Access Control: Guard Your Network against Rubbing

Your home router broadcasts wireless signals all around within its wireless coverage, regardless of whether it reaches inside your house, your neighboring houses, or outside. People nearby can find your wireless network easily, and they may rub your home network if they accidentally or deliberately get your wireless password via one of your family members or via network rubbing technology. TP-Link routers provide Access Control to help guard your home network against rubbing.

What is Access Control?

Access Control enables you to set a list to control which devices can access your network (via wired or wireless) and the internet, preventing network rubbing.

How does Access Control work?

Access Control supports two types of lists: Blacklist (also known as Deny List) and Whitelist (also known as Allow List).

If you want to block specific devices, set a Blacklist. The devices in the list will be unable to access your network.

If you want to block all devices except for specific ones, set a Whitelist. Only the devices in the list will be able to access your network.

How to configure Access Control?

TP-Link routers provide many ways for you to control which devices can access your network.

Use the TP-Link Tether app to easily block or unblock devices

The Tether app provides the easiest way to access and manage your TP-Link routers and range extenders with your mobile devices. You can view the client list and easily block or unblock devices. Those that are blocked will be added to the Blacklist, while those that are unblocked will be removed from the Blacklist.

Use the Network Map webpage to easily block or unblock devices

The webpages of some new TP-Link routers provide the Network Map page, where you can click to view the client list and easily block or unblock devices, similar with the Tether app. Those that are blocked will be added to the Blacklist, while those that are unblocked will be removed from the Blacklist.

If your router doesn’t provide the Network Map webpage, use the other methods.

Use the Access Control webpage to control access of devices

If your router doesn’t provide the Network Map page, or if you want to set a Whitelist to block all devices except for specific ones, go to Advanced > Security > Access Control to set up this feature. Menu and page layouts may vary by model or firmware version. If you need detailed instructions, refer to your router’s user manual at https://www.tp-link.com/support/download/.

If your router doesn’t provide the Access Control webpage, use the other methods.

Usage Tips for Access Control

Blacklist is recommended in most cases.
If you want to use Whitelist, remember to add all devices of your family members to the list. Devices not listed will be unable to access your network and the internet.
To check whether you router model provides the Network Map webpage or Access Control webpage, refer to your router’s user manual at https://www.tp-link.com/support/download/ or your router’s emulator at https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/emulator/.
Access Control allows or denies access of devices based on their MAC addresses. If your devices randomly generate MAC addresses, they will not be controlled as expected. In this case, ask your device manufacturer for assistance to disable MAC address randomization.