What is the WPS button on the router for?

If you've ever fiddled with your router, you've probably discovered a strange button with the words "WPS". But what is this mysterious button, and what happens if you press it?

What is WPS?

WPS stands for "Wi-Fi Protected Setup", a feature that allows you to connect devices to the router more easily.

If you've ever tried to connect a device to a router, you've likely struggled with the router's default password. This password is usually printed somewhere on the back of the device and contains a rather long sequence of letters, numbers, and symbols that you need to know in order to access the router.

WPS allows you to connect devices to the router more easily.

The default password has a certain difficulty to prevent hackers from accessing the router. If this password is reset to something easier to remember, like "admin", for example, a hacker can guess it and gain access to the router. In the past, when manufacturers didn't use randomly generated default passwords, changing them was one of the top recommendations to ensure the security of your network.

Since those complicated default router passwords are pretty strong, it's no wonder some people never change it. That means someone can access your Wi-Fi network if they can read the password on the back of the router.

However, if someone actually breaks into your home to find the router password, the worrying thing is obviously not someone is " using" your network.

So if you want anyone within range to be able to touch the connected router without having to turn the router over to see the password, why not create a button that does just that? That's where the WPS button comes into play.

What is the function of the WPS button?

The WPS button allows a person standing within range to touch the connected router. Instead of having to type a long password, you can press the button and immediately connect the device you are holding to the router.

When you press the button, the router will start searching for compatible devices. If it finds any devices looking for a router with WPS to connect to, the two will automatically "shake hands" with each other. If no devices connect to the router for about 2 minutes, the router will stop searching.

It should be noted that not every device can connect using WPS. Devices designed before WPS became popular will not be compatible with it, and some newer devices may not support WPS anymore. You can't immediately tell if a device is WPS compatible, but if it is, you'll see an option " connect via WPS" when trying to connect it to a new router.

Where is the WPS button on your router?

Some router models instead of rewriting use WPS notation.

The WPS button may look slightly different depending on the router model you are using. With some models, the button is easy to spot; just look for the button that says "WPS" somewhere on the back of the device.

Some router models instead of rewriting use the WPS symbol, which has an oval shape with two arrows inside pointing to each other. It looks like a "recycle" sign but lacks an arrow and is round instead of triangular.

In addition, there are router models that use the phrase "Wi-Fi Protected Setup" next to the button, which is clearly written instead of the abbreviation "WPS" . Either way, it's still a regular WPS button, so you shouldn't worry too much about the button's label.

How to connect to a Wi-Fi network with WPS

Unfortunately, not all Wi-Fi devices are compatible with WPS. Older systems designed before WPS won't understand this feature, and some more modern devices don't even care about WPS.

You'll know if a device is WPS compatible if it asks you about using the feature at setup. After selecting the router you want the device to connect to, it will ask you for the password or ask you to press the WPS button on the router.

If the second option appears during the installation process, leave the device alone and press the WPS button on the router. Your router will now start looking for devices that want to connect to it. If nothing happens, it will find your device and allow it to access the network without requiring a passcode.

It should be noted that if you change the router password, any devices connected to it via WPS will be removed. If you try to reconnect, your device will say that its identifier is no longer correct.

To solve the problem, you can reset the passcode as before, and everything will reconnect normally. If you don't want to use the old password (because the new password is stronger, for example), you can tell the device to forget the router, and then connect again using WPS.

You should keep this in mind if you suspect someone is connecting to your router using WPS without your permission. Just change the password, and you'll get all the "uninvited" people out of your home network.

The security of WPS completely depends on where your router is located

Is it safe to use WPS?

The security of WPS completely depends on where your router is located. Are you concerned about the risk of an intruder accessing the router, then using the WPS button to connect to your home network? If so, you should look in your router's settings to disable the WPS feature.

You should do this even more if you don't intend to connect any new devices to your Wi-Fi network in the near future. WPS is only useful when giving network access to new devices. Once that's done, there's no reason to activate the button.

But what if there are guests visiting the house? If you want guests to quickly and easily connect to your Wi-Fi network, you can set up a dedicated network for them. This way, they can quickly connect to the internet without affecting any private devices operating on your personal network.

Conclude

WPS is a pretty convenient way to connect devices to the router. But it could potentially be a security risk. It makes more sense to disable WPS once all devices are connected to the network and allow guests to connect through a dedicated network, so that your private devices are safe.

If you decide to disable WPS and want even more security? Try hiding your entire Wi-Fi network - after all, hackers will have a hard time breaking into something they can't see!