Using a Raspberry Pi as a Wi-Fi router is a neat way to learn networking while building something actually useful. With RaspAP, most of the heavy lifting is handled through a clean web interface, so you don’t need to dive deep into Linux networking commands. lets dive into how to make Raspberry Pi into a WiFi Router with RaspAP
What Is RaspAP?
RaspAP (Raspberry Pi Access Point) is an open-source tool that helps you turn a Raspberry Pi into a Wi-Fi access point or router. It manages services like hostapd, dnsmasq, and firewall rules behind the scenes and exposes everything through a browser-based dashboard.
What You’ll Need
- Raspberry Pi (Pi 3 / 4 / Zero W)
- microSD card (8GB or more)
- Raspberry Pi OS
- Internet connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)
Step 1: Flash the RaspAP Pre-Built Image
- Download the pre-built RaspAP image from GitHub.
- Flash it to a 16GB microSD using Raspberry Pi Imager (Use custom image).
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Boot your Raspberry Pi and connect to the auto-created RaspAP Wi-Fi (password: ChangeMe).
Step 2: Access the Dashboard
Open http://10.3.141.1
Login: admin / secret
A router-like dashboard shows clients, bandwidth, and hotspot controls.
Step 3: Customize Hotspot Settings
- Change SSID and set a strong WPA2 password
- Pick a less crowded Wi-Fi channel
- Set the correct country code
- Reboot to apply changes
Step 4: Enable DNS-Based Ad Blocking
- Dashboard → Ad Blocking
- Enable blocklists and choose a provider
- Save and reboot
That’s it. Your Raspberry Pi now works as a Wi-Fi router with network-wide ad blocking, filtering ads, trackers, and malicious domains for every connected device.
Why This Setup Is Useful
- Portable travel router
- Dedicated IoT network
- Learning Linux networking
- Custom hotspot with firewall control
It’s flexible, lightweight, and surprisingly capable for such a small board.
RaspAP makes it easy to turn a Raspberry Pi WiFi Router with RaspAP without complicated configuration. It’s a solid project for anyone who wants hands-on networking experience while building something practical with everyday hardware.
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