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To make a Verizon Fios router swap smoother, identify both router models and your account’s equipment arrangement before disconnecting anything, then follow Verizon’s setup instructions for the exact replacement. Reusing your current Wi-Fi name and password can let compatible devices reconnect automatically. Keep the old router and cables until the new one is online, and confirm your own ONT/WAN hookup and return requirements rather than assuming every Fios installation is wired the same way.
Before you unplug the old router
Identify the equipment and account arrangement
Find the model number on the back or bottom of the old router and note the replacement model. Verizon’s equipment setup resources are organized by device, and its Fios support materials name the G3100 and CR1000A/CR1000B router families. Check My Verizon for your plan and equipment details, including whether the router or any extender is supplied through a service, rented, retired, or marked customer-owned. Account terms affect both upgrade options and returns.
Save the Wi-Fi details
Write down or photograph your current Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password before the old router is removed. Verizon says these may be available in My Verizon and on the router label. Also make a short list of devices with special network needs, such as older devices that may not support newer Wi-Fi bands or security settings.
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Leave the old router and its cables in place or readily available until the replacement is working and essential devices have reconnected. This is a practical precaution, not a universal Verizon-prescribed installation sequence. Do not discard equipment before checking its ownership and account status.
#1 Best Overall
- NAT support, NAPT support, IGMP snooping, DiffServ support, Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) support, Access Control List (ACL) support, Quality of Service (QoS), virtual server support, Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), DNS proxy, reset button, Type of Service (ToS), Self Organizing Network (SON) technology, band steering, virtual DMZ, seamless roaming
- The latest Wi-Fi generation, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax) with speeds averaging 60% faster on 2.4 GHz and 38% faster on 5 GHz than previous Verizon Wi-Fi routers
- Tri-band 4x4 antennas, increasing Wi-Fi coverage by an average of 63%
- Self-Organizing Network technology for automatic band steering and single Wi-Fi Network name
- Multiple queue processing for different packet types: DNS proxy, NAT/NAPT, Virtual Server and DMZ, Firewall function with Access Control List (ACL), Firewall function with Hacker pattern detection DOS
Choose the right replacement for your setup
The right choice depends on your plan, installation, devices, and needed features—not just the newest Wi-Fi generation. Verizon’s support pages identify these options:
| Option | What Verizon documents | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Fios Router G3100 | Verizon identifies it as a Fios router with tri-band Wi-Fi 6. | Plan, existing installation, required features, and current account-specific upgrade eligibility. |
| Verizon Router CR1000A or CR1000B | Verizon identifies both models for Fios and describes tri-band Wi-Fi 6E. | Exact model and plan, current upgrade terms, and whether older devices support the network and security settings you intend to use. |
| Verizon Wi-Fi extender | Verizon describes eligible extenders and a Home Wi-Fi Health Check that may recommend one. | Whether coverage is actually weak, whether your plan is eligible, and whether an extender is already included or offered through your account. |
For theoretical Wi-Fi ceilings, Verizon’s current Fios Gig FAQ lists up to 1.1 Gbps on 2.4 GHz, up to 2.4 Gbps on 5 GHz, and up to 4.8 Gbps on 6 GHz for 802.11ax. These are best-case theoretical maximums, not household speed expectations; actual results depend on the client device and other conditions.
Rank #2
- Item Package Dimension -9.3299999904834L x 9.249999990565W x 3.699999996226H inches
- Item Package Weight - 2.48901893798 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - NETWORKING ROUTER
Set up the replacement router
- Open the exact model’s setup instructions. Use Verizon’s setup resource index or the guide included with the router. Verizon recommends using the My Verizon app for step-by-step help.
- Follow the instructions for your existing ONT/WAN connection. Do not assume there is one cable sequence for every Fios home. If your ONT connection, Ethernet/coax arrangement, or service status is unclear, consult the model guide or Verizon support before changing connections.
- Configure the Wi-Fi credentials. If you want compatible devices to rejoin automatically, set the new router’s Wi-Fi name and password to match the old ones. Verizon says devices should then reconnect without being individually reprogrammed; this is not a guarantee for every device.
- Use the replacement’s own admin credentials. For advanced Verizon router settings, Verizon lists myfiosgateway.com and 192.168.1.1. Use the credentials shown on the replacement router or provided for your account; do not assume the old router’s admin password will carry over.
Check service and reconnect devices
Confirm the connection before moving on
Once setup is complete, verify that internet service works and check the devices the household relies on most. If service does not return, review the exact model’s instructions and the ONT/WAN connection for your installation. The reviewed Verizon guidance does not establish a single physical cabling sequence for every home, so contact Verizon support rather than improvising if the connection remains unclear.
Troubleshoot a device that will not rejoin
- It cannot see the network: Verizon notes that some devices may need updated wireless drivers to see Wi-Fi 6 networks.
- It sees the network but cannot connect: Check whether the device supports the router’s band and security configuration. Verizon notes that Wi-Fi 6E uses WPA3 on the 6 GHz band and that enabling relevant Wi-Fi 6E settings can disconnect WPA2 devices. Its router FAQ discusses an IoT network for certain older devices.
- Coverage is weak: Check router placement first. Verizon recommends a central, elevated location. Its Wi-Fi Health Check and extender options may be available to eligible customers, so check your plan and account before buying an extender.
Handle the old router and any extender correctly
Follow the return instructions shown in your own account. Verizon’s Whole-Home Wi-Fi information says service equipment is Verizon-owned and may need to be returned when service is cancelled; its retired-equipment information distinguishes certain devices identified as customer-owned. Those distinctions mean you should verify the status of your specific router and extender rather than treating every old device as returnable—or safe to discard. If Verizon directs you to return equipment, keep its packaging and proof of return.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- 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.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- 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.
Rank #4
- The latest Wi-Fi generation, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax) with speeds averaging 60% faster on 2.4 GHz and 38% faster on 5 GHz than previous Verizon Wi-Fi routers*
- Tri-band 4x4 antennas, increasing Wi-Fi coverage by an average of 63%*
- 4 Gigabit LAN + 1 Gigabit WAN, MoCA2.5 + LAN MoCA1.1 WAN
- Automatic Band switching between 2.4GH and 5.8GH Band and 150% more Wi-Fi range than G1100
- Self-Organizing Network technology for automatic band steering and single Wi-Fi Network name
Rank #3
- IPv4 / IPv6 Dual Stac
- IP sharing for LAN with up to 253 users
- Firewall function with Access Control List (ACL)
- Dynamic and Static IP
- Guest Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)
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