How to Update Router Firmware

Updating your router’s firmware will improve connectivity and make your device more secure. We recommend that you install the latest available updates to keep your network safe and productive. Most routers have a built-in update checker, which may (or may not) do the entire process automatically. With an Apple AirPort router, you can use the AirPort Utility program to check for updates.

Table of Contents

Find the router address (on Windows)

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Find the address on the router. You can access the router by entering the router’s IP address into a web browser. Most routers are stamped with information including the IP address on the bottom of the device. If your router doesn’t have a sticker or you can’t reach it directly, follow the steps below.

See the next section if you’re on a Mac.

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Open the Start menu and enter “network status”. The “View network status and tasks” window will open.

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Click on the current connection name in the upper right corner. This option has the icon of the connection you are using (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.).

You need to make sure you’re connected to your router’s network.

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Click the “Details” button on the window that appears. A list of items will open.

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Find the entry IPv4 Default Gateway (Ipv4 Default Gateway). The IP address listed here is the router’s IP address. ^{[1] X Research Source} Make a note of this address and see router updates below.

Find the router address (on Mac)

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Find the address on the router. You can access the router by entering the router’s IP address into a web browser. Most routers are stamped with information including the IP address on the bottom of the device. If your router doesn’t have a sticker or you can’t reach it directly, follow the steps below.

If you use an Apple AirPort router, see the AirPort router update section below.

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Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”. The System Preferences window will appear.

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Click the “Network” button. All network connections will appear.

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Select your connection in the left pane. Next to the option there will be a green dot and below it is a “Connected” status.

You need to make sure you’re connected to your router’s network.

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Click the “Advanced” button. A new window will open.

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Click on the “TCP/IP” tab and look at the “Router” section. This is the router’s IP address.

Install router update

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Connect to the router via an Ethernet cable. Some routers are set up to not allow users to access the configuration page when connecting via Wi-Fi. Connecting with an Ethernet cable will help ensure that you can properly access the configuration tools.

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Enter the router’s IP address in the address bar of your web browser. You can find this address by following the methods described above.

Enter the router’s IP address in the same way as when you visit a certain website.

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Enter login information. When accessing the configuration page, you will be asked to enter your credentials. If you don’t have this information saved, try some of these common default patterns:

Try leaving both fields blank. Many routers do not require a username or password.
Try entering the username “admin” and leave the password field blank. If that doesn’t work, enter the password “admin”.
Look up the router manufacturer and model name at routerpasswords.com . The default login information may appear.
If the default information is not accepted and you cannot figure out how to log in, you need to reset the router by holding down the physical Reset button on the back of the device. This will clear all of your router’s settings, and may also disconnect Wi-Fi (if you’ve changed any of the default settings for the network). Then you can use the default credentials.

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Open the “Firmware”, “Router Upgrade” or “Update” page. The site name will vary depending on the router manufacturer. The site’s location is the same, but you can usually find it under “Administration”, “Utilities”, or “Maintenance”.

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Click the “Check” button to check for new updates. Many routers have a button for checking for new firmware updates.

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Download the latest firmware file as a link if available. Depending on your router, you may be provided with a link to the latest firmware version, or the router may even download it on its own.

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Visit the manufacturer’s support page if you don’t see a link. If a new version for the firmware is available but you don’t see any links, download it from the manufacturer’s site. You can download these files in the Support section of the home page.

Find online support. For example, the keyword “Netgear support” will return netgear.com/support link .

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Enter your router’s model into the search box on the support page. You can find your router’s model number at the top of the configuration page. Then, enter this model number in the search bar on the manufacturer’s website.

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Find the latest firmware files. Depending on the router, there will be a single firmware update, various files, or no files at all. Download the latest file by date or version number. The file will usually be downloaded in ZIP format.

You need to make sure that you are not downloading an older version than the one you are using. You can see the current version on your router’s firmware update configuration page.

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Extract the ZIP file. After the firmware file is downloaded, double-click the ZIP file to open it, then click “Extract” to extract the contents. Usually, you will get a file with a strange extension.

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Upload the file to the router. Back on the router’s firmware update configuration page, click the “Choose File” button and navigate to select the extracted file. Then, click the “Upload” button on the router’s configuration page.

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Wait a while for the update to be applied. Once the file is uploaded, the firmware update will begin. A progress bar will appear and this update can take 3-5 minutes. The network will then be disconnected for a few minutes for the router to reset completely.

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Reset the router if the update fails. If the firmware update doesn’t work and you can’t connect to the router either, reset the router manually and try again. Hold down the Reset button on the back of the router for 30 seconds to reset the device to factory settings. You will need to reconfigure the network if you have previously changed any options in the default setup.

Update AirPort Router

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Open the AirPort Utility program in the Utilities folder. This program allows you to change the settings of your AirPort router. You can find the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.

On iOS devices, you can download AirPort Utility from the App Store.
AirPort Utility is only available for Mac OS X and iOS devices.

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Click on the base station and enter your password. The red number next to the base station icon is a sign that a new update is available, but you need to enter a password for this to appear.

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Click the “Update” button to download and install the new update. This button is only visible in case an update is available. Click “Continue” when it appears to confirm.

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Wait for the router to update. This process may take a few minutes to complete. During the update, the network will temporarily disconnect. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Advice

Download vendor firmware update reminder app

Warning

Failure to update the firmware can leave your firewall vulnerable.

Steps