How to Update Router Firmware: What is a Router Firmware?

Your router acts as a barrier between hackers and all of your Wi-Fi devices. However, unless you keep your router’s firmware up to date, it won’t be able to stop new threats. Here’s how to update your router’s firmware to increase the efficiency of all your devices while also increasing security at home.

What is a Router Firmware?

The software that is installed on your router. Network protocols, security, and administrative controls are all provided by this software. Users configure security and administrative parameters in a router’s firmware stored on a read-only memory chip inside the router. The firmware of the router can be upgraded by the user.

Updating the Router Firmware

The router searches for new firmware. If the firmware is available, click Yes. After you click Yes, do not try to go online, turn off the router, or do anything else to the router until it finishes restarting. The firmware update starts and the router restarts. The firmware update process can take a few minutes.

If you want to update your router’s firmware with a web browser, follow these instructions. To check for new firmware and update your router: Connect your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable. Launch a web browser and enter routerlogin.net into the address bar. The router login window displays. Enter the router admin user name and password.

Step 1 (find your WIFI router’s model number)

The first step is to find your WIFI router’s model number, which may usually be found on the bottom or back of the device.

We’ve provided a couple of different router types. A VPN router, wireless router, or WI FI router may not look exactly like the ones shown, but there is a label on your WIFI router with your model number.

Step 2 (Search for Router Firmware Files in Google)

Google “update router firmware” and your model number.

Note: firmware is the name for the software that runs your router’s Wifi network.

For example, Google: update firmware router TPLink  Archer AX10

Step 3 (Open the Brand Site)

• Search for the support tab or link on your WIFI router website.
• In general, the example below will look the same.

• Click on the Support Tab

• You will see a list of many routers. Type in the model number of your WIFI router or click on the model to open your WIFI Router support page.

Step 4 (Download the Firmware File)

• Click on the Firmware button.

• Follow the instructions for selecting the hardware version you want, some WIFI routers have many firmware versions or upgrade options, so be sure that you have the right firmware version for your hardware.

• Download the latest firmware.
• You can see a warning of security pop up.
• Check double to make sure you’re on the official website of the manufacturer.
• Once you confirm yourself, go ahead and click on “Keep”.
• You will be able to see the downloaded “firmware” when it’s completed.

Step 5 (Follow the Installation Guide)

• Download the correct firmware file for the hardware version of your router. Log in to the router’s administrative console.
• Open the router’s IP address as a URL in a web browser, such as http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar if your router’s IP address is 192.168.1.1.
• These are common default IP addresses for some of the more popular wireless router brands.
• Follow the instructions from the manufacturer’s website for firmware installation If you’re using a different Router. Most of them have a similar way for firmware installation.
  

Step 6 (Access Router Settings)

• We are going to use a TP-Link router to access the router so open your web browser.
• Put http://192.168.0.1 in the space where you write the website URL or search bar.
• The screen shows the router’s gateway and asks for login information such as username and password.

Default Router Username And Password List

If you are looking for the default router password, go to the router passwords website, where you can type in the router’s name in the available dropdown menu to find out the default passwords.

Although the router’s default username and password can be obtained from the above-mentioned website link, the table below contains default login information on a number of popular routers.

In the market, there are various models of routers from well-known and large router manufacturers such as HP Compaq Cisco, etc. and each model uses a different IP with different usernames and passwords and this is not mentioned in the list below. It is, however accessible through the aforementioned website.

Step 7 (Upload the File and Update)

• Once you enter the TP-Link router. You will see an interface.
• Simply go to System Tools > Firmware Upgrade.
• On the right, you can see an option to “choose file”.
• Click on “Choose File” and upload the firmware file that we downloaded from the TP-Link Support tab.
• Click on the Upgrade button.

After the firmware is fully updated, 

Let the firmware upgrade progress until it’s completed; this will take at least a few minutes. Reboot the router once the firmware has been fully applied. This should happen automatically, but if it doesn’t, you can manually restart the router by pressing and holding down the reset button, which is usually found at the back of the device. 

Press and hold the button for 10 seconds or more. You should see your lights flicker or turn off and on. There’s a chance that your router will revert to factory settings or factory defaults, possibly disrupting your wireless network connections if you changed any default settings for it.

If this happens, you will want to spend some more time in your router’s settings webpage to tweak router settings back to where you had them or run through the setup process again to get everything in working order.

Common WIFI Router IT Support Numbers