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Don’t judge your router’s status by the TP-Link name alone. Find its exact model and hardware revision, then check the FCC’s current Covered List and conditional-approval notices. The FCC’s March 23, 2026 action covers foreign-produced routers, with exceptions for products granted conditional approval by the Department of War or Department of Homeland Security. It does not, by itself, tell owners to stop using previously authorized routers.
TP-Link said on April 14, 2026 that its existing routers remain authorized and supported with firmware and security updates. That is the manufacturer’s statement, not an FCC determination for every model or individual unit. No model-by-model TP-Link status list was established in the official sources cited here, so use the checks below for your particular device.
Check your router’s exact model and hardware revision
Model families can include different hardware revisions, so record the complete identification rather than only the brand or product family.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- Read the router label. Look on the underside or back for the model number and hardware version or revision.
- Check the management interface. If the label is unclear, look in the router’s web or app interface for its model and hardware details.
- Keep the full version string. You will need it when checking firmware, support status, or asking TP-Link about regulatory status.
Check the FCC restriction and any conditional approval
The FCC added “routers produced in a foreign country” to its Covered List on March 23, 2026. The exception applies to routers granted Conditional Approval by the Department of War or Department of Homeland Security. The FCC’s current Covered List is the place to check the entry and subsequent updates; FCC notices explain product-specific approvals and exemptions.
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- 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN port and 3x 1 Gbps LAN ports offer high-speed data transmissions.³ Integrate with a multi-gig modem for gigplus internet.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
- Search the FCC Covered List for the current router entry.
- Review the FCC’s September 9, 2026 notice and August 14, 2026 notice for conditional approvals and exemptions.
- Use the exact product scope in a notice. An approval for one product or product class does not establish approval for every product from the same manufacturer.
The FCC action is not a consumer instruction to discontinue using a previously authorized router. The cited official sources do not provide a complete TP-Link model-by-model determination, so the brand name alone cannot settle an individual device’s status.
Verify support and ask TP-Link if the public record is unclear
Check TP-Link’s official support and download information for your precise model and hardware revision, along with its end-of-life documentation. If you cannot determine the applicable production location or FCC status from public records, contact TP-Link support and ask specifically about the authorization or conditional approval for that model and revision.
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On April 14, 2026, TP-Link said its existing routers remain authorized, supported, and eligible for regular firmware and security updates, and that it was pursuing conditional approval for new products. Treat this as TP-Link’s statement on that date, not as a permanent guarantee or an independent FCC finding about every unit. See TP-Link’s statement.
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Check security separately from FCC status
The regulatory question and a reported cybersecurity incident are different. The Department of Justice said Russian GRU actors had, since at least 2024, exploited known vulnerabilities in thousands of TP-Link routers worldwide, accessed routers without authorization, and changed settings to redirect DNS requests to malicious resolvers. For selected targets, DOJ said the activity could support interception and theft of sensitive information from devices on the same network. DOJ did not say that every TP-Link router was compromised.
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- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
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- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
DOJ and the FBI recommended that home and small-office router owners:
- Install the latest firmware available for the exact model and hardware revision.
- Check that the DNS resolvers configured in the router are authentic.
- Review firewall rules and prevent unwanted exposure of remote-management services.
- Replace a router that has reached end-of-life or end-of-support.
DOJ directed users to TP-Link documentation for affected routers and manufacturers’ end-of-life lists. If you believe your router was compromised, DOJ says to contact a local FBI field office or report the incident to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. See the Department of Justice announcement of April 7, 2026.
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When replacement makes sense
Base a replacement decision on the router’s support and security condition, not on the FCC action alone. If the router is end-of-support, cannot receive needed security updates, or is otherwise unsuitable for your network, replacement may be appropriate. If you are comparing options, verify the candidate’s current FCC status, support and firmware history, remote-management controls, and compatibility with your internet service and home network. The cited sources do not establish a specific replacement model to recommend.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
