How to Set Up MAC Address Filtering on Any Wireless Router

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Control which devices can connect to your network with MAC filtering
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MAC address filtering is a feature on most routers to restrict which users can access your Wi-Fi network. You can either set up an allow list (only the MAC addresses listed can connect to the network) or a deny list (anyone can connect to the network except for those on the deny list). This wikiHow guide teaches you how to enable MAC address filtering on your router.

Filtering a MAC Address on a Router

  1. Log in to your router's admin website.
  2. Go to the MAC Filter section, usually under Security , Wireless , or Access Control .
  3. Enter a MAC address and choose whether to Allow or Disallow .
  4. Go to Turn on MAC Filtering/Access Control or similar.
  5. Select Enable or Allow .
Section 1 of 2:

Enabling MAC Address Filtering

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  1. To open your router's web interface , open a web browser and enter the router's IP address in the address bar. The most common router IP addresses include "192.168.1.1," "192.268.0.1," and "10.0.0.1." You can usually find the default IP address for your router in your router's manual, but you can also find it by using the command line on your computer.
    • Open the command line (Terminal on Windows 11, Mac, and Linux, or Windows PowerShell on Windows 10 and earlier).
    • Enter the following command:
      • Windows: ipconfig
      • Mac: ipconfig -a
      • Linux: ip
    • Find the default gateway. This will be the IP address to enter into your browser to access your router's web interface.
  2. You will need to enter the admin username and password to log into your router. If you have not set the admin username and password, use the default information. It may be printed on the router itself, in the user's manual, or on the manufacturer's website. Most routers have a default username of "admin," and most common default passwords are either "admin" or "password." [1]
    • The first time you sign in to your router's web interface, you may be prompted to create a new username and/or password.
    • If the default username and password don't work, you may have already set them. If you don't remember your login, you'll need to reset your router. Do this by pressing and holding the reset button for about 20 seconds, then releasing. Note that doing this will change your router's SSID and password to default, and you'll need to change them back after the router resets.
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  3. The web interface for each router make and model has a different layout. The MAC Filtering option may be listed as "MAC Filter," "Network Filter," "Network Access," "Access Control," or something similar. It may be located under the "Wireless," "Security," or the "Advanced" menu. Check the user's manual or manufacturer's support site for your router if you need help navigating the web interface.
  4. When you locate the MAC filtering option in the web interface, click the option to add a new MAC address. The button will most likely be an icon that says "Add" or a plus sign (+) or something similar.
  5. Each internet-connected device has a unique MAC address. You can find the MAC address on a computer , iPhone , or other mobile devices . You can usually find the MAC address for a device in the "About" section in the Settings menu.
    • A MAC address looks something similar to this: 08:00:27:0E:25:B8 . It may be listed as "MAC address," "Wi-Fi Address," or something similar.
  6. After you enter a MAC address, click the option to save or apply the changes. You can enter more than one MAC address.
  7. To turn on MAC filtering, look for an option that says something similar to "Turn on MAC Filtering/Access Control," or "MAC Restrict Mode." There may be a toggle switch or a button near this option that says "On," "Enable," or "Allow". Click it to enable MAC filtering. [2]
    • You may need to reboot your router for the changes to take effect.
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Section 2 of 2:

FAQ

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  1. 1
    Can MAC address filtering keep certain devices from connecting to my internet? Yes, but creating a deny list in your MAC address filtering settings might not always work as intended. That's because most smartphones will randomly generate a new MAC every so often to maintain privacy while connected to public Wi-Fi. If you want to keep non-authorized devices from connecting to your internet, you should create a MAC address allow list (so only the MAC addresses listed can connect to your Wi-Fi).
  2. 2
    Should I turn MAC address filtering on or off? If you are concerned about unauthorized users on your Wi-Fi, MAC address filtering can be a great way to keep those users out. It can also protect you against DDoS attacks and clear up network congestion. [3] However, if you have a private Wi-Fi network, you likely aren't dealing with these things anyway. As long as your Wi-Fi network is private (password protected) you shouldn't need to worry about MAC address filtering.
  3. 3
    How do I turn off MAC address filtering? Simply go back into your router settings and either disable MAC address filtering entirely, or remove the filters you created. You can also clear out your MAC address filters by resetting your router to factory settings, but this will change your router's SSID and password back to the default as well.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.whatismyip.com/router-login/
      2. ↑ https://kb.netgear.com/13112/How-to-configure-Access-Control-or-MAC-Filtering-Smart-Wizard-routers
      3. ↑ https://www.whatismyip.com/mac-filtering/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open a web browser and enter your router's IP address.
      2. Log in to the web interface for your router.
      3. Locate the option for "MAC/Network Filter" or "Access Control" under the "Wireless", "Security", or "Advanced" menu and click it.
      4. Click the option to add a new MAC address.
      5. Type the MAC address you want to enter and click the option to Save or Apply changes.
      6. Make sure MAC Filtering/Access Control/Mac Restrict Mode is enabled.

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