When friends or family visit, they usually ask for your Wi-Fi password. Sharing it is fine, but there is a smarter option: a guest network. It lets visitors get online without giving them access to your main network — which means your computers, printers, and smart home devices stay private.
Why a Guest Network Is Worth Setting Up
- Visitors cannot accidentally — or intentionally — access your shared files, printers, or smart home devices.
- If a visitor’s device is infected with malware, it cannot spread to your main devices.
- You can give the guest network a completely different password that you change whenever you like, without affecting your own devices.
Does Your Router Support Guest Networks?
Most routers made in the last several years support guest networks. Look at the box your router came in or check the brand name on the router itself. Common brands like TP-Link, Netgear, ASUS, BT, and Sky all support this feature on most of their home models.
How to Set One Up
The exact steps vary slightly by router brand, but the general process is the same:
- Log in to your router. Open a web browser and type your router’s IP address into the address bar. This is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. You can find the exact address on a sticker on the back of your router.
- Enter your router’s username and password. Again, these are usually printed on the router’s sticker. If you have never changed them, try “admin” for both.
- Find the Guest Network or Guest Wi-Fi section. This is often under Wireless settings or Advanced settings.
- Enable the guest network and give it a name (something like “Visitors” or your street name) and a strong password.
- Make sure “Access to local network” is turned off. This is the setting that keeps guests on the internet but away from your other devices.
- Save your settings. The network will appear straight away.
Tips for Your Guest Network
- Use a different password to your main network and write it on a small card or sticky note somewhere guests can see it — near the router or on the fridge.
- Change the guest password every few months if you have had a lot of visitors.
- You can turn the guest network off when you are not expecting visitors, and turn it back on when you need it.
Setting up a guest network takes about ten minutes and is one of the most practical things you can do to keep your home network secure without inconveniencing anyone.