How to Check Browsing History on Wi-Fi Router?

Prerequisites

Before you can check your history on your router, you need to know the router’s username, password, and default IP address.

This information is available on the back of your router, usually on a sticker. You can also request your ISP to send you the details if you are using a modem router from your ISP.

You might have changed the default username and password if you are a privacy-conscious individual. You will be required to use the new logins to access your router.

Some routers won’t have the default IP address indicated. Nonetheless, most routers use 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, or 192.168.100.1 as the default IP address.

You can also get the default IP address from your device if you are connected to the router. On Windows, launch the command prompt, type ipconfig, and enter.

Scroll to the connected adapter and note the default gateway, the router’s default IP address.

On Mac, go to Network settings, then Advanced, and check the active connection (Wi-Fi or LAN) under the TCP/IP tab for your router’s gateway IP address.

Some routers won’t display the login page via Wi-Fi. You must connect your computer with an ethernet (LAN) cable.
If you have all the above, proceed as follows;

Steps on How to Check Browsing History on Wi-Fi Router

1. Log into your router. While connected to your router, open any browser, enter the router’s IP address on the URL, and press enter.
2. On the router’s login page that shows up, enter the router’s username and password to log in.
3. On the router’s dashboard or navigation bar, look for the System log or Administrative Event log tab. Other routers will have this tab under system settings or advanced settings.
4. Click on the tab to open the log page. You can then view your browsing history and take the necessary actions.

Unlike your browser, the router presents the logs in a basic manner. You will need network technical skills on some routers to know what is happening.

For instance, you might need to map the IP address or reverse look-up. Nonetheless, modern routers present the logs in an understandable manner.

Alternative method to finding your default router IP address:

1. Click the search bar in the bottom-left corner of the Taskbar



2. Type in “cmd” and select the “Command Prompt” suggestion



3. Inside the Command Prompt, type in “ipconfig” and hit Enter



4. Look for the “Default Gateway” entry

The “Default Gateway” is the Wi-Fi router that connects to your device, and the IP address next to it is the router’s IP address.

Wrap Up

Checking your browser history on your router is a simple task. All you need to know is the router’s default IP address, username, and password.

Did you know?

• The Wi-Fi history of a router will also show websites visited in Incognito Mode, most of the time
• The router history doesn’t include any specific information regarding a website (e.g., actions taken on that website or how long they used it for)
• You can’t access the webpages, files, or images you find in the router history because the traffic is encrypted.
• If the person you’re snooping on is using a VPN or the Tor browser, then identifying their activities through the router history becomes next to impossible because the IP addresses are random