How to View & Identify Network Devices

Windows detects both wired and wireless devices.

Windows can automatically scan your network for network devices and computers and display them. Windows detects a variety of devices, including printers, routers and other computers on the network. Windows displays these devices in a window, sorted by their device type. You can view more information about a device from its properties window, allowing you to identify each one. Windows displays computers by their computer name and other devices by their manufacturer and device name.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" and select "Control Panel."

2. Click "Network and Internet" in the Control Panel window.

3. Click "View Network Computers and Devices" under Network and Sharing Center. Windows scans your network for devices.

4. View the network devices that appear after the progress bar at the top of the window completes. Right-click a device and click "Properties" to view more information about the device, including its model number and manufacturer.

Tips & Warnings

• You can perform actions with network devices from their right-click menu. For example, right-click a network printer and click "Install" to install it on your system, right-click a router and click "View Device Webpage" to view its configuration page or right-click a computer and click "Open" to browse the computer's shared files.

References

• Microsoft: View Computers and Devices on a Network