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How To Make the Names Of Connected Devices Show In Airport Utility?

I’ve seen loads of Airport Utility/Airport Extreme review’s and such and most show the actual names of the devices that are connected to the Airport Extreme when looking in the Airport Utility app. Although mine just shows the MAC address for some devices, and the internal IP address for the others ie: 192.168.0.* . It seems that just my Apple TV shows its name as “AppleTV.local”. How do I get the names of the devices connected to my Airport Extreme? and all new devices that get connected in the future.

macOS 10.12.1
Airport Utility Version 6.3.7
Airport Extreme 5th Generation (latest firmware 7.7.7)

PS: ALL the connected devices are Apple products.

As always thanks alot Gary!
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Nassar

Comments: 5 Responses to “How To Make the Names Of Connected Devices Show In Airport Utility?”

    7 years ago

    I don't know if I can be of much help here, as I don't seem to have that problem.
    If I go into Airport Utility (same version as you, and same AE firmware version) and put the cursor over the Airport Extreme icon, I see a list of mostly good names. If I use the trick where I hold the Option key and double-click the icon, I get the window that includes the Summary tab where I can also see the list of wireless clients and more information about them. Same names. Things like "Apple TV," "GaryiPhone7Plus" and "Garys-Mac-Pro." I'm sure these match to the names I have given these devices in their preferences/settings. For instance, for Macs, it would be under System Preferences, Sharing, Computer Name.
    I do see at least one nondescript name, and I assume that is my DVR. I'm not surprised that it uses a bad name.
    I wouldn't expect to be able to fix this. I mean you can't even kick off or adjust clients with Airport Utility and some other basic functions. And with Apple reportedly stopping development on the Airport base stations, I don't think it will get any better.

    Nassar
    7 years ago

    Hmmmm interesting. Did you assign an IP for each device you have? Also will switching from "Bridge Mode" in Network settings to DHCP change/fix anything?

    Thanks

    7 years ago

    Nope. Each just assigned with DHCP. You are in bridge mode? That explains it. So your cable modem or DSL router is then assigning the IP addresses and handling everything. Switching will change everything, and you'll have a lot of work to do to make sure it is working correctly after that. Hard to help as your modem is surely different than mine and each has its own set of settings. If everything is working for you now, I don't know if it is worth it to switch from bridge to DHCP just so you have nice names in the list.

    Nassar
    7 years ago

    Yes I just checked and it's using Bridge Mode. I actually dont want my DSL router (NETGEAR) to handle everything! That isn't why I bought the AP Extreme and Express's (will be here within days). ALL I want to do is give my Apple Extreme's/Express(s) internet via Ethernet. I want my whole network be from an AP Extreme as base station and extended by my AP Express, 3 of them. With nothing to do with the NETGEAR router. So im willing to do the work and reading (anything is helpful).

    Thanks.

    7 years ago

    Well, from the Apple side: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH5140?locale=en_US
    But there will be things you need to set up correctly with your Netgear DSL router. That's the key part. So look for documentation and such.

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