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TP-Link makes some of the best-selling routers and mesh systems in the US, which is why “TP-Link ban” headlines reach so many homes. The story has been building for two years, and the details matter: what is banned, what isn’t, and what you should do with the router already blinking in your hallway. I set up the networks in our home and in the apartments we rent out, so I’ve had to answer this question for myself. Here is the plain version, with sources at the end.
What to do, by situation
Keep it. Update the firmware, change the admin password and turn off remote management. Check again in a few months.
Replace it. No updates is a security problem whatever the brand. See the checklist below.
An existing TP-Link model is legal. To avoid the question, choose a brand with FCC approval, such as eero.
Check the eero 6+The timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2024 | U.S. agencies open investigations into TP-Link and other routers with China ties; Microsoft links TP-Link routers to a password-spraying campaign. |
| 2025 | Several agencies back a possible ban; TP-Link routers are hit by botnet attacks and CISA flags exploited flaws in some models. |
| March 23, 2026 | The FCC adds consumer routers made abroad to its Covered List: new models need approval. Existing authorized models are untouched. |
| April 2026 | TP-Link asks for conditional approval and doesn’t get it. Rivals including Amazon, Netgear and Asus do. |
| May 2026 | The FCC extends the window for security updates to routers already in use to at least January 1, 2029. |
| October 2026 | Iowa, Florida, Montana and Nebraska sue TP-Link; the FCC sends letters about four models and power limits (details below). |
What happened in October 2026
The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology sent TP-Link Systems, the company’s California-based arm, two letters dated October 15. Based on preliminary findings, it said TP-Link had provided inaccurate information in the certification applications for four router models, and that three of them exceeded power limits in testing. The letters didn’t publicly name the models; reports describe them as ranging from an Archer gaming router to a compact travel router. TP-Link was asked to respond by October 30. The company says it will review and retest, and that the four models make up less than 0.33% of its US sales this year.
Why it matters: experts quoted by Bloomberg say findings like these could give the FCC grounds to act against TP-Link routers already on sale, not just new ones. That hasn’t happened. We’ll update this page if it does.
What is and isn’t allowed today
| Allowed? | |
|---|---|
| Using a TP-Link router you already own | Yes |
| Buying a TP-Link model that was authorized before March 2026 | Yes |
| Getting security updates for it | Yes, until at least January 1, 2029 |
| TP-Link launching brand-new router models in the US | Not without approval |
| Bringing a covered router bought abroad into the US | No |
Based on FCC actions as reported through October 28, 2026. The rules also cover provider-supplied gateways made abroad.
Will your router still get updates?
Legally, yes: the FCC’s extension lets makers keep shipping security patches and compatibility fixes to routers already in US homes until at least January 1, 2029. In practice, it depends on whether TP-Link still supports your model. Turn the router over, note the model and hardware version on the label, and look it up on TP-Link’s support site. If the latest firmware is several years old or the model is marked end-of-life, that router is a risk today, ban or no ban.
10-minute router security checklist
These apply to any brand, and they matter more than the headlines:
- Update the firmware in the app or admin page, and turn on automatic updates if offered.
- Change the admin password from the default to a long, unique one.
- Turn off remote management (web access from outside your home) unless you need it.
- Turn off WPS and UPnP if you don’t use them.
- Use WPA3, or WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode for older devices.
- Put smart plugs, cameras and TVs on a guest or IoT network where the app allows it.
- Reboot once a month; some router malware doesn’t survive a restart.
Working from home with client files? Read how to protect client data in a home office.
If you decide to replace it
Buy for your home and internet plan first, the logo second. For a plan up to 1 Gbps, the eero 6+ is a simple Wi-Fi 6 mesh from a maker with FCC approval; for faster plans, the eero 7 adds Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5 GbE ports. If coverage and wired ports matter most and the TP-Link question doesn’t worry you, the Deco X55 is still a strong buy. We compare them in Deco X55 vs eero 6+ and across seven systems in our mesh Wi-Fi guide.
Check the eero 6+ Check the eero 7
FAQ
Are TP-Link routers banned in the US?
Not the ones already on sale. Since March 2026 the FCC requires approval for new foreign-made router models, and TP-Link has not received it. Models authorized before that can still be sold and used.
Should I throw away my TP-Link router?
No. If it still gets firmware updates, keep it updated and secured. Replace it if it's an old model that TP-Link no longer supports, or if you want to avoid the uncertainty.
Will my TP-Link router still get security updates?
The FCC has allowed security updates for foreign-made routers already in US homes until at least January 1, 2029. Whether a particular model gets updates depends on TP-Link's support for it.
What did the FCC say about TP-Link in October 2026?
The FCC's engineering office sent TP-Link letters dated October 15 saying four router models had inaccurate certification information and three exceeded power limits in testing. TP-Link was asked to respond by October 30 and says the issues are isolated.
Which routers are not affected by the FCC router rules?
Brands that received conditional approval, including Amazon (eero), Netgear and Asus, can keep certifying new models. All existing authorized routers from any brand remain legal to use.
How do I check if my TP-Link router is still supported?
Find the model and hardware version on the label underneath, then look it up on TP-Link's support site. If the newest firmware is years old or the model is listed as end of life, plan to replace it.
Sources
- Bloomberg: FCC warns TP-Link its routers breach power limits (October 27, 2026)
- Mediasat: TP-Link routers could face a US ban over excess power, experts say (October 28, 2026)
- Gizmodo: Don't expect to buy a new TP-Link router in the US any time soon (October 9, 2026)
- Dong Knows Tech: FCC's 2026 router ban, what's banned and what's not
- Infosecurity Magazine: FCC relaxes foreign-made router ban to allow security updates
- Tom's Guide: TP-Link router ban timeline
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