When to Update Your Router and When to Leave It Alone

Router firmware updates occupy an uncomfortable middle ground in home network management. Skipping them leaves known vulnerabilities unpatched, potentially for years. Applying every update the moment it is available carries its own risks: firmware updates occasionally introduce bugs that break working configurations, and routers rarely revert easily if something goes wrong.

The approach that makes sense depends on what is in the update and how old the router is. Most of the routers people have on their home networks have never received a firmware update beyond the factory installation. A smaller number have had every update applied automatically without anyone reading what the update changed. Both approaches have problems.

How to Check for Updates and Read the Release Notes

The router admin panel is almost always accessible at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser on a device connected to the network. If neither of those works, check the back of the router for the admin address, or search for the model name plus "admin IP." The default credentials are usually printed on the router label; change them if you have not already.

Once logged in, firmware information is typically under Administration, Advanced, or Maintenance, depending on the manufacturer. Look for a firmware version number and a check for updates option. Some routers also show a changelog or link to release notes.

Read the release notes before applying any update. Manufacturers categorise updates differently, but the practical distinction is between security fixes and feature or performance changes. A release note that mentions a CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) number, or explicitly describes a security vulnerability as fixed, should be applied. These fix real exploitable issues, and the risk of not applying them is higher than the risk of the update causing a configuration problem.

An update described as "performance improvements," "stability enhancements," or "feature additions" is optional and worth treating with more caution. These updates are not responding to a known threat. They may or may not improve your experience, and they carry the usual software update risk of introducing new problems while fixing others.

When to Update Immediately

Any update that addresses a documented security vulnerability is worth applying promptly. Routers are exposed to the public internet in a way most other home devices are not, and unpatched vulnerabilities have been exploited at scale. The 2018 VPNFilter malware affected over 500,000 routers across multiple manufacturers, mostly on older firmware. The Mirai botnet in 2016 compromised routers using default credentials and outdated firmware.

If a router has not received a security update in over a year, check whether the manufacturer still actively supports it. Manufacturers typically support consumer routers for three to five years from release. After that, security updates stop arriving regardless of whether new vulnerabilities are found. A router past its support window is running unpatched software indefinitely, and the only real solution is replacement.

ISP-provided routers are a particular case worth noting. Most ISPs apply firmware updates automatically and remotely without notifying customers. This means the router is likely kept reasonably current for security patches. It also means you have no control over what changes and when. If the ISP updates the router firmware overnight and something stops working the next day, the firmware is the first thing worth checking.

Before Applying Any Update: What to Do

Note your current configuration before updating anything. Log into the admin panel and check the settings you have customised: any port forwarding rules, DHCP reservation lists where you have assigned static IPs to specific devices, custom DNS settings, Wi-Fi channel configurations, and guest network settings if enabled. Some firmware updates reset these to defaults. Writing them down takes five minutes and saves a considerable amount of frustration if the update changes something.

Check whether the router has a factory reset option versus a configuration backup. Some models allow you to save the current configuration as a file that can be restored if the update causes problems. If this option exists, use it before updating.

Do not apply firmware updates when you cannot afford downtime. Firmware updates typically require a reboot and can take several minutes. Some updates require a factory reset as part of the installation process. Applying an update immediately before an important video call or during business hours if the router serves a home office is unnecessary risk.

When to Leave It Alone

A router that is working correctly, running firmware that is less than eighteen months old, with no documented security vulnerabilities, does not need to be updated immediately. If the release notes describe aesthetic interface changes or changes to features you do not use, the update provides no benefit to your specific setup and introduces the small but real risk of disrupting something that is currently working.

The practical approach: check for updates every three to six months rather than enabling automatic updates if you want control over the timing. Apply security-related updates within a week or two of their release. Apply feature updates at your discretion, reading the release notes to determine whether they address anything relevant to your configuration. If the router is more than five years old, research whether the manufacturer still issues updates for it, and factor replacement into your planning if the answer is no.