Are you dealing with a situation where your kids are always glued to their devices due to the unlimited Wi-Fi at home? We understand how frustrating that can be when they don’t listen to you. Relax, we’re here to help you with some helpful tricks on how to turn off Wi-Fi to certain devices, ensuring not only a break for your kids but also safeguarding your Wi-Fi connection from any potential hacks in the future. Let’s make your home Wi-Fi experience more manageable and secure!
How to Turn Off Wi-Fi to Certain Devices
You can use several effective methods to turn off Wi-Fi to certain devices on your network, and we’ve broken them down into simple step-by-step instructions for your convenience. Here are some of the most common and practical approaches:
Method 1: Change Wi-Fi Password
If your kid isn’t too tech-savvy, changing the Wi-Fi password is a simple yet effective method. Here’s a simple guide to changing your Wi-Fi password:
1. Type your router’s IP address in the web search bar to access the Wi-Fi configuration page.
Note: You can find your IP Address on the back or side of your router.
2. Enter your Username and Password to log in to your router.
3. On the configuration page, click the Wireless from the menu.
4. Click on Wireless Settings, type your new password, and hit Save.
By following these steps, your password will be changed, and the router will restart automatically.
Method 2: Hide Your Wi-Fi Network
If changing your password doesn’t resolve the issue, there’s another option: hiding your Wi-Fi. With this trick, your Wi-Fi won’t be visible when someone scans for networks. You can only connect to your Wi-Fi by manually adding your Wi-Fi name and password. Here’s a simple guide to help you through the process:
1. Access the configuration page of your router as in the previous heading.
2. Click on Wireless from the menu.
3. Check the option Hide SSID and click on Save.
Note: Once the Wi-Fi is hidden, you won’t be able to connect directly to the network. To reconnect, simply add the network to your Wi-Fi settings before use.
After following these steps, your router will automatically restart upon saving the changes, effectively hiding your Wi-Fi.
Method 3: MAC Filtering to Restrict Specific Device
Each device comes with its unique MAC Address, allowing it to connect to Wi-Fi networks. If you wish to restrict a specific device, adding its MAC address to the blacklist prevents it from connecting to your Wi-Fi. Alternatively, if you’re unsure of a device’s MAC address, you can add your device’s MAC address to the whitelist, ensuring it connects only with your known devices. Let’s go through the steps together:
1. Log in to the configuration page of your router.
2. Go to Security > Access Control.
3. Turn the toggle on for Access Control.
4. Set Access Mode to Blacklist or Whitelist. Here, we have chosen Blacklist.
5. Copy the MAC Address of the desired device.
6. Add the MAC Address of your device in the Source MAC Address field and click on Save.
You’ve successfully applied MAC filtering. Now, devices added to the blacklist will not be able to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
Also Read: WiFi 5 vs WiFi 6 vs WiFi 7: Which is Better
How to Restrict Wi-Fi Access at Certain Times
If you’d like to control Wi-Fi access during specific times for your kid or anyone else, your router is up to the task. To restrict Wi-Fi access at certain times, you can typically use the settings provided by your router. While the steps may vary slightly based on the router model, the general process remains the same. Here’s a user-friendly guide to help you through it:
1. Begin by logging in to your router’s configuration page.
2. Click on System Tools from the menu.
3. Now, enter your desired time and choose from Get from PC or Get from the Internet.
4. Click on Save.
5. Now, click on Parental Control.
6. Turn the toggle on of Parental Control.
7. Enter the device’s name and IP Address.
With these easy steps, you can ensure that Wi-Fi access is limited during specific times as needed.
Are There Any Apps to Restrict Wi-Fi Access to Specific Apps?
Absolutely. There are numerous apps available that can assist you in restricting Wi-Fi or cellular data access to specific apps. If you’re aware of what time your kids use their phone the most and the apps they spend considerable time on, these apps can be incredibly helpful. Do check the apps given below:
1. NetGuard: It is a free and open-source app that is available for Android devices only. It allows you to block apps from accessing the internet over both Wi-Fi and cellular data.
2. GlassWire: This is a paid app that is available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. It offers a more advanced set of features than NetGuard, including the ability to monitor your network traffic and see which apps are using the most data.
3. Family Link by Google: Family Link lets you set digital ground rules for your family, and you can use it to manage the apps your child can use. For more details, you can read our guide on How Does Google Family Link Work.
We hope our guide on how to turn off Wi-Fi to certain devices has cleared all your doubts. In case you have any queries or suggestions, do let us know in the comment section below.
