--- title: Restrict Document Access by IP Address and Limit Devices | HelpRange url: https://www.helprange.com/feature-ip-device-limits --- IP allow-lists and device limits # Decide where your documents open – and on how many devices **Short answer:** Yes – in HelpRange a folder or data room can be opened only from the IP addresses or ranges you allow (for example your office or VPN), and a document link or data room can be limited to a number of different networks and devices. A new device past the limit sees a “not available” page and you get an e-mail. Link and folder rules are on every plan; data room rules from Max ($87 per team a month). A link can always be forwarded. With an IP allow-list and a device limit it still will not open everywhere: allow a folder or data room only from an office or VPN, and let a document link or data room open on at most the number of networks and devices you choose. Anyone past the limit sees a clean “not available” page, and you get an e-mail. [Start free trial](https://www.helprange.com/#signUpSection) [Live demo](https://www.helprange.com/demo) [See pricing](https://www.helprange.com/pricing) ### Folder allow-list With “Allow access to documents only from IP addresses” in the folder settings, the folder’s link and the document links shared from the folder open only from the addresses you list. The same document in a data room follows the room’s rules. ### Data room allow-list One list for the whole room: the e-mail and code steps, the room page, the NDA, Q&A and every document opened from the room. ### IPv4, IPv6 and ranges Single addresses or CIDR ranges such as 203.0.113.0/24 or 2001:db8::/32. “Add my current IP” fills in the address you are using now. ### Unique IP limit At most the number of different networks you set can open a document link or a data room. A network that is already counted always gets back in. ### Device limit At most the number of different devices you set can open a document link, a folder’s documents or a data room. In a data room, its pages and documents count together. ### Folder limits as defaults Limits set on a folder apply to the links of its documents, and each document is counted on its own. Opening the folder page itself is never limited. ### An e-mail when a limit is reached When a limit turns someone away, you learn how many networks or devices are counted, the visitor’s country and the browser and system family – at most one e-mail in 24 hours for each link, folder or room. ### Your team is never locked out Team members signed in to HelpRange can always open and preview everything, and they are not counted towards any limit. ## What visitors see – and what you see ### A clean refusal page Outside the allow-list a visitor sees “Not available from your network”; past a limit, “Device limit reached”. The page never shows your list, the limit or their address. ### Known devices come back A network or device that has already opened the link is never shut out by the limit – only a new one beyond it is refused, and no view is recorded for it. ### Every refusal in Activity Refused visits appear in your activity feed with the country, so you can see when a link is being passed around. ### Honest about devices A device is a browser with a long-lived HelpRange cookie. A different browser, a private window or cleared browser data counts as a new device – so leave some room in the limit. ## When to use which An IP allow-list ties documents to a place, a device limit ties them to a number of devices. You can combine them. ### Good for - Board packs and HR files that should open only from the office network or VPN - A data room for a buyer team working from known offices - A paid PDF one buyer may read on a laptop and a phone - An investor deck you do not want circulating beyond the people you sent it to ### Keep in mind - An allow-list also blocks your recipients at home or on mobile data unless you add those addresses - Home and mobile networks change IP addresses – for people, a device limit usually fits better than an IP limit - A cleared browser or a private window counts as a new device - “Exclude IP addresses” in the team settings only keeps your own visits out of the analytics – it blocks nobody How it works **1. Open the settings** Folder settings, the data room’s Settings, or the link window of a document. **2. Add addresses or a limit** Type addresses or ranges, or click “Add my current IP”, and set a unique IP limit or a device limit. **3. Share as usual** The rules apply at once. Refused visits appear in Activity and in your e-mail. Folder allow-lists and the IP and device limits of links and folders are on every plan, including Free. The data room allow-list, unique IP limit and device limit are part of Max ($87 per team per month), Unlimited, the Deal Room Pass and the 3-day trial. [Plans & pricing](https://www.helprange.com/pricing) FAQ ## IP allow-lists and device limits – questions Can I restrict a document to my office IP address? Yes. In the folder settings, add the office or VPN address under “Allow access to documents only from IP addresses”. The folder’s link and the links of its documents shared from the folder then open only from those addresses. A data room has its own list in its Settings. What is the difference between the IP limit and the device limit? The unique IP limit counts different networks (IP addresses). The device limit counts different browsers, which is closer to the number of people: a laptop that moves between home and the office is still one device. You can use both; each is checked on its own. What counts as a device? A browser that has opened the link. HelpRange gives it a long-lived first-party cookie, so the same browser coming back is the same device. A different browser, a private window or cleared browser data counts as a new device. What happens when the limit is reached? Everyone already counted can still open the link. A new network or device beyond the limit sees a clean “not available” page and no view is recorded. You get an e-mail with the count, the country and the browser and system family – at most once in 24 hours for each link, folder or room. How does a data room count? As one whole: the room page, its steps and every document opened from the room count together towards the room’s limits. Do my colleagues count towards the limit? No. Team members signed in to HelpRange are never blocked and never counted. Is “Exclude IP addresses” the same thing? No. “Exclude IP addresses” in the team settings only keeps visits from those addresses out of your analytics. It does not block anyone. Which plans include it? Folder allow-lists and the limits of links and folders are on every plan. The data room allow-list and limits are in Max, Unlimited, the Deal Room Pass and the 3-day trial. Related [Disable Document Forwarding](https://www.helprange.com/feature-documents-disable-forwarding)[Document View limits](https://www.helprange.com/feature-document-view-limits)[Virtual data rooms](https://www.helprange.com/feature-virtual-data-room)[Secure Documents Sharing](https://www.helprange.com/feature-secure-documents-sharing)[Security & Trust](https://www.helprange.com/security)[Pricing](https://www.helprange.com/pricing) ## Try it on your own documents 3-day free trial, then a free plan. No credit card required. [Start free trial](https://www.helprange.com/#signUpSection)