How to use a WPS Button on a wireless router
If you own or have come across a wireless router, you’ve heard of a WPS or you’ve seen a button marked WPS on your router. It’s usually denoted by a lock or two refresh arrows. But, do you know what it is and how it works?
A WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button also known as a push button, is a button found on most wireless router’s back or side and is used for connecting a device to your router without keying in the password by simply pressing the WPS button.
Table of Contents
What is WPS?
In the usual environment, for you to connect your smartphone to a wireless network, you need to know the name of the network (also labeled SSID), select it and type its password to connect. You won’t be able to gain access without performing the steps. Here’s where a WPS comes in handy making the process simpler and faster and most modern routers come with a WPS support mostly enabled by default. However, you can also enable it manually by pressing the push button once to get it working.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup is a standard for network security that you can use to secure your wireless home network and connect devices such as smartphones to this network without a password. It requires both your devices to be WPS enabled and it’s mostly used on home networks and by a few small companies.
With a WPS enabled setup, you don’t need to enter passwords. When you push the WPS button, your device uses the randomly generated password to securely connect to the network. This makes the connection much easier and faster. A WPS also allows you to block users from accessing your wireless network. WPS only works on networks with WPA or WPA2 Personal security protocol to encrypt passwords.
How to connect to your wireless network using a WPS button
Look for the push button on your and press it. This will turn on discovery and the button will begin flashing an orange or amber color indicating that it’ssearching for a device to connect to. If you are unable to find your WPS button, check with your router’s manual. Next, go to your device and select the network you want to connect to. This will automatically connect the device to your Wi-Fi without you having to type in the Wi-Fi password.
If you have a device such as a printer it comes with its own WPS button that you can use to connect to your wireless network by pressing the WPS buttons on both the devices without keying in a password. The WPS will automatically send the network’s password and the devices will remember and will be able to connect to the network without performing this action again.
NB: You may need an eight-digit PIN in some models that is automatically generated to connect your devices to your wireless network. Especially on devices without a WPS button but are supported by WPS. You can find this PIN on your WPS’s configuration page on your router.
Pros and cons of using a WPS button
As we’ve seen, you don’t need to type in any password making it faster and simpler to set up, especially if you’re not tech-savvy or unable to remember your Wi-Fi password. However, this comes at a cost of insecurity making your router vulnerable to threats since it’s easier to hack when the WPS button is on. An attacker can recover your router’s PIN in a few hours.
Challenges while using my WPS button
If you experience any challenges with your WPS while trying to connect a device to your router make surethat your router and the device you’re attempting to pair are compatible because WPS will only work on supported devices. Also ensure your WPS process time outs after you’ve pressed the push button. This process takes about 2 minutes to do a device search and it’ll be indicated by a flashing light. If the connection is unsuccessful, you need to press it again and try.
A summary table of how to use a WPS button on your Wireless Router
Button |
Use |
How to use |
WPS button on a wireless router |
The button is used for connecting devices to your Wi-Fi network without typing a password by creating a secure connection between the device and router. |
On your router’s back or side, locate and press the WPS button. This will turn on discovery for new devices.
On your device, scan for WPS devices for the router to give the device the password so as to connect. |
Conclusion
The push button offers simplicity and saves on time taken to remember your Wi-Fi password when connecting a new device to your wireless network. However, this comes with a security downside because WPS is insecure and vulnerable to threats. Security is crucial when it comes to technology because you don’t want to be victim of a cyber-attack. So, I would advise you to disable your router’s WPS for security reasons, especially if it’s an older model or its firmware isn’t up-to-date.
FAQs
My router’s WPS button is missing; can I still be able to connect a printer to my wireless network?
Yes you can still be able to connect your printer to your router. On your printer, select your network that you wish to connect to and enter the passphrase manually which you can get from your router settings page or PC. You only need to enter it once as your device will remember these settings.
Where do I find my wireless network’s password if I’ve never changed it?
Your router has a default password that you can get by looking at the bottom of your router. It could be referred to as a WPA key or a WPA/WPA2 Passphrase. If you are unable to find it, check your router’s user manual.
