How to update the router firmware [COMPLETE GUIDE]

In this article, we will talk about how to update the router firmware. Almost every hardware device has software built into the device itself. This software controls how your device behaves and allows you to configure it. New firmware versions often bring new features and security fixes, so it’s important to keep the firmware up to date.

How can I update my router firmware on Windows 10? The quickest way is to update it automatically. Some of the newer routers have the option Automatically update the firmware. If not, download the latest firmware from the router’s manufacturer’s official website, unzip it and then proceed with the update from the router settings.

To find out how to do this, read the guide below to update the router firmware.

How to update the router firmware by manufacturer

Access and update of a router in general

Before you can update the router firmware, you need to log in to the router. To do this, you must enter a specific address in your browser. You can find this address manually by following these steps:

1. Press the Windows Key + X to open Win + X Menu. Select Network Connections from the menu.
2. The network and Internet window will now appear. Under your connection, click on Change connection properties.
3. Then scroll to the bottom and you’ll see the Properties section.
4. Locate the IPv4 DNS server and store the IP address.

After obtaining the IP address of the router, you can use it to log in to the router and update the firmware. To update the router firmware, do the following:

1. Connect to your router using the Ethernet cable. This step is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended to establish a stable connection with the router to avoid causing damage during the update process.
2. Open your web browser.
3. In the address bar enter the IP address of the router.
4. You will now be asked to enter a username and password. You can find the login information in the router manual. You can also find login information for your online router from third-party sources.
5. Once you log in, you need to identify the Firmware or Router Upgrade option. You can usually find this option in the Administration, Utilities or Maintenance section. Note that the location of this option may vary depending on the router model.
6. Once you find this section, you should see the current version of your firmware and its release date.
7. Now you need to visit the router manufacturer’s website and go to the Support section. Find the router model and check if firmware updates are available. If so, make sure you download them. Some routers have a built-in option that takes you directly to the manufacturer’s website and lets you download firmware updates for the router.
8. After downloading the router update, extract it to the desktop or to any other folder on the PC.
9. A Browse or Choose File button should be available in the Update section of your router. Click on the button and locate the router update file on your PC. Select the file by double-clicking on it.
10. After choosing the update file, start the update process.
11. Wait for the process to finish. Please note that the update process can take a few minutes, so be sure to wait patiently without interrupting the process. Interrupting the update process can cause irreversible damage to the router, so be especially careful.
12. At the end of the update process, the router will restart and the new firmware will be installed.

We must mention that the firmware update process can sometimes fail and, if that happens, you need to reset the router. To do this, log in to the router and locate the Factory settings section. Click the Restore button and wait for the router to recover.

If you cannot access the router, you can also restore it by holding the Reset / Reset button on the router. This button is usually found on the back, you just have to hold it for ten or more seconds to reset the router.

After resetting the router, you will need to configure the settings and wireless networks again.

We must remember that some routers can automatically perform firmware updates, so there is no need to download any updates or install them manually.

Update the firmware of a Netgear router

If you have a Netgear router, you can update the firmware by following these steps:

1. Open your web browser and go to https://www.routerlogin.net.
2. Enter admin as the username and password as a password.
3. Once you access the router settings, go to ADVANCED> Administration.
4. Choose the Update firmware or Router update button.
5. Click the Verify button. The router will now check for available updates. If updates are available, you will be asked to download them.
6. Click the Yes button to download and install the updates. Be sure not to interrupt the update process in any way. Do not close the browser, open pages or perform Internet-related tasks. The update process can take about 5 minutes, so be patient.
7. At the end of the update process, the router will restart.

As you can see, updating the firmware on the Netgear router is quite simple as you can download and install it automatically.

If you can’t automatically download the update, you can install it manually by following these steps:

1. Visit the NETGEAR Download Center, enter your router model and download the latest firmware for your router.
2. Now log in to your router by following steps 1-4 above.
3. Once logged in, click the Choose File or Browse button.
4. Locate the update file and select it.
5. The update process will now begin, so make sure you don’t interrupt it.

Netgear routers also support firmware updates via the NETGEAR desktop genie software. To update the router firmware using this software, follow these steps:

1. Start the NETGEAR desktop genie software and click Router Settings.
2. When the login screen is displayed, enter admin as the user name and password as the password.
3. Now click on the right arrow in the upper right corner and choose the Router Update tab.
4. Click on Router Update> Next. The application will now check for available firmware updates.
5. If a new firmware version is available, you will receive a confirmation message. Please click on OK to download and install the new firmware.
6. Wait patiently for the update process to finish and not stop it.

Update the firmware of a Linksys router

Updating the firmware on the Linksys router is quite simple. To safely upgrade, we recommend connecting your PC to the router using the Ethernet cable. To update the router firmware, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Linksys support site. Enter the router model and check if a firmware update is available. In this case, download the update file.
2. Open the web browser and enter 192.168.1.1 in the address bar. Press Enter.
3. When the login screen appears, enter admin as the username and leave the password field blank.
4. Once logged in, click Administration> Firmware Update.
5. Now click on the Browse button.
6. Select the downloaded update file and double-click on it.
7. Click the Start update button.
8. The progress bar will now appear. Wait for the completion of the process and do not interrupt it. To make sure the update process is successful, do not open new pages or perform Internet-related tasks.

Update firmware of a D-Link router

Updating the firmware on the D-Link router is quite simple and you can update it by following these steps:

1. Download the latest firmware update for your router from the D-Link support page.
2. After downloading the file, unzip it and save it in a location that you can easily access.
3. Open the web browser and enter 192.168.1.1 in the address bar.
4. When the login screen appears, enter admin as the user name and password.
5. Once logged in, go to the Tools tab and select the Update gateway option.
6. Click the Browse button and look for the update file from step 2.
7. Once the file is located, double-click on it.
8. Now click on the Update gateway button.
9. Wait patiently for the update to complete. Do not interrupt the update and do not close or open any tab.
10. At the end of the update process, the router will automatically restart. In some cases, you need to reset the router before you can use it. To do this, hold down the Reset button on the back of the router for 10 seconds. Please note that you will need to configure the settings again after performing the restore.

Update the firmware of a TP-Link router

Before updating the TP-Link router firmware, you need to check the hardware model and version. To do this, simply check the label on the back of the device and you’ll see the router model and the hardware version.

In addition, we also recommend connecting your PC to the router using the Ethernet cable to make sure your connection is stable. To update the router firmware, do the following:

1. Visit the TP-Link website and search for your model in the Support section. Be sure to select the correct hardware version and model. If you download and install the firmware for a wrong model you will damage the router, so be careful. Once you find the router model, download the latest firmware for it.
2. The firmware will be inserted in the zip file. Extract the firmware file to a safe place.
3. Open the web browser and access 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1 or https://tplinkwifi.net. Please note that this address may vary depending on the router model. To see the correct address you can always check the label on the bottom of the router.
4. When the login window appears, enter admin as the user name and password.
5. After logging in, click Advanced and then to the left of the System Tools> Firmware Update list.
6. Click the Browse or Choose File button and locate the firmware update file. Select the file by double-clicking on it.
7. Now click on the Update button to start the update process.
8. Wait for the process to complete and make sure you don’t interrupt it in any way. Stopping the update will cause permanent damage to the router, so be careful.
9. Once the update is complete, the router may return to factory settings, so you will need to reconfigure it again.

As you can see, updating a router’s firmware is relatively simple and newer routers can automatically download and install firmware updates.

We must remember that the firmware upgrade brings new features and improvements, but it can also permanently damage the router if you don’t pay attention.

Although the firmware update can sometimes solve network problems, we recommend that you perform a firmware upgrade as a last resort.

If you have any other questions about how to update a router’s firmware on Windows 10, don’t hesitate to leave it in the comments section below.