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Yes—a router can connect several wired devices through its LAN ports. If you need more connections than the router has available, plug an Ethernet switch into a LAN port, then connect the devices to the switch. The key is to use a LAN port, not the WAN port: WAN connects toward the modem or upstream network, while LAN serves devices on your local network.
What “router as a splitter” means
People often use “splitter” to mean a device that adds Ethernet connections. For that job, the relevant device is an Ethernet switch. A router and a switch have different primary roles: a router forwards traffic between networks and acts as a gateway; a switch connects wired devices within one local network. Many home Wi-Fi routers combine routing and wireless access with a built-in switch, which is why they already have multiple LAN ports.
NETGEAR describes a switch as a device used in a wired network to connect other devices over Ethernet. NETGEAR Support: What is a switch? An introduction. The Federal Trade Commission also distinguishes the functions of routers and switches while noting that they can be combined. FTC court filing on computer networking services.
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Check whether the router has a free LAN port
If the router has an unused LAN port, connect the wired device directly to it with an Ethernet cable. A router’s LAN ports are intended for local devices; the WAN port has a separate upstream role. NETGEAR: What is a WiFi Router? and Huawei Consumer Support: What devices can be connected to the WAN and LAN port?.
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Add connections with an Ethernet switch
When the router’s LAN ports are full, connect an Ethernet switch to one of those LAN ports. The switch then provides ports for additional wired devices on the same local network.
- Leave the modem or internet connection connected to the router’s WAN port as usual.
- Connect one switch port to an available router LAN port.
- Connect the wired devices to the switch’s other ports.
The connection layout is: Internet or modem → router WAN; router LAN → Ethernet switch → wired devices. D-Link’s guidance likewise says a hub or switch can be connected to a LAN port to expand the network. D-Link Support: Can I connect a hub or switch to my D Link router to add more computers. NETGEAR describes an unmanaged switch as a way to add Ethernet ports to an existing router. NETGEAR: What is a WiFi Router?
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Choose a switch that matches the setup
- Port count: Count the devices you need to connect, then allow one port for the switch’s link to the router.
- Link speed: Choose a speed compatible with the router and connected devices. A switch does not make a slower router, cable, or client connection faster.
- Managed or unmanaged: An unmanaged switch is the straightforward option for basic home port expansion. Managed switches may require configuration; Google notes that some managed switches can need particular settings with specified Wifi systems. Google Home and Nest Help: Add Ethernet ports to Nest Wifi Pro, Nest Wifi, or Google Wifi.
Can an old router add Ethernet ports?
Sometimes, but it depends on the router model and the mode it supports. Google’s guidance for Nest Wifi says an old router can, in some cases, provide extra ports instead of a switch. Google Home and Nest Help: Hardwire Nest Wifi Pro, Nest Wifi or Google Wifi with Ethernet. This does not mean every router can be repurposed the same way: check the specific router’s manual for supported modes and how its ports behave. For simple port expansion, a switch avoids the extra configuration that a second router may involve.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhy the WAN port is not a spare LAN port
The WAN port connects the router to the modem, upstream router, or internet service. LAN ports connect local devices and a downstream switch. Plugging a switch into WAN does not follow the usual local-network expansion setup; connect it to a LAN port instead. Huawei’s support guidance describes connecting a switch to a router’s LAN port so other wired devices can access the network. Huawei Consumer Support: What devices can be connected to the WAN and LAN port?.
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- REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY: Made for use in U.S. & CA only
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