The situation where a new device can't connect to the home network, and the router logs show an error message or limit, is familiar to many smart home owners. Limiting requests This often comes as an unpleasant surprise, especially when guests or new devices are denied access for no apparent reason. This can be caused by exhaustion of the DHCP address pool, strict filtering settings, or software bugs in the router itself.
Owners of modern apartments, saturated with dozens of IoT devices, cameras, and smartphones, encounter this more often. Router By default, it has a certain limit on the number of concurrent sessions or allocated IP addresses. Understanding how it works DHCP protocol and knowing where the hidden settings are will allow you to remove these barriers and ensure the stable operation of the entire ecosystem.
Next, we'll cover specific steps for diagnosing and resolving blockages. You'll learn how to expand the addressing range, disable aggressive security filters, and optimize the wireless module's performance. It is critical to distinguish between your provider's software restrictions and your personal hardware settings. We will focus specifically on managing your local network equipment.
Reasons why connections are blocked
Before making any configuration changes, it's important to understand the nature of the problem. Most often, the issue stems from address space exhaustion. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automatically assigns IP addresses to all incoming devices. If the address pool is small and there are many devices, new ones simply don't get a "digital name" on the network.
Another common cause is security settings. The network administrator (possibly yourself or a previous owner) may have set MAC filteringIn this mode, the router only allows through devices whose physical addresses are whitelisted. All other requests are ignored or blocked, creating the illusion of a full network.
It's also worth considering the hardware limitations of budget router models. They may have insufficient RAM to maintain the NAT and ARP tables. When the table becomes full with active connections, the router stops processing new requests, even if the user limit hasn't been reached.
⚠️ Attention: Some internet providers artificially limit the number of devices by assigning only one IP address. In this case, changing the router settings won't help—you'll need to switch to the default mode.
Bridgeor call your provider's technical support to change your tariff.
Expanding the DHCP address pool
The most effective way to remove the limit on the number of connected devices is to increase the range of addresses distributed by the router. By default, many models Tenda, TP-Link or Keenetic This range can be narrowed to 50 or 100 addresses. For a modern home with smart light bulbs and outlets, this may not be enough.
To perform this operation, you will need to access the router's web interface. Enter the gateway IP address (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and log in. Find the section responsible for the local network. It may be called LAN, Local area network or DHCP Server.
You need to find the "Start IP" and "End IP" fields. Change the end address so that the difference between the start and end is 200 units. For example, if the start 192.168.1.2, set end 192.168.1.254This will definitely remove the limitation related to the lack of IP addresses.
☑️ DHCP Server Setup
After applying the settings, the router may require a reboot. All connected devices will receive the new addresses the next time they connect. Old leases may remain in the table for some time, so it's a good idea to manually clear the DHCP client list if this option is available in your interface.
Managing the MAC filtering list
If expanding the address pool doesn't help, a strict MAC address filter may be enabled. This is a security mechanism that allows access only to trusted devices. Checking this setting is essential if you see a device in the list of connected devices but it doesn't have internet access, or if a new device fails authorization altogether.
Go to the wireless network section Wireless or Wi-Fi and find the "MAC Filtering" subsection. There are two modes: "Allow" and "Deny." If "Allow" is selected, only those on the list will have access. If the list is empty or your device isn't on it, the connection is blocked.
To disable the restriction, you can either add the MAC address of the new device to the whitelist or disable the filtering feature completely by moving the switch to the position Disable or OffTo add a device, find its MAC address in the smartphone's specifications or on the gadget's sticker and enter it in the appropriate field.
| Filtration type | Operating principle | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Allow | Access only for devices from the list | Add a new device or disable the filter |
| Deny (Prohibit) | Blocking devices from the list | Remove device from blacklist |
| Disabled | Filtering is not working | Leave unchanged |
Where can I find my device's MAC address?
On Android: Settings → About phone → General information. On Windows: cmd → ipconfig /all. On iOS: Settings → General → About. Look for the line "Wi-Fi MAC Address."
Setting user limits in firmware
Many modern routers, especially models from Asus, Mikrotik And Keenetic, have a built-in "Maximum Clients" feature. This software limitation is designed to protect the router's processor from overload. However, on powerful devices, this limit is often lowered by the manufacturer.
You can usually find this setting in the section Wireless → Advanced SettingsThe setting may be called "Max Clients," "Limit of users," or "User limit." If it says 10 or 20, for example, change it to the maximum possible (often 32, 64, or 128, depending on the model).
Some providers, when installing their equipment (for example, Sagemcom or Sercomm) can also set their own restrictions via the TR-069 protocol. In such cases, the field may be hidden or blocked from editing. In this case, the only solution is to flash the router to an alternative firmware version, if the model supports it.
⚠️ Attention: Insensibly increasing the number of clients to the maximum on a weak router (with 64 MB of memory or less) will result in a drop in speed and constant connection interruptions. Evaluate the hardware capabilities of your device.
Reset and reconnect devices
Sometimes the problem is temporary and is related to a session getting stuck in the router's ARP or NAT table. The device thinks it's connected, but the router has already dropped the connection or considers it invalid. In such cases, a full reset of the client device's network settings helps.
On your smartphone or laptop, select your Wi-Fi network and tap "Forget Network." This will delete the saved encryption keys and IP configuration. Afterward, scan for networks again and enter the password. This forces the device to request a new IP address from scratch.
If the problem is widespread and no new devices are connecting, rebooting the router itself will help. Unplug the power for 10-15 seconds. This will clear the RAM and reset all temporary connection tables. After powering back on, the router will begin distributing addresses again, and old stuck requests will be resolved.
Diagnostics and log analysis
For advanced users, the best way to understand the cause of the failure is to analyze the system logs. In the router interface, find the section System Log, Magazine or LogsEnable logging if it's not enabled by default and try connecting the problematic device.
In the logs, look for entries with the words "DHCP request," "Association denied," "Deauthenticated," or "No free leases." These messages will clearly indicate the cause: insufficient addresses, an incorrect password, a timeout, or a table full.
grep -i"dhcp" /var/log/messagesIf you are using advanced systems like OpenWrt or MikrotikYou can use built-in real-time monitoring tools. This will allow you to see the moment of a connection attempt and the security system's response.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can a provider limit the number of devices?
Yes, some providers limit the number of devices per contract. Typically, this is 1-2 devices. Check your plan in your personal account. If there is a limit, Bridge mode or purchasing the Multiroom service will help.
Why does the router say "Obtaining IP address" and then turn off?
This is a classic sign of a lack of addresses in the DHCP pool or an IP address conflict. It's also possible that MAC address filtering is enabled on the router, and your device isn't included in the allowed list.
How many devices can a typical home router support?
Budget models (TP-Link entry level, D-Link) stably hold 10-15 devices. Middle class (Keenetic, Asus (with dual-core CPUs) – up to 50-70 devices. Top-end models can handle 100+ connections.
Does limiting requests affect internet speed?
The restriction (blocking) itself doesn't affect the speed of already connected devices. However, if the router is overloaded with attempts to process requests from blocked devices, overall network performance may drop due to increased CPU load.