How to Update Router Firmware
Router firmware is software, and all software has security vulnerabilities. Manufacturers patch them in firmware updates. A router running 3-year-old firmware has known, unpatched security holes — updating takes 5 minutes and closes them.
Why Firmware Updates Are Critical
Researchers regularly discover vulnerabilities in router firmware — bugs that allow remote code execution, authentication bypass, or traffic interception. When a manufacturer releases a patch, users who update within a few weeks are protected. Users who never update remain vulnerable to those exact exploits indefinitely.
In 2018, the VPNFilter malware infected over 500,000 routers in 54 countries by exploiting known firmware vulnerabilities. In 2021, a critical authentication bypass was discovered in Netgear, Asus, and D-Link routers that had been present for years. Users who had updated firmware were protected; those who had not were exposed. Firmware updates are not optional maintenance — they are an ongoing security necessity.
Close known vulnerabilities that attackers actively exploit. These are the most critical updates — install security patches within days of release.
Wi-Fi stability, throughput optimization, memory leak fixes — firmware updates often measurably improve router performance.
Support for new Wi-Fi protocols, improved QoS algorithms, and additional security features are often added in firmware updates.
Firmware bugs cause random disconnects, port forwarding failures, DNS issues, and other hard-to-diagnose problems. Updates fix them.
How to Update Router Firmware
Always update firmware over a wired Ethernet connection. If the Wi-Fi drops during the update (which can happen as the radio restarts), the update process may fail and corrupt the firmware. A wired connection is stable throughout the entire process.
Go to http://192.168.1.1 or your router IP. Enter admin credentials.
Navigation paths: Netgear: Advanced → Administration → Firmware Update | TP-Link: Advanced → System → Firmware Upgrade | Asus: Administration → Firmware Upgrade | Linksys: Administration → Firmware Upgrade | D-Link: Tools → Firmware
Most routers have a Check or Check for Updates button that queries the manufacturer server and shows the current and available firmware versions. If an update is available, click Update or Install.
The update downloads (1–3 minutes), applies to flash memory (2–5 minutes), and the router reboots (1–2 minutes). Do not power off the router at any point during this process. A power failure mid-flash can permanently damage the router, requiring manufacturer recovery tools or a hardware fix.
After the update, log back in. Some firmware updates reset custom settings. Check that your Wi-Fi name, password, port forwarding rules, and DNS settings are intact. If they were reset, restore from a backup configuration file if you made one, or reconfigure manually.
Enable Automatic Firmware Updates
The best firmware strategy is to never have to think about it. Most routers built after 2018 support automatic firmware updates that apply silently overnight. Enable this and forget about it.
| Brand | Auto-Update Setting Location | Default State |
|---|---|---|
| Netgear | Advanced → Administration → Automatic Firmware Update | Off (enable it) |
| TP-Link | Advanced → System → Firmware Upgrade → Auto Update | Off on most models |
| Asus | Administration → Firmware Upgrade → Auto Upgrade | Off (enable it) |
| Linksys | Administration → Firmware Upgrade → Automatic | Off |
| Google Nest | Automatic — cannot be disabled | Always on |
| Eero | Automatic — managed by Amazon | Always on |
Manual Firmware Download (When Auto-Check Fails)
If the automatic check does not find updates or fails with an error, download firmware manually from the manufacturer website:
- Know your exact router model number (on the label)
- Find current firmware version in admin panel (usually on the main status page)
- Download firmware file from manufacturer support site
- In the firmware update section, choose Manual or Upload Firmware
- Select the downloaded file (.bin, .img, or .chk extension)
- Click Upload or Apply and wait for completion
Frequently Asked Questions
Will updating firmware reset my settings?
Most firmware updates preserve settings. However, major version updates (e.g., firmware 1.x to 2.x) sometimes require or recommend a factory reset after updating. The release notes for the update will say if a reset is recommended. Always back up your configuration before a major update. Minor updates almost never reset settings.
My firmware update failed and now the router won't start — what do I do?
This is called a bad flash. Most routers have a recovery mode that allows firmware to be restored. For Netgear: hold the reset button during power-on until the power LED blinks. For Asus: use the Firmware Recovery utility. For TP-Link: hold the reset button, connect via Ethernet, then access the recovery portal at 192.168.0.1. Check the manufacturer's support site for the specific recovery procedure for your model.
My router's manufacturer stopped releasing firmware updates — what should I do?
Routers without firmware updates accumulate unpatched vulnerabilities indefinitely. Options: Replace with a currently supported model (usually the right choice), flash third-party firmware like OpenWRT or DD-WRT if your model is supported (provides active security updates), or at minimum disable remote management, keep it behind a modem, and accept the elevated risk.