How to Check Browsing History on a WiFi Router

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: August 16, 2023 Fact Checked

This wikiHow will teach you how to check the browsing history on a WiFi router using a web browser. Some newer routers, like those rented from Spectrum, may not allow you to view the router's admin dashboard.

Steps

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1
Get your IP address. It's sometimes located on the bottom of your router, but you can also check your Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac).
- To do that on Windows 10, go to Settings > Network & Internet > View your network properties and look for the string of digits next to "Default Gateway."^{[1]
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- If you're using Mac, click the Apple logo > System Preferences > Network > Advanced and look next to "Router" under the TCP/IP tab.^{[2]
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Copy the IP address. It's an 8-character string of numbers.

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This should take you to a login page for your router.^{[3]
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4
Sign in with your router's admin username and password. You'll usually find these on the bottom of your router if you didn't change them.^{[4]
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- Newer routers, like those rented from Spectrum, won't have these.
5
View your logs. Different router manufacturers have different site layouts, but you should see a tab or link to view your Wi-Fi history and logs.^{[5]
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- You should see a list of websites (shown as IP addresses) that your router has visited. If you want to look at a specific device's activity, you'll need to find that device's IP address (in an area similar to "Device List') and check the logs for the activity from that address.^{[6]
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Question

Is there a way to protect or hide the IP's and website? How do I clean or delete them?

R2_d2000

Top Answerer

Yes, you can do this. To do so, you can Use a VPN. The router will still show that you are using a VPN though.

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Question

How can I reset a router admin password?

R2_d2000

Top Answerer

To reset the router's admin password, you need to reset the router. You can read How to Reset Your Router Password for instructions on how to do this. Please keep in mind that doing this will reset all router settings.

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Is this history still visible if you have used the incognito mode in Chrome? If it is, is there a way to delete it? Or is the information encrypted and not visible?

R2_d2000

Top Answerer

If the router keeps logs of websites that you visit (most don't), then incognito mode will not prevent it from keeping logs (if you want to know if the router keeps logs of sites you visit, then you can check it's manual). You can prevent the router from keeping logs by using a VPN, but the router will still see that you used a VPN. Also, different websites may share an IP address, meaning that sometimes this method does not work effectively.

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If someone on your network is using a VPN, their data will be encrypted and you won't be able to see the sites they've visited.

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