UniFi guest network
- The UniFi guest network is a highly customizable network that offers multiple way of configuration.
- Options include guest captive portals, radius, or simple terms and conditions acceptance.
- Setting up the Ubiquiti Guest Network is easy with the UniFi Network Application.
UniFi Guest Network
Setup your Ubiquiti UniFi Guest Network in any configuration that meets your needs.
Secure Guest Network
Activate available security features to provide a safe and secure network environment for guests.
UniFi Guest Policy
Apply guest policies to your UniFi guest network to suit your needs.
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UniFi Guest Network Components
Ubiquiti UniFi offers a powerful set of features for managing WiFi networks, including a built-in guest portal, also known as a captive portal.
This portal is managed through the UniFi Network Application, which controls your UniFi devices and handles most of the configuration. The application plays a key role in managing how guest users connect and authenticate.
To run an external portal server successfully, a few requirements must be met:
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The SSID must be set up as a guest network with guest policies applied
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Necessary ports must be open on both the firewall and the controller host
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The external portal must be available through a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or a valid controller hostname
The UniFi Network Application also lets you:
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Monitor device status and user authentication
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Assign guest traffic to a separate subnet or VLAN to enhance network security
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Configure and manage captive portal behavior for all guest SSIDs
This setup gives you full control over how guests access your network while keeping the core infrastructure secure and well-organized.
The Basics of UniFi Guest Network
In a UniFi guest network, each connected device is treated as an individual client, operating independently from others on the network.
This approach improves network isolation and security, especially important in guest WiFi environments.
In this section, we’ll focus on how the Ubiquiti UniFi Guest Network works, why it matters, and how it has become a popular topic across the web with growing interest and coverage.
Network Application Controller
To manage devices on a UniFi guest network, you need dedicated software—the UniFi Network Application, often referred to as the brain of the system.
It provides a single interface to configure and monitor your entire guest network, making setup and management straightforward for administrators.
Advanced users can rename the UniFi controller host if needed, though this is typically not required.
Guest isolation can also be enabled to prevent connected devices from communicating with each other during data transfers, adding an extra layer of security.
Access Points
This access point supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), allowing power and data to run through a single cable without the need for a separate power supply.
It uses the latest 802.11ac MIMO WiFi technology for fast, reliable wireless performance.
The captive portal is user-friendly, making it easy to configure and customize network settings.
Because access points handle both connectivity and guest access control, they are a critical part of any wireless network setup.
UniFi Gateway
While a UniFi Security Gateway (such as the UniFi Security Gateway 3P) is not strictly required, it plays an important role in managing and securing your guest network.
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It acts as the router and DHCP server, issuing IP addresses to guest devices.
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You can also manage DNS settings, configure IP ranges, and resolve network issues from the gateway.
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It's the component where you open necessary firewall ports to enable guest portal functionality.
It’s important to note that the UniFi Gateway is separate from the UniFi Network Controller, which manages configuration but does not handle IP address assignment.
Typically, the gateway connects to a dumb switch, which splits the connection between your internal network and guest WiFi, keeping them isolated but synchronized.
UniFi Controller
UniFi devices are designed to work seamlessly with the UniFi Network Application, which acts as the central control system for your entire network.
Think of it like pairing an ISP-issued modem with a basic switch, without both parts, your setup is incomplete.
You can access UniFi's guest control features directly from a web browser, using a clean, user-friendly interface. The portal includes menus for managing settings, monitoring devices, and customizing the network.
As an admin, you can configure access points, adjust guest controls, and fine-tune network performance with ease.
This streamlined interface makes UniFi networks easier to manage compared to traditional WiFi systems, both on the admin and guest side.
Guest Policies
After getting access, you can encounter the following terms in the interface. We’ll discuss it so that you’ll be aware of what they can do once you decide to use them.
This is the first page that you’ll see in the user interface. Here, you are allowed to choose between two options, namely: go to the original or promotional URL.
UniFi Network Requirements
To set up a guest network on UniFi, you need access to the UniFi Network Application, which is one of four core apps in the UniFi ecosystem.
You can configure the UniFi Guest Portal using one of the following methods:
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Self-hosted UniFi Network Application
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UniFi OS Console, such as the UniFi Dream Machine or Cloud Key
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UniFi Cloud Console (managed through UniFi’s cloud platform)
Each option provides the tools needed to create and manage a secure, branded guest WiFi experience.
The UniFi Cloud
The UniFi Cloud Key is a small, all-in-one device that includes the UniFi Network Application pre-installed. It serves as both a lightweight computer and a network controller, making it ideal for managing guest networks without needing a full server setup.
To access the UniFi Cloud Console, you’ll need a UniFi account and a browser like Google Chrome on your client device.
Make sure your guest network is DHCP-enabled, as this is required for the portal and device management to function properly.
The Cloud Key is designed to simplify UniFi guest control and provide reliable management for other UniFi network features.
Benefits
In this part of the article, we will give you an idea of what it is capable of, let us now enumerate its benefits.
It has the ability to manage and set up multiple computers and gadgets upon deployment. It can be a great substitute for a dedicated server with great UniFi access control.
The Portals
In the world of ICT, portals are commonly used to manage access and information, and the UniFi network is no exception. Portals play a central role in configuring and managing guest access across UniFi devices.
If you're new to UniFi, the Ubiquiti Help Center on their official website is a useful resource for learning how their portals work.
Below is a list of the key portals you may encounter when setting up or managing a UniFi guest network.
Guest Portal
The captive portal in UniFi acts as an authentication page for guests who connect to your wired or wireless network.
Users must complete this step before gaining full access to the internet or other network resources.
Captive portals also help filter unusual activity, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
This added layer of security is one reason why many enterprises rely on captive portals as part of their guest WiFi strategy.
UniFi Guest Portal
For hassle-free guest internet access, the UniFi Guest Portal is a reliable solution.
It allows you to enable client isolation, which limits communication between connected users and adds a layer of security.
You can also set session duration limits directly from the guest portal settings, controlling how long each user stays connected.
UniFi Guest Portal Customization
There are many helpful articles available that guide users through customizing the UniFi Guest Portal.
In fact, many people successfully customize their portals without formal training, simply by following online tutorials.
The UniFi Guest Portal allows you to adjust various elements, especially visual settings like colors and branding—to match your business identity and improve the guest experience.
Access Control
When configuring access point settings for your UniFi guest wireless network, you’ll typically encounter two main setup scenarios.
These configurations determine what is accessible within the guest network and help define access control policies for guest users and other user groups.
Proper configuration is essential for managing what guests can and cannot access while connected to your network.
In these configuration scenarios, it is common to put the hostnames or subnets that the guests will have an access point to. They do not need guest authentication though. You need to utilize the most out of the guest control section to ensure that all modifications will be set. A WPA enterprise is also integrated for additional security that is harder to penetrate.
UniFi Guest Network
The UniFi Network Application offers full support for guest network management through its updated console.
The guest profile setup includes a range of options such as RADIUS authentication, voucher access, and Facebook login.
As UniFi continues to evolve, guest network capabilities will expand as well.
If your goal is to capture guest emails, you can enable the external portal server within the Guest Policy settings to collect customer data during the login process.