# When was the last time you looked at your router settings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Broadband Discussions\ **Created:** [11 September 2026 11:01 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530 "2026-09-11T11:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [11 September 2026 11:01 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/1 "2026-09-11T11:01:09Z")
While our [big router habits prize survey](https://www.broadband.co.uk/blog/20260819-tell-us-about-your-router-habits) is live, how about a quick confession - when _did_ you last do _anything_ to your router? Whether you regularly poke about in the admin panel, or you’re more of a triennial duster like Han, below, we’d love to know! > **[Broadband Genie on Instagram: "When was the last time you actually dusted...](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcvZhqOFEBJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==)** > > broadbandgenie on September 1, 2026: "When was the last time you actually dusted your router? Be honest. 🫣🧹 > > We want to uncover the truth about our collective router habits (including the 50% of us still running on default passwords like absolute... _Poll ([view on site](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/1))_ Tagging @Hugh @Sarah_McGregor @boomer @greenwellys @Ian_Manning1 @Alex @Juliandc @MarkElmy77a @TinCansAndString @WiFi_Neighbour among others who definitely have an answer to this (and don’t forget to vote in the big survey for your chance to win, too) ---
**Author:** ![Hugh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hugh](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Hugh)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2026 09:59 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/2 "2026-09-12T09:59:15Z")
I check my router when there is a problem with the wifi. I’ve found that turning it off and back on again usually solves any issues. It doesn’t happen very often, but it’s always my ‘go-to.’ The other time I check the router is when I am asked to press the WPS button for 3 seconds. I’ve no idea what that button does, but it seems some things need you to press it in order for them to work. ---
**Author:** ![boomer](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/boomer/32/123_2.png) [@boomer](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/boomer)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2026 13:14 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/3 "2026-09-12T13:14:41Z")
What’s a WPS button?🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [14 September 2026 09:32 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/4 "2026-09-14T09:32:19Z")
Super point @Hugh and @boomer - not all routers have a WPS button and it might be labelled differently/with a symbol. It’s just a way of temporarily unlocking your WiFi connection so you can connect a device without having to type in the password/codes. Handy if you’re connecting a tiny fiddly device like cameras, or if you’re far away from the device you want to connect to - I once used it to connect my sister’s TV using the router in her office for example, but it did require an unseemly and slightly dangerous sprint downstairs. You have to coordinate connecting from the device, to the brief window of time when WPS “opens” your Wi-Fi connection. I had to Google the acronym though - it stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup which isn’t terribly helpful! ---
**Author:** ![boomer](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/boomer/32/123_2.png) [@boomer](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/boomer)\ **Post date:** [15 September 2026 12:02 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/5 "2026-09-15T12:02:15Z")
Well, now you’ve mentioned it, I’ve just had a look around the back of the router. There is a small button labelled WPS, but as I said before, the instructions for the router didn’t mention what it was for, so I left it alone. It was a new router that came when I changed my broadband provider, so I didn’t want to mess with it as long as it was working. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [21 September 2026 09:32 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/6 "2026-09-21T09:32:03Z")
Ah sensible choice there @boomer! In this case you’d have to have someone / something actively trying to connect during the brief time the WPS is activated, so it should be safe - but better safe than sorry. Useful to know it’s there though, if only to save you typing in 20 character passwords! ---
**Author:** ![Juliandc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@Juliandc](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Juliandc)\ **Post date:** [7 October 2026 12:42 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-looked-at-your-router-settings/530/7 "2026-10-07T12:42:31Z")
I’ve mentioned elsewhere on the site I re-contracted with BT for my broadband. So I still had the fairly basic wifi 5 BT router - called a Smart Hub 2. I receive 900Mbs down. And wandering around the home (bungalow) I was getting 50-250Mbs down via WiFi. Ok. But not great. I search reasonably priced WiFi 7 routers and came up with the GL.iNet BE9300 (Flint 3). I paid £152 from Amazon. And it’s currently available for £142 (dang). This is a much more functionally rich router than the BT one. I am not a network expert. But watching YouTube videos I was able to move over the BT settings & IP addresses to the GL.iNet. I couldn’t get the password to migrate (so had to re-input password for each item using WiFi.) The results are an ~100Mbs improvement in download speed across my home. My BT discs (used to extend WiFi to the garage still work). Only my wife’s phone can use the maximum WiFi 7 capabilities currently. But as we buy new phones and computers this will increase. The router is far more secure with WPA 3A WiFi security and ability to set up VPN from the router (I haven’t done that yet). I have separate WiFi networks for 2.4, 5, 6 & combined MLO. And if I was a better network engineer, I could set up separate VLANs for services. So in summary, for me, this was a good decision. For anyone with a modicum of technical skill, it’s a better solution. It’s not for your grandpa. But it’s good to learn new skills.