How do I give a device priority on MyASUS router?

To give a device priority on your ASUS router, you need to configure Quality of Service (QoS) settings through the router's web interface. This allows you to prioritize specific devices or applications to ensure they receive preferential bandwidth for a smoother online experience.

How to Give a Device Priority on MyASUS Router

Giving a device priority on your ASUS router involves setting up custom QoS rules. This process is typically done via your router's web interface, not directly through the MyASUS app.

Here's a step-by-step guide to configure device priority:

Step 1: Access Your ASUS Router's Web Interface

Connect to Your Router: Ensure your device (computer, phone, or tablet) is connected to your ASUS router's Wi-Fi network or via an Ethernet cable.
Open a Web Browser: Launch your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.).
Enter Router IP Address: In the address bar, type your router's default IP address. Common ASUS router IP addresses are 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.50.1. If these don't work, check your router's manual or the label on the router itself for the correct IP.
Log In: Enter your router's username and password when prompted. The default credentials are often admin for both, but it's highly recommended to change these for security reasons.

Step 2: Enable QoS (Quality of Service)

Once logged into the router's interface:

Navigate to the Advanced Settings section, usually found on the left-hand menu.
Look for QoS or Adaptive QoS under the advanced settings.
Enable QoS: Toggle the QoS feature to "On." You might see options like "Adaptive QoS," "Traditional QoS," or "Smart QoS." For granular device prioritization, "Traditional QoS" or "User-defined QoS" is often the most suitable.

Step 3: Create User-Defined QoS Rules for Device Priority

After enabling QoS, you'll typically find an option for "User-defined QoS Rules" or a similar section where you can add specific rules.

Go to User-Defined QoS Rules: Locate the section for creating new QoS rules.
Add a New Rule: Click on the button to add a new rule, usually labeled "Add," "Insert," or represented by a plus (+) icon.

Configure the Rule Details: You will need to input specific information about the device you want to prioritize.

Source IP or Mac: This is crucial for identifying the device.
- MAC Address: Enter the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the device you wish to prioritize. Every network-enabled device has a unique MAC address. You can usually find this in the device's network settings (e.g., in Windows under Network Connections, in macOS under System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Hardware, or on mobile devices in Wi-Fi settings).
- Example: AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
Service Name: Provide a descriptive name for the rule, such as "Gaming PC," "Streaming TV," or the device's actual name.
- Example: Gaming PC
Protocol: For general device priority, set this to Any. This ensures all traffic from that device is subject to the rule. If you wanted to prioritize a specific type of traffic (like gaming), you might select TCP/UDP.
Priority: This is where you actually "give priority." Instead of setting it to "Lowest," you will select the highest possible priority level.
- Select "Highest": Choose "Highest" or "Top" from the dropdown menu to ensure this device gets preferential treatment over others. Other options might include "High," "Medium," or "Lowest."

Here's a summary of the rule fields:

Field	Description	Recommended Setting for Priority
Source IP or Mac	Unique identifier for the device. MAC address is generally more reliable.	Device's MAC Address
Service Name	A recognizable name for the rule/device.	Descriptive Name (e.g., Gaming PC)
Protocol	Specifies the type of network traffic.	Any
Priority	The priority level assigned to this device's traffic.	Highest

Apply/Save the Rule: After entering all the details, click "Apply," "Save," or "OK" to activate the rule.
Repeat for Other Devices (Optional): You can repeat this process for any other devices you wish to prioritize, assigning different priority levels as needed.

Step 4: Verify and Test

After applying the QoS rule, it's a good idea to test if it's working as expected.

Initiate high-bandwidth activities (like gaming or streaming) on the prioritized device and simultaneously on a non-prioritized device to observe the performance difference.
Monitor your network traffic if your router provides such a feature to confirm the prioritized device's traffic is being handled optimally.

Understanding QoS for Optimal Performance

Quality of Service (QoS) allows you to manage and prioritize network traffic, which is essential in homes with multiple users and devices performing various online activities. By giving priority to specific devices or applications, you can minimize lag for critical tasks like online gaming or video conferencing, even when others are streaming or downloading large files.

Adaptive QoS: Many newer ASUS routers feature Adaptive QoS, which can automatically detect and prioritize certain traffic types (like gaming or media streaming) based on preset categories. While convenient, user-defined rules offer more precise control for specific devices.
Bandwidth Management: QoS also often includes bandwidth limiting, allowing you to cap the maximum upload and download speeds for certain devices or applications, further optimizing your network's efficiency.

By following these steps, you can effectively give priority to your desired devices on your ASUS router, ensuring a smoother and more reliable internet experience for your most critical online activities.