How do I set up my NETGEAR WiFi range extender? (2024)

Your NETGEAR range extender expands your home WiFi network by connecting to your existing network and improving coverage. The following instructions will help you set up your extender.

For our newer devices, we recommend setting up your extender with the Nighthawk app. For more information, see the following articles:

• Which products support the NETGEAR Nighthawk app?
• How do I install my extender using the NETGEAR Nighthawk App?

For all other extenders, we recommend the following instructions.

To set up your extender:

1. Plug in your extender.
   The Power LED lights.
   If your Power LED does not light, press the Power or On/Off button.
2. Connect your computer or mobile device to the extender's WiFi network.
   The extender's default WiFi network name (SSID) is NETGEAR_EXT. The extender network either has no password or the default password is password.
   Your device might warn you that the Internet is not available. This is to be expected. Keep the WiFi connection.
3. Launch a web browser and enter mywifiext.netor 192.168.1.250.
   The New Extender Setup page displays.
4. Click or tap NEW EXTENDER SETUP.
   If prompted to accept terms and conditions, click or tap YES or I AGREE.
5. Choose your extender's admin credentials.
   These credentials are used to access your extender's settings on a web browser.
   We recommend leaving the default User Name as admin and choosing a password that is different from your WiFi network password.
6. Select and answer two security questions from the drop-down menus.
   These questions are used to recover your extender's admin credentials if you forget them.
7. Click or tap NEXT.
   If your extender asks if you would like to use the NETGEAR Genie to help, click or tap YES or CONTINUE.
   Your extender searches for local WiFi networks.
8. Select the radio buttons for your network's 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi Network Names (SSID).
   If you do not see your networks, click or tap See More.
9. Click or tap NEXT.
10. Enter your existing network's password and click or tap NEXT.
11. Select SSIDs and passwords for your extender.
    By default, the extender uses the name of your existing network with _2GEXT added to the end for the 2.4GHz band and _5GEXT for the 5GHz band. By default, the password for each band is the same as your existing network.
12. (Optional) For mesh extenders, you have an option to use the same WiFi name and password as your existing network. Select the Enable One WiFi Name check box to enable this feature if your extender supports it.
    This allows your extender to use the same WiFi name (SSID) and password as your existing WiFi network.
13. Click or tap NEXT.
    The extender applies your settings. This can take a few minutes.
    The extender displays the WiFi network name (SSID) and password for each of your extender's bands. Take note of these.
14. On a device that you plan to connect to the extender network, go to the WiFi settings and connect to the extender's new network.
15. Go back to your web browser, select the checkbox at the bottom of the page, and click or tap CONTINUE.
    Your extender is now extending your network's coverage.