Frequently asked questions

Short answers; the help pages explain each tool in full. Something missing? Ask us.

Pro

What does Pro cost, and is it a subscription?

Pro is a one-time purchase through Google Play, with no subscription. Google Play shows the price in your currency before you buy. Neither the free version nor Pro shows ads.

What's free and what needs Pro?

The free version has the everyday tools: the Wi-Fi scanner, channel overlaps, the security check, LAN discovery, the internet checkup and speed test, ping, port scan, DNS, traceroute, Wake-on-LAN, cellular, GPS and Bluetooth. Pro adds the tools for testing and documenting a network: the channel planner, the coverage log, bandwidth tests, the latency monitor, unlimited roaming tests, reports and exports, and the watches. The free version shows every Pro feature with only its button locked, so you can see what you'd get. The full list is in the help.

Why did the roaming test stop working?

The free version includes 5 minutes of the roaming test in total, across all tests, so you can see what it shows. When they're used up, the “Demo” label on its tile turns into a lock and the test needs Pro.

I bought Pro. How do I get it on a new phone or after reinstalling?

Pro belongs to your Google account. Sign in to Google Play with the same account and install SSIDekick; Pro unlocks by itself. If it doesn't, open “Upgrade to Pro” at the end of the start page and tap “Restore purchase”.

Can I get a refund?

Shortly after buying, you can ask Google Play for a refund yourself, from your order history on Google Play. After that, write to play@iceamp.com with the order number from Google's receipt email. A refunded purchase removes Pro.

Permissions and privacy

Why does a Wi-Fi app need my location?

Android shows nearby Wi-Fi networks, the name of the network you're on, and mobile cell details only to apps with location access, because they can reveal where you are. SSIDekick records your position only in a coverage log you start yourself. Location services must also be switched on: while they're off, Android returns an empty Wi-Fi list.

Does SSIDekick send my data anywhere?

No account, no analytics, no tracking. Scans and results stay on your phone. The app contacts a server only when a tool needs one to do its job, such as looking up your public IP or running a speed test, and map tiles come from OpenStreetMap when you turn the map on. The privacy policy lists every server the app contacts and what it sends.

Does it need root?

No. SSIDekick uses only what Android offers every app, and says plainly where Android doesn't let an app see something.

What the app can and can't see

Why does the Wi-Fi list update only every 30 seconds?

Android lets each app start only 4 Wi-Fi scans every 2 minutes. SSIDekick spreads them evenly and shows how many are left. You can lift the limit for all apps by turning off “Wi-Fi scan throttling” in Android's Developer options; the scanner then scans every 10 seconds. More in the help.

Why don't I see MAC addresses for the devices on my network?

Since Android 10, apps can't read the phone's table of MAC addresses. LAN discovery shows a MAC only when a device announces it itself, as Windows computers do. Devices are still found and named by their address, name and what they run.

Can it show who's connected to my Wi-Fi, or a network's password?

LAN discovery finds the devices on the network your phone is connected to, and new-device alerts (Pro) tell you when an unknown one appears. It can't see devices on networks you're not connected to, and no app can read Wi-Fi passwords.

Is the link rate my internet speed?

No. The link rate is the radio rate your phone and the access point agreed on. Real throughput is usually around half to two thirds of it, and your internet connection may be slower still. Use the speed test for the internet, or the bandwidth test for your own network.

The status bar says 5G, but the Cellular tool doesn't. Which is right?

Usually both. Many phones show “5G” while connected to a 4G cell with 5G added on top (5G NSA), and many modems don't report that 5G part to apps. The Cellular tool shows the 5G signal when the modem reports it, and says so when it doesn't. More in the help.

Does the coverage log work inside large buildings?

Roughly. Signal readings are as good indoors as outdoors, but positions come from GPS, which is often 20 to 50 meters off inside a building and can't tell floors apart. Readings with a poor position show as rings on the map. The coverage log is good for finding the weak wing of a building, not for a room-by-room survey. Switching on “Wi-Fi and sensor positioning” before you start recording helps (Android 12 and later). More in the help.

Devices and support

Which phones does it run on?

Android phones with Android 11 or later. There is no iPhone version: iOS doesn't let apps scan Wi-Fi networks. The app is in English.

How do I report a problem or suggest something?

In the app, open About from the line at the bottom of the start page and send a bug report or feedback; it attaches the app version and phone model for you. You can also use the web form, or write to play@iceamp.com.