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If your SIP-based calls drop or develop one-way audio, checking your router’s SIP ALG setting is a reasonable troubleshooting step. Turning it off can help some devices and applications, but it is not a proven fix for every video-call problem. The title’s account of a setting change resolving dropped calls is not confirmed by the available manufacturer guidance, and the setting itself is not identified there.
What SIP ALG does on a router
SIP ALG means Session Initiation Protocol Application Layer Gateway. It is a router feature that inspects some voice-over-IP (VoIP) traffic and may modify it to help calls pass through a firewall or network address translation (NAT). NETGEAR says SIP ALG is enabled by default on the routers covered by its guidance: NETGEAR’s instructions for disabling SIP ALG.
The feature can help or hinder, depending on the setup. TP-Link describes SIP ALG as a way to help VoIP applications or devices get through a router firewall, but notes that it can conflict with applications or devices that already handle firewall traversal. D-Link likewise says it may interfere with some VoIP devices. TP-Link’s support documentation puts the conditional advice plainly: “In this case, we can turn off SIP ALG on routers to ensure that VoIP calls will work normally.” See TP-Link’s Deco SIP ALG FAQ and D-Link’s DIR-878 guidance.
Could SIP ALG be causing your calls to drop?
It is worth checking when a SIP or VoIP call has problems, but a dropped call alone does not identify SIP ALG as the cause. The manufacturer guidance applies to VoIP and SIP behavior; it does not establish that every consumer video-call app uses SIP or that disabling the feature will fix it. If your call service is not SIP-based, this setting may be unrelated.
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Other network or service problems can also interrupt calls. Treat the setting change as a controlled troubleshooting check: note its original state, change only SIP ALG, then repeat the same kind of call under similar conditions. If the symptom does not change, restore the original setting and investigate other causes. The manufacturer pages describe when disabling SIP ALG may help; they do not report a universal success rate.
How to turn off SIP ALG on your router
First find your exact router model and hardware or firmware version. The paths below are examples for the named product families, not universal menus. If you use a SIP desk phone or a business voice service, check with your voice provider or network administrator before changing the setting; TP-Link notes that an internet service provider may direct users to disable it for a VoIP application.
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- NETGEAR genie-interface routers covered by its support article: Go to Advanced > Setup > WAN Setup, select Disable SIP ALG, and choose Apply. NETGEAR’s article covers listed WiFi 5 models and the XR700; it was last updated July 7, 2025. Confirm that your model is included in NETGEAR’s model-specific instructions.
- TP-Link xDSL modem routers listed in its FAQ: Go to Advanced > NAT Forwarding > ALG, then turn off SIP ALG. The covered-model list includes specified Archer and TD-series products. TP-Link warns that access can vary by hardware version, firmware, and region. Check its xDSL router SIP ALG instructions.
- Supported TP-Link Deco models: In the Deco app, go to More > Advanced > NAT Forwarding > SIP ALG. Availability depends on the supported model and can change with updates; consult TP-Link’s Deco FAQ.
- D-Link DIR-878: Go to Feature > Firewall > Advanced Settings, disable SIP, and save. D-Link also recommends checking that router firmware is current. This path is specific to the DIR-878 guidance, not every D-Link router: D-Link’s DIR-878 instructions.
If your menus do not match, do not assume the option is absent or use a path for another model. Consult the support page for your exact router and region; manufacturers note that menus and availability can differ by model, hardware revision, firmware, or location.
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- Record whether SIP ALG is currently on or off so you can restore the original setting.
- If your router exposes the option and your voice provider or administrator has no contrary guidance, change only SIP ALG and apply the setting.
- Repeat the same call type and, as far as practical, the same network conditions. Note whether calls still drop or show the same symptom.
- If there is no clear improvement, revert the setting. If calls worsen, restore the original setting promptly and contact your voice provider or network administrator.
This before-and-after method is a practical way to isolate one change; it is not a manufacturer-tested procedure or a guarantee of diagnosis. Keep SIP ALG in the state that works for your particular router and voice service, following any provider instructions.
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