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How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network

This wikiHow teaches you how to add a secondary router to your home or small business network. If you want to add more computers or other devices to your home or small business network but have no available ports, try adding a second...
Part 1 of 3:

Setting Up The First Router

  1. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 1How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 1
    Connect the modem to the first router. Use an Ethernet cable to connect to the WAN port of a router to the WAN/Internet port of the high-speed modem. For the purpose of this wikiHow, we will refer to the router that's connected to the modem as 'Router 1."
    1. Some routers act as a high-speed modem and router. If this is the case for Router 1, simply connect it to the cable that carries your internet connection.
    2. The WAN port may be labeled 'Internet.'
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    How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 2How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 2

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    How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 3How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 3
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support

    Your internet provider limits the speed of your internet. Therefore, connecting a second router might not help. Talk to your provider first to see if adding a second router will improve your internet speed or if they can increase your limit.

  2. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 4How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 4
    Connect Router 1 to a computer. Use an Ethernet cable to connect from one of Router 1's LAN ports to a computer's Ethernet port.
    1. You can also connect to the router wirelessly using the wi-fi name and passkey.
  3. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 5How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 5
    Turn on the modem and Router 1. Allow a few moments for them both to boot up.
  4. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 6How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 6
    Open a web browser. You'll need a web browser to connect to the admin user interface of Router 1.
  5. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 7How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 7
    Enter Router 1's IP address in the address bar. Type the IP address for Router 1 into the address bar at the top of your web browser. This opens the router's admin login screen. [1]Check the user's manual or manufacturer's website to find the default IP address for Router 1.
    1. Here are some default IP addresses for common router brands:
      1. 2Wire: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.254, 10.0.0.138
      2. Apple: 10.0.0.1
      3. Belkin: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, 10.0.0.2, 10.1.1.1
      4. Dlink: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.101, 192.168.0.30, 192.168.0.50, 192.168.15.1, 192.168.254.254, 192.168.1.254, 192.168.0.10, 192.168.15.1, 10.0.0.1, 10.0.0.2, 10.1.1.1, 10.90.90.90,
      5. Netgear: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.227[2]
  6. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 8How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 8
    Log in using Router 1's admin username and password. This opens Router 1's admin user interface. Check the user's manual, or the manufacturer's website to find the default username and password for the Router 1.
    1. Most router's use "admin" as the username and password. You can also try "Password" or "12345678" as the password. For some router's, the username or password is left blank. [3]
    2. If you're using the right password but still can't connect, check the user's manual or manufacturer's website to learn how to reset the router's to it's factory settings.[4]
  7. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 9How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 9
    Enable DHCP on Router 1.[5] This will allow Router 1 to assign all of the IP addresses in your network.
    1. You can usually find these settings under 'Network settings,' or 'LAN settings.' The admin user interface layout is different from one router make and model to another.
    2. In most cases, the DHCP server is turned on by default.
  8. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 10How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 10
    Test your network and internet connection. Visit any website (like https://www.wikihow.com) to verify that you can connect to the Internet. Make sure that the physical configuration of your network leaves room for one LAN port to be open on Router 1.
  9. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 11How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 11
    Disconnect Router 1 from the computer. Remove the Ethernet cable between Router 1 and the computer. Everything else can remain on and plugged in.
Part 2 of 3:

Setting Up The Second Router

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    Plug the second router in and turn it on. Make sure you have a free electrical outlet and a computer near where you want the second router to be located. Plug it in and turn it on. For the purposes of this wikiHow, we will refer to the second router as "Router 2".
  2. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 13How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 13
    Connect a computer to the Router 2. Use an Ethernet cable to connect to the LAN port on Router 2. Then connect to the Ethernet port on a computer.[6]
  3. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 14How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 14
    Type Router 2's IP address in the address bar of a web browser. This opens the admin login screen for Router 2.
    1. With most router's, the IP address is 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, or 10.0.0.1.
  4. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 15How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 15
    Log in using Router 2's username and password. Use the default username and password to log in to the admin user interface for Router 2, just as you did with Router 1. Check the user's manual or manufacturer's website to find the default username and password.
    1. With most routers, "admin" is both the username and password.
  5. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 16How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 16
    Disable DHCP on Router 2.[7] Since DHCP is enabled on Router 1, it should be disabled on Router 2 to prevent IP conflicts. Locate the DHCP settings in the admin user interface and switch the DHCP server to 'Off.'
  6. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 17How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 17
    Assign a new IP address to Router 2. As of now, there's a good possibility that Routers 1 and 2 have the same default IP address. To prevent IP conflicts, Router 2 needs to have a different IP address than Router 1.
    1. Find the area in the routers admin user interface called 'LAN' or 'Local Network.' There should be a box that contains the current IP address.
    2. Type a new IP address in place of the existing one. The new IP address on Router 2 must be on the same subnet as Router 1. This means the first three sets of numbers in the IP address should be the same as Router 1. Change the number after the fourth period in the IP address to something different from Router 1.It also can't be an IP currently assigned to another device.
  7. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 18How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 18
    Configure Router 2's Wi-Fi name and passkey. They should be identical to Router 1.[8]
    1. You should find these settings under a menu called 'Wireless', 'Wi-Fi setup', or something similar
    2. If you're unsure of Router 1's SSID and passkey, it should be printed on the device.
    3. Router 2 is not a wireless router, skip this step.
Part 3 of 3:

Bringing Your Network Online

  1. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 19How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 19
    Disconnect the power from Router 2. Now that Router 2's all set up, it's a good idea to give it a restart—though, for now, leave the power unplugged instead of turning it right back on.
  2. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 20How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 20
    Connect the first router to the second router. Use an Ethernet cable to connect to a LAN port on Router 1. Then connect to the first LAN port on Router 2.
    1. Make sure you're not plugging it into the WAN port as they look similar.
  3. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 21How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 21
    Plug Router 2 back in and turn it on. When the router comes back up, it will have the IP address you configured. As long as Router 1 has Internet access, Router 2 will now also be online.
  4. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 22How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 22
    Restart the computer that's connected to Router 2. Anytime you connect a computer to a new network device, it's a good idea to restart your computer.
  5. How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 23How to Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network Picture 23
    Connect other computers and devices. This can be done wirelessly, or by connecting Ethernet cables to unused LAN ports on either router. Router 1's DHCP server will automatically assign each device its own IP address in the same subnet. Enjoy your expanded network!
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