We’ve all had that moment of suspicion—your WiFi is running slow, and you start wondering, who’s using up all the bandwidth? You’d be surprised how often freeloaders can connect to your network without you knowing. But don’t worry, I’m about to show you how to kick those unwanted users off your WiFi for good.
1. Log into Your Router’s Admin Panel
To blacklist someone, you need to access your router’s settings. Open a web browser and type in your router’s IP address (usually something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Enter your login credentials (you should’ve set these up when you first got the router—if not, check the default login info on the router).
2. Find the Connected Devices Section
Once you’re in, look for a tab that shows all devices connected to your network. It may be called “Device List,” “Connected Devices,” or something similar. Here, you’ll see all the devices (including the freeloaders) that are connected.
3. Identify the Unwanted Device
Scan through the list and look for any devices that shouldn’t be there. If you don’t recognize a device, it might be time to boot them off. You can usually identify devices by their MAC address, or you may see device names like “John’s iPhone” or “Laptop123”. If you’re unsure, you can always look at the number of devices connected to see if it seems unusually high.
4. Blacklist or Block the Device
Once you’ve identified the intruder, look for an option to block or blacklist the device. You’ll either click a button labeled “Block,” “Blacklist,” or “Disconnect.” This action will cut off their access to your WiFi, making sure they can’t reconnect unless you allow it again.
5. Change Your WiFi Password
For extra security, change your WiFi password right after blacklisting the user. Update it on all your devices so only the people you trust can connect.
6. Enable MAC Address Filtering
To prevent future freeloaders, consider enabling MAC address filtering. This lets you create a list of allowed devices, blocking anyone else from joining your network unless they’re on that list. It’s an extra layer of security to make sure only your devices can access your WiFi.
The Bottom Line
Blacklisting unwanted users is a simple but effective way to keep your WiFi secure. Take control of your network today and say goodbye to slow internet speeds caused by freeloaders.
Once you’ve blacklisted the device, make sure to keep your network secure. For more tips on securing your WiFi, check out our guide on how to protect your WiFi network.