Complete Guide: Setting Up Guest Wi-Fi on MikroTik with TheWiFy

What You'll Learn

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A MikroTik router (RouterOS 6.x or 7.x)
• Admin access to your MikroTik device
• A TheWiFy account (sign up for free trial)
• Basic understanding of networking concepts

Step 1: Create Your TheWiFy Account

First, sign up for TheWiFy and create your business profile:

1. Visit TheWiFy.com and click "Start Free Trial"
2. Enter your business details (name, locations, contact info)
3. Verify your email address
4. Access your dashboard and navigate to "Routers" section

TheWiFy Dashboard — Router Configuration Section

Step 2: Get Your RADIUS Credentials

TheWiFy provides cloud-based RADIUS authentication. In your dashboard:

1. Click "Add New Router" in the Routers section
2. Enter your router's public IP address
3. Copy the RADIUS server details:
   • RADIUS Server: radius.thewify.com
   • RADIUS Port: 1812 (Auth) / 1813 (Accounting)
   • RADIUS Secret: (unique per router)

Step 3: Configure MikroTik Hotspot

Now, let's configure your MikroTik router to use TheWiFy's cloud authentication:

3.1 Access MikroTik Winbox or WebFig

Connect to your MikroTik router using Winbox or WebFig (web interface).

3.2 Add RADIUS Server

Navigate to: RADIUS → Add New

3.3 Configure Hotspot Server Profile

Navigate to: IP → Hotspot → Server Profiles

• Enable "Use RADIUS" for authentication
• Enable "Use RADIUS" for accounting
• Set login page to your TheWiFy captive portal URL

Step 4: Customise Your Captive Portal

TheWiFy provides a visual designer to customise your captive portal:

TheWiFy Captive Portal Designer Interface

1. Go to "Captive Portals" in your TheWiFy dashboard
2. Click "Design Portal" for your location
3. Upload your business logo
4. Choose brand colours (matches your business identity)
5. Customise welcome message and terms
6. Select authentication methods (SMS OTP, Email, Social Login)
7. Preview and publish your portal

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Before going live, test the complete flow:

1. Connect a test device to your guest WiFi network
2. Verify the captive portal appears automatically
3. Test authentication (try SMS OTP or email login)
4. Confirm internet access after successful login
5. Check the dashboard for real-time connection data

Real-time Guest Analytics and Insights

Advanced Configuration

Bandwidth Controls

Set fair usage limits in TheWiFy dashboard:

• Navigate to "Access Rules" → "Bandwidth Limits"
• Set download/upload speed limits (e.g., 5 Mbps down / 2 Mbps up)
• Configure session duration (e.g., 2 hours per session)
• Set device limits per user (e.g., max 2 devices)

Multi-Location Setup

If you have multiple locations:

• Add each location in your TheWiFy dashboard
• Create location-specific captive portals
• Configure separate routers for each location
• View aggregated analytics across all locations

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

Now that your guest WiFi is set up, explore these advanced features:

• Set up automated email campaigns for returning guests
• Configure guest data collection and CRM integration
• Enable AI-powered usage optimisation
• Create custom access vouchers for events