The benefits of using a guest Wi-Fi when you have visitors: Video

Wi-Fi passwords: we want them, we ask for them, we share them.

Our devices make sharing these logins easier than ever ‒ sometimes just by being near someone who’s trying to connect to the network your device is on. But there’s a better option: give your guests access to a guest Wi-Fi network instead.

It’s still your internet and doesn’t cost anything extra, but it can help keep your devices secure. This isn’t to suggest your guests have any malicious intent, but they could unknowingly download a virus or click on an infected link in an email.

Watch this video to see how easy it is to set up a guest Wi-Fi network for visitors.

Why you need a guest Wi-Fi network

These days, it’s more than just phones, computers and printers connected to our internet. Many modern TVs, washing machines, smart speakers, doorbells and other household devices connect to the network to make everyday tasks more convenient.

Not everyone needs access to those devices. A separate guest network gives visitors access to the internet ‒ and only the internet. If you do want guests to use a smart speaker or another connected device, many systems allow you to grant access to specific devices via the guest network.

Guest networks are separate networks with their own passwords. You can change the guest network password as often as you like without affecting anything connected to your main network.

And when your guests head home, you can easily change the password or turn off the guest network until you need it again.

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How to set up a guest Wi-Fi network on Google Nest 

There are many internet providers, so there isn’t one set of instructions that applies to all of them.

A good place to start is your provider’s app, usually under network settings. If you can’t find an option for a guest network there, try a web search that includes the name of your internet service provider.

To create a guest Wi-Fi network on a Google Nest: 

1. Open the Google Home app and tap on your Wi-Fi device.
2. Tap Network settings. This may be hidden under the Device settings gear icon.
3. Tap Guest Network. 
4. Toggle it on and create a network name and password. 
5. Tap the devices you want to share on the network, if any. 
6. Tap save and it’s ready to share. 

You can toggle it off or change the password anytime in this menu.