How to Control WiFi Access on Certain Devices

Table of contents:

How to Control WiFi Access on Certain Devices
How to Control WiFi Access on Certain Devices

Video: How to Control WiFi Access on Certain Devices

Video: How to Control WiFi Access on Certain Devices
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This wikiHow teaches you how to control computers, tablets, cell phones, and other devices that can connect to the internet over a wireless network. How to do this will vary depending on the router manufacturer (router). However, you can use these Linksys and Netgear router instructions as a guide for doing this on most other router interfaces.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Using a Linksys Router

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 1
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 1

Step 1. Connect to the Wi-Fi router in a web browser

You can do this by visiting the router's IP address as you would a normal website. How to find the router's IP address on Windows and Mac computers:

  • Windows:

    • Go to Start and click Settings.
    • Click Network & Internet.
    • Click View your network properties at the bottom of the main panel. Its IP address is listed under "Default gateway".
  • Macs:

    • Open the Apple menu, then select System Preferences.
    • Click Network.
    • Click Advanced located at the bottom of the right pane. You may have to click on the connection in the left pane for this option to appear.
    • Click tab TCP/IP. The IP address is listed next to Router.
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 2
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 2

Step 2. Log in with admin username and password

Enter admin as username and password, unless you have changed this login information.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 3
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 3

Step 3. Find the MAC address for the device you want to restrict access to

Do this by connecting the device to the router, then looking for its entry in the DHCP table. Connect the device, and perform the steps below:

  • Click tab Status located at the top of the page.
  • Click the subtab Local Network.
  • Click DHCP Client Table. You will see a list of all connected devices on the router. IP and Mac addresses are listed next to each device.
  • Copy and paste the MAC address for the device you want to control access to into the text editing program.
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 4
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 4

Step 4. Click Access Restrictions

This tab is at the top of the page.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 5
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 5

Step 5. Click OK

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 6
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 6

Step 6. Create a new Access Policy

This is a list that controls the devices on the network that are allowed to access the internet (or certain sites/ports) through your router.

  • Select a number in the Access Blocking Policy drop-down menu.
  • Name the list next to Enter Policy Name. For example, you could name the list Block this device″ or Allow this device.
  • Click Edit List.
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 7
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 7

Step 7. Enter the MAC address of the device you want to restrict access to

Add each device to its own channel.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 8
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 8

Step 8. Click Save Settings

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 9
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 9

Step 9. Click Close

Now you can choose to block or allow the devices on the list.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 10
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 10

Step 10. Select Allow or Deny.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 11
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 11

Step 11. Choose when you want to block or allow the device

If you want to block the device all the time, select Every Day and 24 Hours. Otherwise, select the days and times you want to restrict access.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 12
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 12

Step 12. Restrict access to certain sites (optional)

If you only want to block a specific site on this list, type the URL of the site (eg www.facebook.com) into the empty URL field.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 13
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 13

Step 13. Restrict access to certain apps (optional)

To prevent the device from using certain applications or ports, select a service in the Applications menu, then click the arrow to add it to the Blocked List column.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 14
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 14

Step 14. Click Save Settings

Now your settings will be updated and the selected restrictions (or permissions) will be applied.

If you want to add a new list, select a different number in the Access Blocking Policy menu, create a new list name, then click Edit List to add an entry.

Method 2 of 2: Using a Netgear Router

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 15
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 15

Step 1. Connect to the Wi-Fi router in a web browser

You can do this on a Netgear router by starting a web browser and visiting Routerlogin.net.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 16
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 16

Step 2. Log in as administrator

Use admin as the login name and password for the password if you have not changed the password.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 17
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 17

Step 3. Click Advanced

This tab is usually in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Different models of Netgear routers will have different admin sites as well

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 18
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 18

Step 4. Click Security in the left column

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 19
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 19

Step 5. Click Access Control

This is one of the options under Security.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 20
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 20

Step 6. Check the box next to Turn on Access Control

This will display a list of all devices currently connected to the network, as well as links to view devices that were previously connected, but have gone offline.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 21
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 21

Step 7. Select an access rule

Choose one of the options below:

  • Allow all new devices to connect:

    This option allows all devices to connect to the network as long as they know the Wi-Fi password. Use this option if you don't want to block all devices, but only certain devices.

  • Block all new devices from connecting:

    This option doesn't allow any devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network (even if they know the password), unless you've added their MAC address to the exclusion list.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 22
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 22

Step 8. Locate the device you want to block (or allow)

If the device is currently offline, click View list of allowed devices not currently connected to the network to look for it.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 23
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 23

Step 9. Check the box next to each device that you want to block (or allow)

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 24
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 24

Step 10. Click Block or Allow.

Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 25
Control WiFi Access to Specific Devices Step 25

Step 11. Click Apply

Depending on your choice, the selected device will be blocked or allowed to access your network.

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