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7 Signs You Need a New Router

Expert tips to keep your network up to date

A router manages the network on your side of the modem or fiber ONT. It’s the postmaster delivering internet data to and from your devices.

But like any human, it can get old, cranky, and just too darn tired to download your cat video streams like it used to. You’ll see slow speeds, finicky connections, and, eventually, security risks. Or perhaps it has problems no amount of troubleshooting can resolve.

So, how can you know when it’s time to replace your router? We’ll walk you through seven surefire signs that it’s time for an upgrade.

signs you need a new router

Run a speed test first!

Run a wired speed test from your modem or fiber ONT to check your internet speed. If all checks out, run a wired speed test from the router and compare the results. Use our mobile apps to check your Wi-Fi speed at close range if the results mostly match.

Running a speed test using our app is super convenient, but you get the most accurate results running our speed test from a wired connection. If that’s not an option, be sure to stand next to the router when you run our speed test over Wi-Fi. Compare the results to your plan’s advertised speed. If the results look wonky, run the test again using a wired connection and compare the results to your plan.

Sign #1—Your router is older than dirt

There are a couple of things to consider when we write about a router’s age.

First, routers are small computers dedicated to routing internet traffic to and from your devices. Like any other desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet, it wears out over time—all the happy little components inside won’t stay happy forever. If you’re experiencing dropped connections and slow speeds, the router’s age could be the culprit.

Second, the Wi-Fi specification plays a vital role in age, too. Let’s say you splurged on the $1,799 Google Pixel Fold smartphone—wait while we pause to snicker at the price because, you know, wow—but you’re still rocking a Wi-Fi 4 router. The phone supports Wi-Fi 6E and the new superfast 6 GHz band, but your router doesn’t. That’s like buying the equivalent of a Lamborghini, but you can only drive it on a dirt road at 10 MPH.

Finally, your router officially becomes “older than dirt” when it stops receiving firmware updates. It’s a security risk because the manufacturer is no longer plugging holes in the code. At that point, you might as well invite every hacker on the dark web into your home.

SOLUTION

Upgrade your router at least every five years—or after firmware updates end or you upgrade most of your wireless devices—especially if you need all the speed you can get. If you don’t have the heart to kick your old router to the curb, you can still use it as a wired hub somewhere on your network—just disable the Wi-Fi radios if you can.

Here are a few suggestions based on our tests to get you started:

Sign #2—Your provider’s router isn’t great

Renting a router or mesh system from your internet provider is ideal if you can’t afford to pay the full retail price. Some standalone routers and mesh systems, especially the three-unit mesh kits and Wi-Fi 7 ones (ouch), can cost more than a decent laptop.

Many internet providers now offer some really decent routers and mesh systems to rent for maybe $10 per month, like the Eero Pro 6 system and the NETGEAR Nighthawk XR500. But what if your internet provider isn’t keeping up with the times? What if it still uses outdated Wi-Fi 5 routers while competitors have Wi-Fi 6E ones?

SOLUTION

Purchase a new router. In doing so, you can choose what’s best for you in capacity, speed, and range and have complete control over your local network—just be sure it’s compatible with your modem or fiber ONT and your internet plan. Of course, buying one saves you money over time, too. You save $120 per year (based on a $10 monthly fee), which equals $600 in savings over five years.

Here are a few suggestions we tested:

Sign #3—Your router drops connections

Let’s start with two facts:

  • A wireless device disconnects from a router when you move out of range.
  • A wireless device disconnects from a router when there’s no internet.

So, how do you know if you need to upgrade your router?

Imagine you just bought a new phone (so we can rule it out). You stand in the kitchen, and the signal is stronger than a solar flare. A few weeks later, you stand in the same spot, but now your phone keeps disconnecting because the signal strength is unexpectedly low. In this case, your router is probably having technical issues, preventing it from broadcasting Wi-Fi at its normal strength.

Here’s another scenario. Your phone registers an excellent signal strength, but the router’s Ethernet port is failing, the cable connector isn’t seated correctly, or the cable itself is damaged. The router stops receiving internet from the modem or fiber ONT, so your phone disconnects because it doesn’t detect internet from the router.

SOLUTION

Troubleshoot the router’s connection to see if you can easily fix the problem. If not, you should probably purchase a new router.

If you want a router with a super-long range, check out our tested top picks:

Sign #4—Your router is unusually slow as snails

A router’s speed woes can result from one or more issues. We already covered that a weakened signal reduces your range and causes disconnects. And since range and speed go hand in hand, you’ll see noticeably reduced speeds, too.

Slower-than-expected speeds can also be the byproduct of a stressed, overheated, or older router processor. There’s only so much data your little postmaster can shuffle at once, and the older (or hotter) it gets, the slower it moves.

Some other things that can slow your speeds include a faulty WAN port, a defective Ethernet cable, troublesome firmware, and new networks invading your favorite channels.

SOLUTION

Make sure your router has room to breathe. Also, check its connection to the modem or fiber ONT. Switch to one of the higher 5 GHz channels to see if your speed improves. Run wired speed tests and compare the results. If nothing you do helps, you may need to purchase a new router.

Want a router with superfast speeds? Here are a few selections based on our tests:

Sign #5—Your router is hotter than the sun

Writing “hotter than the sun” is a bit overdramatic on our part, but you get where we’re going. A busy router should feel somewhat warm—especially the more expensive ones with faster processors—but it shouldn’t be hot enough to fry an egg. That’s a good sign your router is about to kick the bucket.

Look, all electronics generate heat. The hotter a component gets, the slower it performs, so you want them cool and comfy. Many routers use passive cooling—a thermal design that doesn’t use moving parts—to remove the heat. Others use fans to blow it all out of the vents. In both cases, a super-hot router means the components are overheating and will eventually burn up, leaving you with an expensive paperweight.

So, why is it getting hot? There are several possible scenarios.

  • Your router may be defective.
  • Some of the components inside could be worn out.
  • You have a budget router that can’t handle your household’s connection load.
  • It doesn’t have proper ventilation.

SOLUTION

Replace your router if it’s old. If it’s rather new, try to relocate it to a place where it can adequately breathe. Make sure the vents are clear of obstructions and debris.

Sign #6—Your router constantly reboots

Are you manually rebooting the router, or is it randomly rebooting on its own?

A manual reboot usually indicates you’re having speed issues, whether with the connection to your modem or fiber ONT, the connections to your wired and wireless devices, or a combination of both. A stressed processor and overstuffed memory will cause your network to run slower than snails, forcing you to reboot the router. You’ll probably reboot faulty and older routers more than newer ones.

If your router reboots on its own, you may have one or more hardware issues at play. For example, bad firmware will crash your router, similar to how the Blue Screen of Death reboots a Windows-based computer. A faulty power connection will cause a random reboot, too.

SOLUTION

Check your router’s power connection—you may need to switch power outlets, get a new power supply, or buy a new router. Update the router’s firmware too, or reset it to the factory defaults. Get a new router if it’s old or failing, or nothing you do fixes your issue(s).

Sign #7—Your router doesn’t update

Think of firmware as a router’s streamlined operating system. It controls every component under the hood, from the Wi-Fi radios to the WAN port. Firmware is never perfect on Day 1. There’s always a flaw to fix, a security hole to fill, and optimizations to make. Manufacturers release updates periodically for all these reasons.

And like any other operating system, you absolutely must keep firmware current so your devices and information stay safe and private. However, the firmware updates will stop at some point, leaving unresolved flaws and security holes open for attackers to utilize. That’s not good.

SOLUTION

Get a new router if your current one doesn’t receive firmware updates. If you can’t afford one, rent a new router from your internet provider until you can.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

If you don't have issues with your router after all

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Author -

Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.

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