Windows 10: Mystery Phone Listing on Network

I upgraded my desktop PC and my laptop to Windows 10. All went fine. However, my desktop and laptop network icons show a phone that I don't have (I think it's an Android). My network map (in Netgear genie) doesn't show anything that shouldn't be there. It doesn't appear when I click on the network symbol in the notification area, either. IP config /all doesn't show it, either. It appears only when I click the desktop network icon (illustration). What is that listing and how do I remove it? Thanks.

:)

 

Nokia Lumia 535

The network signal seems to be OK. We haven't got another mobile at present so I'm unable to try the sim card in a different phone. It all seems a bit of a mystery.

 

My Surface Pro doesn't ask for Wi-Fi passwords but still logs into "new" networks.

Good call Val! Apparently, known Wi-Fi networks are imported from other instantiations of Windows 10 thru my Microsoft Account. All my previously know networks from my other Win 10 computers are listed as known networks on my Surface Pro even though I've
not logged into most of them.

Mystery solved. Not sure that I like this feature.....

Mark,

 

That's actually been happening in Windows for a long time, even back to windows 8 I was seeing it randomly appear (it can be different devices). It seems to be some kind of false positive detection.

Some suggest that this is neighbors connecting to your wifi network. The idea is that the MAC address may be propogated, even though these neighbors are not actually authorized for your network (ie, your router is advertising these mac addresses, but they can't actually use your network, but for some reason they still show up in the list of connected devices).

When you check your WIFI router, the devices won't be listed there, since they haven't been given IP's.. but something in the network architecture still allows MAC advertisement.

 

Windows Devices and Printers in computers with a Bluetooth Wireless adapter can pick up nearby cellphones that have Bluetooth Wireless in them, also other types of devices with Bluetooth. In order to be of use they have to be Paired, usually need a number entered on both to work so physical proximity is important to do so.

 

Well, we occasionally turn our iPhone's Bluetooth on, but that's it. I would think that the device would then show as my iPhone, not what appears to be an Android device. So you're suggesting there's a cell phone nearby with its Bluetooth on that I'm "seeing"?

 

Not necessarily, this often is mis-identified. right click on it and choose properties, check the MAC, then compare it to your phones.

 

Yes. my computers see one now and then but since I don't have it at hand it isn't able to be Paired.

 

Sounds like this is the case. I wonder if it's a neighbor's phone that my network sees in passing.

Yeah, I checked it out. The MAC address isn't even close to any of my equipment's MAC addresses.

 

I've not even got a bluetooth device on my PC, checked the router and access point to ensure these strange phones aren't connected to the network(which they aren't(apparently))...?

 

Since I got a new Router I also have that mysterious Phones listing on Network.
I disabled the UPnP Function on Router and seems problem is gone.