How to Check Router History

This article teaches you how to check your router's history and explains what router logs show. 

How Do I Check My Wi-Fi Router History?

Checking your router's history is a relatively simple process, but it changes slightly depending on the brand of router you own. The general steps are similar, but your router's interface may look different from the screenshots. 

1. Log into your router via your web browser.
   

2. Click Advanced.
   

   Depending on the router you're using, you may need to click something different such as Administration, Logs, or even Device History. 

3. Click System.
   

   Again, the options you need may be slightly different. Look for something relating to System Log or History.

4. Click System Log.
   

5. Scroll down and browse through your router's history. Some routers allow you to filter the results to view specific items in the log.
   

Can You Check Wi-Fi History? 

Some routers allow you to view more of your Wi-Fi history, such as what's known as an outgoing log table. You can see some website IP addresses of where you or someone on your network has browsed. Here's how to find it.

1. Log into your router via your web browser.
   

2. Look for something called Outgoing Log Table, System Log, Connections Log, or similar, and click it. 
   

3. Scroll through the list of IP addresses.

4. Some routers will list the client name next to them. That's the name of the device used to browse to that website. 
   

5. Look up the IP address via the internet WHOIS System.
   

Can I See Which Websites Have Been Visited From My Wi-Fi?

With some routers, yes, but there are some limitations. Here's a look at the main ones to consider. 

• It's not always legal. It's only permitted to look up such information if it's your router. If you are using someone else's connection, stop. You shouldn't be checking someone else's browsing history. 
• You can only see IP addresses. A router doesn't monitor what you're looking at in the same way family security software might. Instead, it simply lists IP addresses and the traffic of the website. You may need to do further investigating to find the source of the IP address.
• It's possible to block certain websites. You can block specific IP addresses with most router settings via the Content Filtering option. 
• You may be better off talking to the person about it. If you've spotted something that could be a problem in the router logs and you can link it back to a particular user, it may be kinder to talk to them about the issue you're experiencing than simply blocking it.