How to set up a separate guest Wi-Fi network

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FirewallsMedium priority

About 20 minutes to complete

Create a separate Wi-Fi network for visitors and for smart devices. A guest network keeps your main computers and phones apart from anything you don't fully control, whether that's a visitor's laptop or a smart TV.

Step-by-step guide

Log in to your router's admin interface: type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a browser, or check the sticker on your router for the correct address.
Look for a 'Guest Network,' 'Guest Wi-Fi,' or 'Guest Zone' setting. Most modern routers support this.
Create a new network with a different name (SSID) and a strong password separate from your main network password.
Ensure 'Guest Network Isolation' is enabled. This prevents guest devices from communicating with devices on your main network.
Connect your smart devices (TV, doorbell, thermostat, smart speaker) and any visitor's device to the guest network. Keep your main network for the computers, phones and tablets you actually work on.

5 steps

Why this matters

Smart devices are often poorly secured. Televisions, doorbells, thermostats and voice assistants rarely get the same updates your computer does, and a visitor's laptop is a device you know nothing about. Putting all of them on a separate network means that if one is compromised, it can't reach your personal files, your work files, or your passwords. If you run a business from home or from a small office, this also keeps client data away from anything a guest brings through the door.

How to confirm it worked

The setting is saved and active on your device
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