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Yes, you can often keep using a router after its end-of-life date, but that does not mean it is secure or still supported. A lifecycle date does not automatically switch off Wi-Fi or internet access. The key question is whether the exact model, hardware revision and regional version still receive security fixes. If support has ended, the FBI recommends replacing the router with an updated model if possible; temporary precautions can reduce exposure, but they cannot restore ongoing updates.
Does a router stop working when it reaches end of life?
Usually, an end-of-life (EOL) or end-of-service (EOS) date marks a change in manufacturer support, not a scheduled shutdown. A router may continue routing traffic and providing Wi-Fi, but the manufacturer may stop issuing firmware updates, including fixes for newly disclosed security flaws. There is no universal cutoff date when every EOL router loses connectivity, and there is no guaranteed safe grace period after support ends.
That distinction matters because “it still works” answers a connectivity question, not a security one. A router can continue doing its job while becoming harder to defend as vulnerabilities are found and no vendor fix is made available. NETGEAR says customers may continue using products after EOS, while warning that they may become vulnerable to security threats. ASUS similarly says existing devices can continue operating, but advises checking for updates and upgrading an EOL model that no longer receives them.
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Lifecycle labels are not used identically by every manufacturer, so do not make a decision from the words EOL or EOS alone. Find out whether the exact device still receives security updates and whether fixes exist for vulnerabilities that affect it.
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Check the manufacturer’s terminology
For NETGEAR, the policy says the date it previously called an EOL date is now its “last sale date.” NETGEAR describes EOS as occurring three years after the last sale date, with exceptions for some carrier or operator products and enterprise contracts. This is that company’s stated policy—not a rule for every router, a universal lifespan, or a guarantee that a particular device will receive a patch on every day before EOS. Last-sale dates can also vary by product SKU and region. See NETGEAR’s End of Service Policy.
Match all device identifiers
Before checking a support or security page, collect the manufacturer, exact model name or number, hardware revision and market or region. Routers sold under similar names can have different hardware or firmware, and the relevant download may depend on those details. Check the manufacturer’s lifecycle listing, product download page and security advisories; compare their entries with the identifiers on your router.
TP-Link’s May 12, 2026 security advisory illustrates why this detail matters: it lists affected hardware revisions and regional firmware builds separately, with some entries patched, partially patched or unpatched. The advisory says certain legacy products received exceptional updates where feasible, while some could not be patched; available fixes for affected models require manual installation. EOL therefore does not prove that no further patch can ever appear, but a late or exceptional patch does not prove that ongoing support has resumed. For an ISP-supplied or ISP-managed router, ask the provider who is responsible for updates and whether it will replace the device.
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Why is using an unsupported router a security concern?
A router sits between devices in your home and the internet. If it has a remotely exploitable flaw and no vendor fix is available, an attacker may be able to target that weakness. Risk depends on the model, its settings, the vulnerability and what the device exposes; an unsupported router is not automatically compromised, but lack of future fixes leaves vulnerabilities without the usual vendor remedy.
There is evidence of real exploitation. In a May 7, 2025 public service announcement, the FBI described criminals exploiting vulnerable EOL routers, including a variant of TheMoon malware found on some EOL routers with remote administration enabled. That is evidence that some unsupported devices have been targeted—not that every old router is infected. The FBI’s advice is direct: “If the router is at end of life, replace the device with an updated model if possible.”
A February 5, 2026 CISA, FBI and NCSC fact sheet explains that unsupported edge devices cannot receive vendor fixes for disclosed flaws, and that internet exposure increases organizational risk. Its cited Binding Operational Directive applies to U.S. Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies; it is not a household legal requirement.
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Vendor advisories also show why decisions should be specific to a model. D-Link US and Canada said in a January 2026 announcement that devices covered by its CVE-2024-42813 notice should be retired because the cited vulnerability had no remediation for those specified products, which were beyond support. By contrast, TP-Link’s May 2026 advisory lists some older devices with exceptional fixes. Neither example justifies a blanket claim about every product from either manufacturer. TP-Link gives CVE-2023-50224 a CVSS v3.0 score of 6.5 (Medium) in its specified advisory; that score is for that vulnerability, not for EOL routers generally.
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What should you do if your router may be end of life?
Start by confirming support status, then choose between updating a supported device, replacing an unsupported one, or taking limited precautions while a replacement is arranged. The steps below are general because manufacturer dashboards and settings vary by model.
- Identify the router. Record its manufacturer, exact model, hardware revision, region and installed firmware version. The model label is often on the device or its product documentation; the firmware version is typically shown in the router’s management interface or app.
- Check its current support and security status. Search the manufacturer’s official lifecycle information, downloads and security advisories using the identifiers you collected. Look for explicit statements about EOS or EOL and check whether security fixes apply to your hardware revision and region. An old firmware download being available does not, by itself, establish that the router remains supported.
- If it is still supported, install applicable updates. Use firmware from the manufacturer’s official support channel and confirm it matches the exact model and hardware revision. Enable automatic updates if the router offers them and you can verify that the setting is active. NIST’s 2024 consumer-router recommendations emphasize authenticated software updates and keeping firmware current.
- If support has ended, plan to replace the internet-facing router. The FBI recommends replacement with an updated model if possible. Prioritize a router that directly faces the internet, particularly if it has no available fix for a relevant vulnerability. No universal number of safe waiting days is established, so avoid treating any particular delay as a guarantee.
- If you must keep it temporarily, reduce exposure. Install any applicable last available official patch, turn off remote administration and services you do not need, and use a strong, unique administrator password. Keep management access limited to the local network rather than exposing it on the wide-area network (WAN); NIST recommends limiting access to interfaces necessary for operation. Check periodically for unexpected configuration changes or unusual network behavior. These steps can reduce some risks, but they do not provide ongoing security updates or make an unsupported router safe indefinitely.
If you suspect the router has been compromised
The FBI advises applying available updates, changing passwords and rebooting, and provides an IC3 reporting route in its alert. A reboot is not a lasting solution if the device remains unsupported or unexplained changes return. In that situation, prioritize replacement and follow the manufacturer’s or your ISP’s guidance for the affected equipment.
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Can a subscription or a different router role replace firmware support?
No. A paid security service does not substitute for firmware fixes or extend a manufacturer’s support period. NETGEAR states that its Armor service may remain purchasable after EOS, but also says Armor does not replace firmware updates or extend its support period. Treat the availability of a subscription as separate from whether the router itself receives security patches.
Nor is it automatically safe to repurpose an unsupported router as an access point, bridge or switch. Changing its role may reduce its direct exposure to the internet, but the device can still be reachable on a network and still lacks unissued fixes. Compatibility and risk depend on the model and setup; no particular alternative-firmware compatibility or installation safety is established here. Do not assume that installing unofficial firmware is a safe or supported fix for a specific router.
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Choose a supported router that fits both your home’s coverage needs and your ISP’s requirements. First check whether the specific model is receiving security updates and review the stated support terms; then confirm it will work with your internet service and existing gateway.
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- Single router: A straightforward choice when one well-positioned unit can cover the home.
- Mesh Wi-Fi system: Consider this when a single unit cannot adequately cover multiple rooms or floors.
- ISP and gateway compatibility: Some providers require their gateway to stay connected even if you add a personal router or mesh system. Ask the ISP whether its equipment must remain in place and whether the replacement can operate with it.
- Home needs: Compare coverage, Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi features, setup requirements and whether the protections you want require a subscription.
A new router may remove an in-home bottleneck, but it cannot raise the speed supplied by your internet plan. A manufacturer’s product categories can help distinguish a conventional router from a mesh system; for example, NETGEAR describes Nighthawk as a router line and Orbi as a mesh line. Those category names are not recommendations for a particular model, and a current model’s support status should be checked directly before purchase. For general buying considerations, see NETGEAR’s router replacement checklist.
How often should you recheck a router’s support status?
Check lifecycle listings, security advisories, patch tables and ISP guidance when you are making a replacement decision, and again if a vulnerability is reported for your exact model. These details can change: manufacturers may publish fixes, change product status or clarify which regions and hardware revisions are affected. An earlier check does not establish a router’s status indefinitely, especially when the model is exposed to a newly disclosed vulnerability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does resetting an end-of-life router make it secure again?
No. A factory reset can restore default settings, but it does not add vendor security fixes or restart firmware support. If you reset a router, secure its administrator settings again and check the exact model’s update status.
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What should I tell my internet provider when asking about an old router?
Give the provider the router’s exact model and hardware revision, and ask who supplies its firmware updates, whether the device is still supported, and which replacement is compatible with your service. Also ask whether an ISP gateway must remain connected when you use your own router or mesh system.
Can a new router make my internet plan faster?
It can remove a limitation caused by old or inadequate in-home equipment, but it cannot raise the speed your ISP supplies. Check the plan and gateway arrangement as well as the router before attributing a speed limit to the Wi-Fi hardware.
