What Is the WPS Button on a Router? Explained
WPS lets you connect a device by pressing a button instead of typing the WiFi password. Here is how to use it and when to turn it off.
WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) lets a device join your WiFi by pressing a button on the router instead of typing the password. It is handy for printers, extenders and TVs without keyboards.
WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) lets a device join your WiFi by pressing a button on the router instead of typing the password. It is handy for printers, extenders and TVs without keyboards. There are two methods: the push button, which is reasonably safe, and the PIN, which is weak and should be turned off.
There are two WPS methods: the push button, which is reasonably safe, and the PIN, which is weak and should be turned off.
How to connect with the WPS button
- Press the WPS button on the router. The WPS light starts blinking.
- Within two minutes, choose WPS on the device, or press its WPS button.
- Wait until the device connects and the light stops blinking.
The two-minute window is the part I remind people about before they start.
WPS methods
| Method | How it works | Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Push button (PBC) | Press router and device buttons | Fine, needs physical access |
| PIN | 8-digit code | Weak, can be guessed |
| NFC | Tap a phone | Rare |
When the choice is mine, the push button is the method I pick over the PIN.
Who still uses WPS?
Android removed WPS in version 9 and iPhones never supported it. Printers, extenders and some smart TVs still use it. If you do not use it, turning WPS off removes one more way in. For most homes, the printer is the device I still see using WPS.
How to turn WPS off
- Log in to your router admin page. Find the address with our Router IP Finder, or try 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
- Open Wireless, WPS.
- Turn off WPS, or at least the WPS PIN, and save.
The PIN-off step is the one I never skip when I turn WPS off.
Why security experts say turn WPS off
WPS PIN mode has a known design flaw. The 8-digit PIN is checked in two halves, which cuts the number of possible guesses to around 11,000. Tools can try them all in hours on routers without lockout protection.
The push-button method is safer because it only opens for a couple of minutes when you press it. But many routers enable PIN mode alongside it. Unless you actively use WPS, turning it off in the router settings removes the risk entirely.
I turn WPS off on every router I set up, because of the PIN flaw.
Devices that still need WPS
- Some printers make WiFi setup much easier with WPS.
- Older range extenders pair with the router this way.
- A few smart-home devices and TVs offer it as an option.
If you need it for one device, turn WPS on, pair the device, then switch it off again. The device stays connected. The pair-then-switch-off routine is the habit I keep for a one-off device.
WPS PIN vs push button
WPS has two main methods, and they’re not equally safe:
- Push button (PBC): press the button on the router, then on the device, within two minutes. Only works while the window is open.
- PIN method: enter an 8-digit PIN from the router label or screen. This is the weak one, because the PIN can be guessed.
Some routers let you disable the PIN method while keeping the button. That’s a reasonable middle ground if you still use WPS for a printer. For a printer household, the PIN-off middle ground is the setup I suggest.
Life without WPS
Almost everything WPS did is now easier another way. Phones and laptops scan QR codes or share passwords automatically. Printers have touchscreen WiFi setup or companion apps. Extenders and mesh systems use their own apps. If none of your devices need WPS, turning it off costs you nothing.
The QR-code scan is the replacement I show first when WPS is gone.
Connect a printer to WiFi without WPS
- On the printer’s screen, open Settings or Network, then Wireless Setup Wizard.
- Choose your WiFi network from the list.
- Type the password using the on-screen keyboard.
- If the printer has no screen, use the maker’s app (HP Smart, Epson Smart Panel, Canon PRINT, Brother Mobile Connect), which sets up WiFi from your phone.
- Print a network configuration page to confirm it connected.
Once it’s on your network, set a DHCP reservation for it in the router so computers can always find it at the same address. My last step is always the DHCP reservation, so the printer keeps its address.
