For most home networks, leave Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) off unless you need it to connect a compatible device. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) advises turning WPS off as part of router hardening. If you do use WPS and your router offers both methods, choose push-button setup rather than a PIN; the exact options depend on your router model and firmware.
What WPS does—and when it is useful
WPS is a convenience feature that lets compatible devices join a Wi-Fi network without you typing the network password. Depending on the router and device, setup may use a physical or software button, or a PIN. It can be useful for devices that are awkward to configure manually, such as a printer, but both the device and router must support the same WPS method. TP-Link’s Archer A9 V6 guide describes its model-specific WPS controls.
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Should WPS be on or off?
Turn it off when you do not need it. CISA’s router-hardening guidance says to “Turn off Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS), enforce the use of strong passwords, keep router firmware up-to-date.” That is broad defensive advice, not a measurement of risk for every home router.
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Use push-button setup if your router and device support it. TP-Link’s guidance identifies push-button as lower risk than PIN and describes a known weakness in the PIN method. This does not mean every PIN implementation is exploitable or that every push-button implementation is risk-free. When setup is complete, turn WPS off again if your router lets you do so.
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Why router model and firmware matter
WPS controls and implementation vary. The National Vulnerability Database’s CVE-2021-37584 record describes WPS mishandling in specified MediaTek chipsets and software version 7.4.0.0, including devices used in NETGEAR products through 2021-11-11. This scoped record is not evidence that every router or WPS implementation is vulnerable. To determine whether it applies to your equipment, check its exact model, chipset, software version, and the maker’s patch advice.
How to check and change your router’s WPS setting
- Identify the router. Find its exact model and firmware version, usually on the device label or in its administration interface. A WPS button’s behavior is not necessarily the same across models.
- Open the model’s official guide or support page. Search the guide for “WPS” and follow its instructions rather than assuming a menu path.
- Change the setting if available. For the TP-Link Archer A9 V6 specifically, the guide places the control at System Tools > System Parameters > WPS, where WPS can be enabled or disabled. Other routers may use different menus or offer different controls.
- Choose the setting that fits your use. If you do not need WPS, disable it. If you need it and the router supports both methods, use push-button rather than PIN; disable WPS afterward if the router allows it.
- Ask the router maker or your internet provider if you cannot find a control. They can confirm the available options for your specific equipment. A missing or unusable setting alone does not establish that you need to replace the router.
WPS is only one part of router security
Disabling WPS does not secure every part of a home network. CISA also advises using a strong Wi-Fi password and keeping router firmware up to date. NIST’s 2024 report on consumer-grade router cybersecurity frames protection more broadly around data, network integrity, and availability; it is not a WPS-specific recommendation. Consider those wider protections alongside the WPS setting.
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