Limiting Wi-Fi Speed ​​on a D-Link Router: A Complete Guide with QoS Settings

Internet speed on a home network often becomes a point of contention, especially if multiple devices are simultaneously consuming bandwidth: one is watching 4K video, another is downloading torrents, and a third needs to hold an urgent video conference. D-Link routers (such as DIR-615, DIR-825, DIR-300 and new models of the series EXO) allow flexible management of bandwidth distribution between devices. But not everyone knows how to do this.

In this article we will look at three main methods of speed limiting:

- through QoS (Quality of Service) to prioritize traffic,

- by using Bandwidth Control for hard limits,

- and through parental control, if you need to limit the speed for specific devices (for example, children's gadgets).

You'll learn which settings are responsible for limiting traffic, how to apply them correctly for different firmware versions, and what pitfalls may arise. And if your router model doesn't support QoS, we'll show you workarounds.

Important: Speed ​​limiting on your router doesn't increase the actual bandwidth of your ISP plan. It only distributes the available traffic among devices. If you have a 100 Mbps plan, even with QoS, the overall speed won't exceed that value.

📊 Why do you want to limit Wi-Fi speed?
To prevent other devices from clogging up the channel
For parental control
To prioritize work tasks
Other

1. Preparing the router: checking the model and firmware version

Before you start setting up, make sure your router is D-Link supports the required functions. QoS and Bandwidth Control are not available on all models**, and their location in the menu may differ depending on the firmware version.

To check the firmware version:

  1. Connect to the router via cable or Wi-Fi.
  2. Open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (the address may differ - see the sticker on the back of the router).
  3. Enter your login and password (usually by default admin/admin or an empty password).
  4. Go to the section System → System Information (or Status → Device Info in English-language firmware).

Please note the fields:

— Router model (For example, DIR-825/AC1200),

— Firmware version (For example, 1.05WW or 3.14RU).

If your firmware is outdated (for example, the version below 1.03 For DIR-615), some QoS functions may not work correctly. In this case, it is recommended to update the software via the section System → Software Update.

⚠️ Attention: On routers D-Link With firmware versions older than 2018, the interface may differ significantly. If you don't find the menu items mentioned in this article, check the documentation for your model on the official website or update the firmware.

Also make sure that you have Access Point mode is not activated (AP Mode), since in this mode most QoS features are disabled. You can check this in the section Network → Operating Mode (Network → Operation Mode).

2. Method 1: QoS (Quality of Service) – traffic prioritization

QoS — is a technology that allows bandwidth to be distributed between devices or traffic types (for example, prioritizing video calls over downloads). In routers D-Link QoS can operate in two modes:

— By IP/MAC address (device specific limitation),

— By traffic type (priority for voice calls, games, videos, etc.).

To configure QoS:

  1. Go to the section Additionally → QoS (or Advanced → QoS Engine).
  2. Activate the checkbox Enable QoS (Enable QoS).
  3. Select the restriction type:
    • 📱 By devices: Enter the MAC or IP address of the device you want to limit the speed for.
    • 🎮 By traffic type: select from the list (eg. VoIP, Online Games, HTTP).
  • Set the rules:
    • 🔄 Guaranteed speed (Guaranteed Bandwidth) — minimum speed for device/traffic.
    • 🚫 Maximum speed (Maximum Bandwidth) - a limit above which the speed will not rise.

      • An example of setting up a download speed limit on a device with an IP address 192.168.0.100 up to 10 Mbps: 

      IP address: 192.168.0.100

      Max. outgoing speed (Upload): 10 Mbps
      

      Max. download speed: 10 Mbps

      ⚠️ Caution: If you set the guaranteed speed too low (e.g., 1 Mbps), your device may lose connection to the router. Start with a limit of 5–10 Mbps and adjust based on test results.

      The correct IP/MAC address of the device is specified

      Speeds are shown in megabits (Mbps), not megabytes (MB/s)

      The "Enable QoS" checkbox is enabled.

      The rules do not conflict (for example, one device does not have priority over another without restrictions)-->

      3. Method 2: Bandwidth Control – hard speed limit

      If you find QoS too flexible (or it is not available in your model), use Bandwidth Control — a hard speed limiting feature for individual devices. Unlike QoS, here you set fixed limits that the router will strictly adhere to.

      Instructions for routers D-Link with new firmware (for example, DIR-825 AC1200):

      1. Go to Advanced → Bandwidth Control (Advanced → Bandwidth Control).
      2. Activate the function by ticking the checkbox Enable bandwidth control.
      3. Please specify the overall speed of your internet connection (for example, if the tariff is 100 Mbps, enter 100 into the fields Download And Upload). This is necessary for the distribution algorithm to work correctly.
      4. Add a rule for the device:
        • 🔗 Choose IP address or MAC address (MAC is better, since IP can change).
        • 📉 Specify Max. incoming speed (Download) and Max. outgoing speed (Upload) in Mbps.

      Example of a restriction for a device with a MAC address 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E up to 20 Mbps for download and 5 Mbps for upload: 

      MAC address: 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E

      Max Download: 20 Mbps
      

      Max Upload: 5 Mbps

      Important: If you limit the speed by MAC address, make sure that in the DHCP settings of the router IP to MAC binding is disabled (or bind a static IP to this MAC address). Otherwise, if the device's IP address changes, the rule will stop working.

      What should I do if Bandwidth Control doesn't save my settings?

      On some models D-Link (For example, DIR-615 with firmware 1.01Bandwidth Control settings reset after reboot. This is a firmware bug. Solutions:

      1. Update the firmware to the latest version.

      2. Use QoS instead of Bandwidth Control.

      3. Set up restrictions through parental controls (see the next section).

      4. Method 3: Parental Control to Limit Speed

      If you need to limit the speed not for all devices, but only for specific ones (for example, children's tablets or guest gadgets), it is more convenient to use parental controlIn routers D-Link It is often combined with a traffic limiting function.

      How to set up:

      1. Go to More → Parental Controls (Advanced → Parental Control).
      2. Add a new rule by specifying:
        • 📱 MAC or IP address devices.
        • ⏰ Schedule (if you need to limit the speed only during certain hours, for example from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am).
        • 📈 Speed ​​limit (in some firmware this item is called Traffic Control).
    • Save the rule and reboot the router.

    Example: Speed ​​limit for a MAC device 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5F up to 5 Mbps from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am: 

    MAC address: 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5F

    Schedule: 10:00 PM–7:00 AM
    

    Max. speed: 5 Mbps (Download + Upload)

    In D-Link routers with firmware newer than 2.00, parental controls only allow speed limiting in conjunction with website blocking. If you only need speed limiting, use Bandwidth Control or QoS.

    Not all routers D-Link Support the features discussed above. The table below provides a brief overview of the capabilities of popular models:

    Router model QoS Bandwidth Control Parental control with speed limit Notes
    DIR-615 ✅ (starting with firmware 1.03) ❌ ✅ (only by schedule) In older firmware versions, QoS works unstable.
    DIR-825/AC1200 ✅ ✅ ✅ Supports prioritization by traffic types (games, video, VoIP).
    DIR-300 ❌ ❌ ✅ (no speed limit) Speed ​​limiting requires firmware from third-party developers.
    DWR-921 4G ✅ (simplified version) ❌ ✅ Speed ​​limiting only works for devices connected via Wi-Fi.
    EXO AC2600 (DIR-882) ✅ (advanced QoS) ✅ ✅ Supports application restrictions (for example, for YouTube or torrents).

    If your model is not in the table, check the documentation on the official website. D-Link or use the universal method - restriction through MAC filtering (see next section).

    6. Alternative methods: if the router does not support QoS or Bandwidth Control

    What to do if your router D-Link Can't limit the speed? There are several workarounds:

    🔹 Changing the firmware to DD-WRT or OpenWRT:

    — These alternative firmware versions support advanced QoS settings even on older routers.

    — Cons: The flashing process is risky (you can brick the router) and requires technical skills.

    — Plus: you'll get full control over your network, including detailed traffic statistics.

    🔹 Using third-party software on a PC:

    — Programs like NetBalancer (Windows) or WonderShaper (Linux) allow you to limit the speed for individual devices on the local network.

    — Disadvantage: the computer on which the software is running must be constantly on.

    🔹 MAC filtering with prioritization:

    - In some routers (for example, DIR-615) you can manually set the priority for MAC addresses in the section Wireless Network → MAC Filter.

    This won't limit the speed directly, but it will allow you to "cut off" unwanted devices from the network during peak hours.

    🔹 Guest network with separate SSID:

    — Create a guest network with a separate name (SSID) and password, and then limit its speed through the router settings (if such a function is available).

    - For example, in DIR-825 this is done in the section Guest Area → Bandwidth Settings.

    ⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party firmware (DD-WRT, OpenWRT) will void your router's warranty and may cause it to malfunction. Before installing the firmware, be sure to check the model compatibility on the project's website.

    7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

    Users often encounter problems when setting speed limits. Here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

    🔸 The restriction does not work:

    - Check that the rule is applied to the correct one MAC address (and not the IP, which could have changed).

    — Make sure QoS or Bandwidth Control activated (check mark in settings).

    — Reboot your router after applying the settings.

    🔸 Speed ​​is limited for all devices:

    - Perhaps you indicated overall internet speed in the Bandwidth Control settings, set it lower than the actual bandwidth. For example, if you have a 100 Mbps plan and you set it to 50 Mbps, all devices will share those 50 Mbps.

    — Solution: Enter a value in the "Total speed" field equal to your tariff (or slightly higher).

    🔸 QoS conflicts with other settings:

    - If you have enabled IGMP Proxy (for IPTV) or VPN server, QoS may not work correctly.

    — Solution: Disable unnecessary services or configure QoS exceptions.

    🔸 After rebooting the router, the settings are reset.:

    - This is a known bug in older firmware. D-LinkSolutions:

    — Update the firmware.

    — Use the automatic router reboot script (if supported).

    — Set up restrictions through parental controls instead of QoS.

    🔸 The device loses connection after speed limiting:

    — Too strict limits (for example, 1 Mbps) can lead to connection interruptions.

    — Solution: set the minimum speed not lower than 5 Mbps for stable operation.

    🔍 Is it possible to limit the speed only for certain websites (for example, YouTube or torrents)?

    Yes, but only on routers with support QoS by traffic type (For example, DIR-882 EXO or DIR-825 with the new firmware). In the QoS settings, select Application or Traffic Type and specify the required service (for example, YouTube, BitTorrent). The restriction will apply to all traffic of this type, regardless of the device.

    On older models (eg. DIR-300) this cannot be done - third-party firmware will be required.

    📱 How do I limit my phone's speed if it has a dynamic IP?

    Use MAC address device instead of IP. The MAC address is tied to the phone's network card and does not change (unless manually changed). To find the MAC address:

    • On Android: Settings → About phone → General information → Wi-Fi MAC address.
    • On iPhone: Settings → Wi-Fi → (tap the i next to the network name).

    In the router settings, add a rule for this MAC address.

    🔄 Why did my ping in games increase after speed limiting?

    This is normal behavior when QoS or Bandwidth Control is enabled. The router begins buffering packets to meet the specified limits, which can increase latency (ping). Solutions:

    • Add an exception for gaming traffic in QoS (select type Online Games and set high priority).
    • Increase the speed limit for the device you are playing on (for example, to 30-50 Mbps).
    • Disable QoS/Bandwidth Control while playing if stability is critical.
    🔌 Is it possible to limit the speed for devices connected via cable (LAN)?

    Yes, all the methods discussed (QoS, Bandwidth Control, Parental Controls) work for both Wi-Fi and wired connections. The main thing is to specify them correctly. MAC address or IP address devices.

    Exception: Some models (eg. DWR-921 4G) limit the speed only for Wi-Fi clients.

    🔄 How do I reset all speed limits?

    To delete all QoS/Bandwidth Control rules:

    1. Go to the appropriate section of the router settings.
    2. Remove all added rules (button Delete or Delete next to each item).
    3. Uncheck the box Enable QoS or Enable bandwidth control.
    4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

    If the settings are not reset, perform a full reset of the router to factory settings (button Reset on the back panel).

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