Windows 8.1 lists someone's cell phones in Network

I know it has been reported a few times here and there, but I don't seem to be able to find a definitive answer for this.

My Windows 8.1 Pro machine sometimes lists someone's mobile phones in its Network list. They disappear and reappear periodically. Yesterday it was showing a device names "jewel", which, according to its properties, was an HTC EVO ("jewel" is the internal name for that model). Right now it is showing "SPH-L720", which is a Samsung mobile phone.

The machine is connected by Ethernet to Netgear R6300 router, so I presume that these devices are probably picked up over WiFi by the router. But why are they picked up and listed in Windows Network list? Does all this have something to do with router settings? A Windows 7 machine on the same network never shows anything like that.

None of these devices are mentioned in the list of WiFi attached devices in the internal router pages, meaning that they are not connected to my WiFi. At the same time my own mobile phones are successfully connected to my WiFi, but Windows does not list them in Network.

So, what could it possibly be? Any new information about this issue?

Hi AndreyT,

It seems you are not alone... See this detailed discussion regarding the same issue others are having. Just make sure your network is secure; however, I have a feeling you have that covered:

Rogue devices showing up on windows 8 network in file exporer. - Microsoft Community


Good luck,

my2cents

It will if they use DLNA, or have media on them. I have android OS devices & iOS devices, none of them show up on the network list on any of the two Windows 8.1 computers.

I really would not worry about the computers finding them through Network Discovery, which it is using UPnP to find those devices you are wondering why they are in the Network devices. They are just discovered network devices, and are not able to connect to a computer, unless you allow FTP on that computer, or have an app on the phone or tablet, to allow you to connect to Windows Shares.