

This command will scan all IP addresses in the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet and display information about the discovered devices, including their IP addresses, open ports, and services.

Advantages

• Offers advanced features like port scanning and service identification
• Provides comprehensive network analysis

Disadvantages

• Requires root access
• May be resource-intensive and time-consuming

Comparison Table

Conclusion

This article provided three methods for obtaining IP addresses and names of devices in your local network on Android. Depending on your requirements and technical expertise, you can choose the most suitable method. Using a network scanning app offers simplicity and ease of use, while the “arp” command provides detailed information with root access. For advanced network analysis and comprehensive scanning, consider utilizing the “nmap” tool.