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You can often reuse an old router to add wired Ethernet connections, but the right setup depends on its exact model and firmware. First check whether it has a supported Access Point (AP) mode; if it does not, follow the manufacturer’s documented manual setup. In a common manual configuration, the old router gets a management IP address on the main router’s subnet, its DHCP server is turned off, and the routers are connected through LAN ports.
Before you begin: check the router’s supported setup
Find the old router’s model number, hardware revision, and firmware version, then consult the manufacturer’s instructions for that specific device. Menu names and port requirements vary. TP-Link’s guide, for example, separates models with an Operation Mode menu from those that require manual configuration; ASUS also advises checking whether the particular router supports AP mode. See TP-Link’s setup guide and ASUS’s AP-mode instructions.
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Choose the path the manufacturer documents
- Built-in AP mode: Use the router’s guided AP-mode setup if your model supports it. Follow its instructions for the uplink port and any settings it asks you to change.
- Manual configuration: Use this only if the manufacturer documents it for your model. The TP-Link method below is one example; it is not a universal recipe for all routers.
In either case, the aim is to avoid having the old router act as a second gateway while the main router manages the home network.
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- Open the old router’s management page. Connect to it as its manual instructs and sign in. Exact access steps and menu labels depend on the model and firmware.
- Assign it a management IP on the main router’s subnet. Use an address that is not already in use and is outside the main router’s DHCP allocation pool. TP-Link’s guide gives an illustrative example: if the main router’s DHCP range is
192.168.2.100–192.168.2.199, the old router could use192.168.2.11. These are example addresses, not universal defaults. TP-Link says, “This IP address should be outside the main router’s DHCP range.” - Turn off the old router’s DHCP server. The main router should remain responsible for assigning clients their network settings. In NETGEAR’s explanation, a DHCP server provides client IP addresses, DNS server addresses, and the default gateway. See NETGEAR’s DHCP guidance.
- Save the settings and reboot the old router. Record its new management IP: changing that address can change how you reach its settings page later.
- Connect the routers LAN-to-LAN. For the TP-Link manual configuration, connect a LAN port on the main router to a LAN port on the old router. The old router’s other LAN ports can then connect wired client devices.
- Verify the connection. Connect a computer or other client to an available LAN port on the old router. Check that it receives network settings from the main router and can reach devices or services on the local network.
The steps above describe TP-Link’s documented manual method. If your router’s manual specifies a different arrangement, follow that instead.
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Do not assume the WAN port works the same way on every router
Port choice depends on the setup the manufacturer supports. TP-Link’s cited manual method uses LAN-to-LAN. NETGEAR’s instructions for a documented AP-mode setup instead connect the secondary router’s Internet port to a LAN port on the main router. Those are different model-specific instructions, not interchangeable general rules. Consult the instructions for your exact router before connecting the uplink. See NETGEAR’s AP-mode instructions.
Keep DHCP on the main router
For the cited manual setup, the old router’s DHCP server is off and the main router’s remains on. If DHCP is disabled on the old router when no other DHCP server is available, clients may need manually entered network settings and ordinary network access may fail; NETGEAR explicitly warns about this condition. Avoid leaving two DHCP servers active for the arrangement described by the vendors, since clients can otherwise receive inconsistent network settings.
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What changes when the old router is in AP mode
Some models can continue broadcasting Wi-Fi while operating as an access point, but that is optional and device-dependent. TP-Link’s manual instructions include wireless configuration and describe Wi-Fi clients using the resulting SSID. The core wired setup does not require adding Wi-Fi coverage.
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Troubleshoot common setup problems
A client does not get a network connection
- Confirm DHCP is still enabled on the main router and disabled on the old router for the manual setup.
- Check that the inter-router cable uses the ports specified for the old router’s selected mode.
- Reconnect the client after the settings change, then check whether it receives its network settings from the main router.
You cannot reopen the old router’s management page
Use the management IP you assigned during setup. If you did not record it, check the main router’s connected-device list or follow the old router’s vendor instructions for locating or restoring access. Do not assume its former default address still applies after changing its LAN IP.
The chosen management IP causes a conflict
Choose an unused address on the main router’s subnet that is outside its DHCP pool, using the manufacturer’s addressing instructions. A collision with another device or an address inside the dynamic pool can make management access unreliable.
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Cable length
ASUS’s March 3, 2026 AP-mode guidance says Ethernet RJ45 cables used for the network devices should not exceed 100 meters. Treat that as ASUS’s stated guidance for the described setup; follow the requirements for your own equipment and installation. You do not need to buy a new cable if you already have a suitable one.
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