How to handle old devices still showing in eero
💡 Need to know
- Offline isn’t connected—eero keeps recently used devices visible for a while after they leave.
- Want it gone for good? Blocking prevents that device from joining again.
- Check before blocking—Duplicate entries can belong to a device you still use.
- Not sure what should stay? Get 24/7 expert support for the tech you rely on.
That old phone is gone, but eero still remembers it. Before trying to delete everything in sight, it helps to know what the list is actually showing.
Asurion Experts help customers keep track of connected devices and home Wi-Fi every day. In the eero® app, an old device entry doesn’t always mean that device is still on the network right now.
First, check whether the device is actually online
Open Devices and find the old phone, tablet, computer, or smart-home device. eero separates active devices from recently active ones, and its Recently Online section includes offline devices that connected within the last 7 days.
Tap the device and look at its last activity, manufacturer, and MAC address. If it’s offline, it isn’t currently using the network just because its name is still visible in the app.
That recent history is useful when something connected yesterday and you’re trying to figure out what it was. It can be a little less charming when the device is the tablet you traded in over the weekend.
If you never want it reconnecting, block it
A device that still knows the Wi-Fi credentials can join again when it comes within range. Blocking is the eero control designed to prevent that.
To block a device:
- Open Devices and select the device.
- Tap the more-options menu in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Block device.
If it’s online, eero disconnects it immediately. A blocked device also can’t rejoin by simply using the correct Wi-Fi password.
That makes blocking useful for an unknown device, an old device you no longer control, or anything else that shouldn’t have access to the network again.
Your own old device may not need any action
If it’s a phone or computer you still own and simply haven’t used lately, letting the offline entry sit there is harmless. When the device comes back and still has the network saved, it can reconnect normally.
If you want that device itself to stop joining, forget the Wi-Fi network from its own settings. That’s cleaner than changing the whole household Wi-Fi password just to evict one tablet from a network it rarely uses.
Changing the network password is still an option when the credentials may have been shared more broadly than intended—but remember that every trusted device will need the new password too.
Don’t confuse a client device with an eero mesh node
Removing an actual eero router or mesh point is different from dealing with an old phone in the Devices list.
To remove an eero node, open the Home screen, select that eero, tap the more-options menu, then tap Remove. eero says removing the node resets it to factory-default settings. If it’s the gateway eero, removing it will also take the network offline.
That’s the right process when an eero unit itself is being retired, replaced, or moved to another network—not a way to clean ordinary client history from the app.
A duplicate may belong to something you still use
Before blocking an entry that looks old, check whether the same phone or computer appears elsewhere in the list.
Devices can show more than once because they’ve connected through Wi-Fi and Ethernet, use more than one wireless interface, or use randomized MAC addresses. Compare the manufacturer, MAC address, and recent activity before deciding that “Unknown 2” is definitely safe to banish.
A couple of clear nicknames can help here too. If the mystery entries turn out to be legitimate, rename them while you know what they are and save yourself the same detective work next month.
Still need help?
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FAQ
Can I delete old devices from the eero app?
For ordinary phones, computers, and smart-home devices, eero’s current client controls focus on recent-device history and blocking rather than a simple delete-history button. Recently Online shows offline devices seen within the last 7 days.
Will an old device reconnect to eero automatically?
It can if it still has the correct Wi-Fi credentials and comes back within range. Block it if you don’t want it joining again.
What does blocking a device on eero do?
It disconnects the device and prevents it from rejoining the network, even if the correct Wi-Fi password is entered.
Why do I see the same device twice in eero?
The device may have multiple network interfaces or be using different MAC addresses. Check the details before blocking either entry.
How do I remove an actual eero from my network?
Select the eero from the Home screen, open the more-options menu, and tap Remove. Removing an eero resets that unit to factory defaults, and removing the gateway takes the network offline.
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