iPhone and multiple wifi networks

Configuration
1

I have two wifi networks; one IOT and one for all other devices. iPhone can connect to either based on location and signal strength. Because it randomly connects to either, Home Assistant shows two iPhones; one for each network. This throws off device tracking. There is also an Android phone on the network that also connects randomly to either wifi network but the Android shows only a single device in Home Assistant and device tracking works fine. Anyone know how best to fix the iPhone issue so only one device is recognized and device tracking will work?

2

Hello duvalljm,
Then maybe don’t do that.
I mean, if you have security concerns about your IOT devices, why are you phones allowed on that subnet? Don’t connect stuff to it that don’t belong there.
For another opinion, there is this: The enterprise smart home syndrome

3

I have multiple WiFi SSIDs (2.4 and 5ghz) and when I change between them the only thing that changes in HA is my iPhone’s SSID sensor. If you have two devices, something is definitely misconfigured. Is there some other difference between the two networks? Have you tried uninstalling the app, deleting both the old devices, and reinstalling it?

4

What may be happening is that your iPhone is using the “privacy” feature that randomizes wifi MAC addresses to prevent device tracking…

5

I was about to say just that. Some modern devices randomize the MAC as a security precaution when connecting to different SSIDs.I don’t know about iPhone, but some Androids do this by default, for example GrapheneOS, and most flavors allow you to enable it in the settings yourself.

Check the network settings on your iPhone for anything related to MAC address spoofing or privacy.

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6

This is where it is (ignore the “Connection Error” wifi SSID name at the top):

IMG_5848
IMG_58481206Ă—2622 335 KB

7

If you have Private Wi-Fi Address enabled @duvalljm and turn it off now, you will have a third device show up in HA. Delete the other two and that should be it.

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8

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies. Issue is resolved; for now. Digging deeper, I also discovered that device tracking was not working at all; for iPhone or Android phone and had stopped for both a couple days ago. A full reboot of Home Assistant fixed it.

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9

Adding a solution tag to your post above would help others with the same issue…

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