How to Use Your Router to Limit People's Internet Usage

Configuring your router to set limitations on how connected devices are allowed to access the Internet is a useful security precaution for your network. Restrictions include only allowing specific devices to access the router's network or setting time-and-day limitations on when the Internet is accessible to connected devices. These restrictions can be particularly useful for businesses and public Wi-Fi operators that limit access to network connections to normal business hours and prohibit unauthorized devices from using your bandwidth.

Step 1

Launch a Web browser on your computer and type the router's IP address into the address bar. Consult the router's instruction manual for details on its default IP address. Typically this address is "192.168.1.1."

Step 2

Enter the administrator username and password to access the router's control panel.
Related Reading: How to Monitor Internet Data Usage

Step 3

Click the "Access Restrictions" link in the router's control panel menu.

Step 4

Check the "Enable" box to activate access restrictions settings.

Step 5

Enter the Media Access Controller address of each computer or device that is authorized to access the router's network. Consult the "Attached Devices" section in the router's control panel to find the MAC address of computers and devices that have previously connected to the router.

Step 6

Click the "Apply" button to save the restriction settings. Depending on your make and model of router, the device may reboot before reloading the control panel.

Step 7

Click the "Schedule" button in the control panel menu and check the boxes next to the days you want restrictions to be active. Enter restriction start and end times for each day if you wish.

Step 8

Click the "Apply" button again to save the restriction schedule settings.


Tip
Block a specific device completely by setting its schedule to restrict access all day, every day. Add a description for each device in the "Access Settings" alongside its MAC address to help identify it in the future. Check the "Every Day" box if you want to schedule restrictions for every day, rather than checking the box next to each individual day.

Warning
Always click the "Apply" button to save your settings before leaving a page in the router's control panel. If you do not click the button, your changes will not be saved.