How to Limit Wi-Fi Speed ​​for Other Users: A Complete Guide (2026)

Has your internet speed suddenly dropped to a crawl, and YouTube videos are constantly loading with buffering? Other Wi-Fi users are often the culprit—be it neighbors who "forgot" to disconnect from your network, children downloading multi-gigabyte games, or coworkers in the office running torrents. Limiting Wi-Fi distribution speed solves this problem by allowing you to fairly distribute traffic or completely block bandwidth-hungry devices.

But how do you do this correctly without disrupting important services or leaving yourself without a connection? In this article, we'll cover all the available methods—from basic router settings to advanced tools like QoS And Bandwidth ControlYou will learn how to limit the speed by IP address, MAC address, traffic type (e.g., torrents), or time of day. And also, what pitfalls await beginners and how to avoid them.

⚠️ Important: Some methods (such as traffic prioritization) require support from your router. If your model is older than 5-7 years, you may need to update the firmware or buy a new device. Check your router's specifications on the manufacturer's official website.

1. Preparation: What you need to know before setting up

Before limiting your speed, determine who exactly is hogging your bandwidth. To do this:

• 📊 Check the list of connected devices in the router's web interface (usually in the section DHCP Clients List or Connected Devices). Remember the unfamiliar MAC addresses - they will be useful for blocking.
• 📈 Use built-in traffic monitoring (if available). On routers ASUS This Traffic Analyzer, on TP-Link — Bandwidth Control.
• 🔍 Install third-party utilities like GlassWire (Windows) or Fing (mobile devices) for detailed analysis of network activity.

Also make sure you have:

• 🔑 Access to the router admin panel (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). The login and password are often indicated on the device sticker.
• 📋 List of devices whose speed needs to be limited (indicating their IP or MAC).
• 📡 Understanding what specific speed you want to allocate. For example, for watching videos in 1080p enough 5–10 Mbps, and for online games - 1–3 Mbps.

Advice: If you're limiting your children's internet speed, discuss the new rules with them in advance. Sudden internet cuts can cause conflict, especially during distance learning.

2. Method 1: Restriction by MAC address (the most reliable method)

MAC address — is a unique identifier of a network device. Unlike IP, which can change, the MAC remains constant, making this method reliable for long-term constraints.

Instructions for routers TP-Link (for example Archer C6):

1. Log in to the admin panel at 192.168.0.1 (or 192.168.1.1).
2. Go to Advanced Settings → Network Tools → Bandwidth Control.
3. Activate the option Enable bandwidth control.
4. In the section Management rules click Add.
5. Please specify MAC address target device (for example, 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).
6. Set restrictions:
   • 📤 Outgoing speed (Upload): For example, 2 Mbps.
   • 📥 Incoming speed (Download): For example, 5 Mbps.

Save the settings and reboot the router.

For routers ASUS (For example, RT-AX88U):

1. Open Administration → Local Network → Route.
2. Turn on QoS (Quality of Service) and select the mode Traditional QoS.
3. In the section QoS rules Add a new rule by specifying the MAC address and rate limits.

Critical detail: If the device changes its IP (for example, after rebooting the router), the MAC restriction will remain in effect, unlike the IP restrictions.

Find the MAC address of the target device|Check if the router supports Bandwidth Control|Write down the current settings in case of a reset|Make sure the restriction does not affect important devices (e.g. IP cameras)-->

3. Method 2: IP address restriction (fast, but less reliable)

If your router does not support MAC restrictions or you need to temporarily reduce the speed for a specific device, you can use IP address. However, remember: the IP may change after reconnecting to the network (if you have enabled DHCP).

Example setup for Keenetic:

1. Go to the web interface at 192.168.1.1.
2. Go to Internet → Traffic Rules.
3. Create a new rule:
   • 🔹 Action: Limit the speed.
   • 🔹 Source: Please specify the IP address of the device (for example, 192.168.1.100).
   • 🔹 Restrictions: Download: 3 Mbps, Upload: 1 Mbps.

Apply the rule and save the settings.

On routers MikroTik (for advanced users):

/queue simple add name="Limit_Guest" target=192.168.1.100/32 max-limit=5M/2M

This command restricts the device with IP 192.168.1.100 to 5 Mbps for downloading and 2 Mbps for return.

⚠️ Attention: If you have a dynamic IP (DHCP), assign the address to the device in the router settings (DHCP Reservation), otherwise the limitation will be reset after reconnection.

4. Method 3: Using QoS to prioritize traffic

QoS (Quality of Service) — is a technology that prioritizes network bandwidth. For example, you can maximize speed for video calls (Zoom, Skype) and limit torrents or online gaming.

How to configure QoS on ASUS:

1. Open Adaptive QoS → Bandwidth Limiter.
2. Select the connection type (usually Internet).
3. Please enter the overall speed of your internet connection (e.g. 100 Mbps for downloading and 50 Mbps for return).
4. In the section App QoS add rules:
   • 🎮 Games: high priority, restriction 20 Mbps.
   • 📺 Video (YouTube, Netflix): medium priority, restriction 15 Mbps.
   • 📥 Torrents: low priority, restriction 2 Mbps.

On routers TP-Link:

1. Go to QoS → Settings.
2. Enable QoS and specify your actual internet speed.
3. In the section QoS Rules add rules to restrict specific ports or protocols (for example, port 6881 for torrents).

⚠️ Attention: QoS works more effectively if the overall internet speed is specified accurately. If you specify 100 Mbps, and the real speed 50 Mbps, the distribution rules will be incorrect.

Which ports should I block to restrict torrents?

The most common ports for torrent clients: 6881–6889, 6969 (default port for Transmission), 51413 (Deluge). You can also block the protocol BitTorrent by traffic signature, if your router supports deep packet inspection (DPI).

5. Method 4: Parental control by time

If you need to restrict internet access during certain hours (for example, at night or during school hours), use parental controlThis method does not limit speed, but completely blocks network access during specified intervals.

Setting up on TP-Link:

1. Go to Additional settings → Parental controls.
2. Add a new rule by specifying:
   • 🔹 MAC address or IP devices.
   • 🔹 Days of the week (for example, from Monday to Friday).
   • 🔹 Blocking time (for example, with 22:00 to 7:00).

Save and activate the rule.

On Keenetic:

1. Go to Home Network → Parental Controls.
2. Create a profile for the device and set up a blocking schedule.
3. If desired, add exceptions for specific sites (for example, allowed access to educational resources).

Advantages of the method: It doesn't require any complicated settings and works even on budget routers. Flaw: full blocking instead of flexible speed limitation.

6. Method 5: Guest Wi-Fi with individual restrictions

If you are distributing Wi-Fi to guests, but don’t want them to “clog” your channel, create a separate guest network with limited speed. This is safer than providing access to the main network.

How to set up on ASUS:

1. Open Wireless Network → Guest Network Access (1–3).
2. Activate the guest network and set:
   • 🔹 Network Name (SSID): For example, Guest_WiFi.
   • 🔹 Password: simple, but not the same as the main one.
   • 🔹 Speed ​​Limit: 10 Mbps for download.
   • 🔹 Client Isolation: Enable this to prevent guests from seeing devices on your main network.

Save the settings.

On TP-Link:

1. Go to Basic Settings → Guest Access.
2. Enable guest network and set speed limit in Advanced Settings → Bandwidth Control.

⚠️ Attention: Guest Wi-Fi often operates on a separate VLAN, which may conflict with some devices (such as printers or smart speakers). Check compatibility before setting up.

7. Advanced Methods: MikroTik and Custom Firmware

If your router supports MikroTik RouterOS or alternative firmware like DD-WRT/OpenWRT, you can flexibly configure restrictions using scripts and firewall rules.

Example on MikroTik To limit speed by subnet:

/queue simple add name="Limit_LAN" target=192.168.1.0/24 max-limit=10M/5M

This command restricts all devices on the subnet 192.168.1.0/24 to 10 Mbps for downloading and 5 Mbps for return.

For DD-WRT:

1. Go to Administration → Commands.
2. Enter the script for MAC restriction:

   iptables -A FORWARD -m mac --mac-source 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E -j CLASSIFY --set-class 1:2
   tc class add dev br0 parent 1:1 classid 1:2 htb rate 2mbit ceil 2mbit

3. Save as startup script.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect commands in MikroTik or DD-WRT may result in loss of access to the router. Back up your settings before experimenting!

8. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes encounter speed limiting issues. Here are the most common errors:

• 🔌 Incorrect speed indicated: If you specify a limit 1 Mbps, and the real internet speed 10 Mbps, the device will work extremely slowly. Always check the ratio.
• 🔄 Conflict of rules: If QoS, Bandwidth Control, and Parental Controls are all active at the same time, they may interfere with each other. Disable unnecessary options.
• 📡 Unsynchronized time: Scheduled parental controls will not work if the router's date/time is incorrect.
• 🔒 Blocking important devices: Before applying restrictions, make sure you haven't blocked IP cameras, smart plugs, or other critical devices.

If the Internet is completely lost after the settings:

1. Reboot the router (using the button) Reset or via the web interface).
2. Check if your antivirus or firewall is blocking network access on your PC.
3. Reset your router to factory settings (hold Reset 10-15 seconds) and set up again.

What should I do if my router stops responding after making changes?

If the web interface is unavailable, connect to the router via cable and try accessing it via IP. 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1If this does not help, perform a factory reset (button Reset on the back panel).

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to limit speed without access to the router?

No, limiting speed at the network level requires access to the router settings. However, you can limit the speed on a specific device (for example, through Windows or macOS settings), but this will not affect other devices on the network.

How can I find out who exactly is loading the network?

Use the built-in traffic monitoring in the router (section Bandwidth Monitor or Traffic Analyzer) or third-party utilities like Wireshark (for PC) or Fing (for mobile devices). Pay attention to devices with abnormally high consumption (e.g., >50% of the total speed).

Will the limitation work if the router is rebooted?

Yes, if you saved the settings. MAC address restrictions will be saved in any case, and IP restrictions will only be saved if the device has a static IP (via DHCP Reservation).

Is it possible to limit the speed for a specific website or application?

Yes, but you need a router with support for this. DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) or custom firmware (eg DD-WRT). The default settings of most routers allow you to block only ports or protocols (for example, torrents), but not specific websites.

Why did the internet lag on all devices after the speed limitation?

Most likely, you have set the limits too low or configured QoS incorrectly. Check that the sum of all the limits does not exceed your actual internet speed. For example, if you have 50 Mbps, and you highlighted 30 Mbps one device and 40 Mbps to another, a conflict will arise.