In theory, at least, your router updates itself. Somewhere in the background, it quietly downloads new firmware, installs it, reboots at 3 a.m. when nobody’s streaming anything, and you never think about it again.
That’s the theory, anyway.
In practice? Automatic updates fail. They get toggled off during setup, and nobody notices. They stall out because the router lost connection at the wrong moment. Sometimes the “automatic” setting was never actually on to begin with. And because your router is the single device standing between your home network and the entire internet, an out-of-date one is truly not good—similar to leaving a ground-floor window unlocked because you assumed someone else would check it.
So, here’s how to log in, check things yourself, give your router a nudge if it needs one, and decide if updating isn’t enough and it’s just time for an upgrade.
Step 1: Actually Log into the Thing
Before you can update anything, you need to get into your router’s settings, which, if you’ve never done this, can kind of feel like finding a secret door in your own house. How cool is that?!
Most traditional routers are managed through a web browser. Type an address like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your browser’s address bar. (Check the sticker on the router itself if neither works. It’s usually printed right there along with a default username and password.) If you or someone before you changed that password and it’s lost to time, most routers have a small reset button that restores factory defaults. Just know that wipes your custom settings too, so it’s only a last resort rather than a first move.
Newer mesh systems skip the browser entirely and live in an app instead. We’ll get into that more below as it changes the whole process.
Step 2: Find the Firmware Section and Check for Updates
Once you’re in, look for a section labeled Firmware Update, Router Update, or sometimes just Administration. It’s rarely front and center. Manufacturers tend to bury it a menu or two deep, presumably on the assumption that most people will never go looking—or even want to.
From there:
- Check your current firmware version against the latest available one.
- Turn on automatic updates if you see the option. (And double-check that it’s actually enabled—don’t just trust the toggle from memory.)
- If an update’s sitting there waiting, install it manually.
- Let the router reboot when it asks to. This is not the moment to unplug it because you’ve got other things to do. An interrupted firmware update can turn your router into an expensive paperweight.
That’s pretty much. The tricky part is just knowing where to look, which varies widely by brand.
Step 3: Brand-by-Brand Cheat Sheet
Eero (Amazon): Everything happens in the Eero app. That is, there’s no browser login at all. Updates install automatically and quietly, almost annoyingly so. At least you can peek under Settings on the app to confirm your system’s current version if you need reassurance—and if there’s an update ready, you can tap Install Now rather than waiting for the system to handle it. Make sure you have a bit of time as updates take around 15 minutes, and you won’t have Wi-Fi until the update is complete. Thus, the usual updates in the middle of the night.
Netgear (including Nighthawk): Use the Nighthawk app, or if you’re old-school, while connected to Wi-Fi, log onto the classic web interface. Updates aren’t always automatic by default, so it’s worth checking the Advanced > Administration > Firmware Update menu yourself now and then. Before you start, make sure you have your username and password, scroll down and Check for Updates, and then tap Update if one’s ready.
ASUS: The web-based admin panel is where ASUS shines if you like having control—Administration > Firmware Upgrade lets you check, schedule, or manually install updates, with more granular options than most other brands offer. Click Update now and leave your device on until the update completes.
TP-Link / Deco: Managed through the Tether app for most home models, or a browser for the more traditional Archer line. Look for the firmware section, and apply the update. One possible complication: if your router was provided by your internet company, it may be a rebadged TP-Link running the provider’s own update schedule, which you may not be able to touch directly.
Google Nest Wi-Fi: Located in the Google Home app. Like Eero, it’s built to be hands-off. The updates roll out automatically, and there’s really not much of a manual process to speak of. You can’t, for example, force a manual install unless a prompt appears on the app. This is nice for those who prefer the hands-off approach; less so for folks who enjoy just a bit more control.
Linksys: Either the Linksys app or a browser login, depending on the model, look for Connectivity or Admin > Router Settings > Manual, and check the firmware version listed there. Again, while it’s updating, leave the power on.
ISP-provided routers (Xfinity, AT&T, Spectrum, etc.): These routers are typically updated remotely by the provider. You won’t lift a finger. If you log into the provider’s app (like Xfinity’s), though, you can often confirm your gateway’s software is current, but you generally won’t be able to force an update yourself.
The Router in the Corner You Forgot About
Here’s the deal with routers: they typically reside somewhere out of the way, say behind the TV stand or computer desk, on top of a bookshelf in the basement, tucked in a closet with the extension cords, etc. And once they’re set up, they basically disappear from your mental radar. Out of sight, out of mind, and also out of your update rotation.
But that little blinking box still needs occasional attention, the same way a smoke detector does. You don’t think about it until something’s wrong, and by then it’s already been quietly falling behind for a lot longer than you’d think.
When Updating Isn’t Enough Anymore
Sometimes the honest answer isn’t “update it”; it’s “replace it.” A few signs it’s time:
- It’s stopped receiving updates. Manufacturers eventually stop supporting older models. If there’s no new firmware because there simply isn’t going to be any more, that’s a router that’s aged out.
- It’s 4 – 5+ years old. Not a hard cutoff, but a reasonable one since router technology, like most technology, along with security standards, move fast.
- Dead zones and dropped connections have become a personality trait of your Wi-Fi.
- It can’t keep up with the number of devices in your home now compared to when you bought it.
It’s also worth knowing that router security has been getting more scrutiny lately, including new federal restrictions on some foreign-made routers and manufacturers facing questions over how securely their devices are actually built. We’re not saying you need to unplug your current router tonight, but if you’re shopping for a replacement anyway, it’s a good time to do a little homework on the brand and how serious they are about security.
Updating your router regularly and knowing when to retire it aren’t really two different tasks. They can be seen as the same behavior, just at different timelines. One’s a five-minute check-in every so often. The other’s a bigger decision every few years. Do both, and that little box in the corner will keep doing its very un-glamorous yet very important job correctly and securely.