How Often Should You Update Your Router Firmware?

You should check for router firmware updates at least every three months, and apply them sooner when the manufacturer releases a security patch. Firmware is the software that runs your router, and out-of-date firmware is one of the easiest ways for an attacker to get a foothold on a network. Where your router supports automatic updates, turning them on is usually the safest choice for a small business.

Key facts

• Check for router firmware updates at least quarterly, and immediately when a security advisory is published.
• Firmware updates fix security holes, patch bugs, and sometimes add features or improve stability.
• Many modern business routers can update automatically; consumer routers often cannot.
• Unpatched router firmware is a common entry point in attacks on small businesses.
• A router that no longer receives firmware updates from its vendor should be replaced.

Why does router firmware matter?

Router firmware is the operating system of the device that sits between your business and the internet, which makes it a high-value target. When researchers find a vulnerability in a popular router, the details become public quickly, and automated tools start scanning the internet for unpatched devices within days. A router running months-old firmware is exactly what those scans are looking for. Keeping firmware current closes those holes before they can be used against you.

This is not theoretical. Compromised routers get used to intercept traffic, redirect staff to fake login pages, and serve as a quiet base inside the network.

How often should you update router firmware?

A quarterly check is a sensible baseline for most small businesses, because it keeps you reasonably current without creating constant disruption. The exception is a security update, which should be applied as soon as practical rather than waiting for the next scheduled check. If your router supports automatic firmware updates, enabling them removes the need to remember at all, which in practice is what most SMEs need, because manual checks are the kind of task that slips when everyone is busy. (In our experience, “we’ll check it later” usually means never.)

How do you update router firmware safely?

Updating firmware safely comes down to timing and a backup. Log in to the router’s admin interface, find the firmware or system update section, and either let it check online or upload the file you downloaded from the manufacturer’s official site. Run the update outside business hours where you can, because the router will reboot and drop the connection for a few minutes. Save a copy of the current configuration first, so you can restore settings if anything goes sideways. Never install firmware from anywhere other than the vendor, since tampered firmware is a real risk.

Frequently asked questions

Will updating firmware reset my router settings?

Usually not, but it can. Most updates preserve your configuration, though some major firmware changes reset the device to defaults. Back up the router configuration before you start so you can restore your settings quickly if the update wipes them.

What happens if I never update my router firmware?

The router keeps working, but known vulnerabilities stay open and accumulate over time. That makes the device progressively easier to compromise, and a compromised router puts every device behind it at risk. Skipping updates is one of the more common security gaps we find on small business networks.

Should I replace a router that no longer gets updates?

Yes. Once a manufacturer stops releasing firmware for a model, any new vulnerability in it will never be patched. A router that has reached end of support is a standing risk and should be replaced with a current, supported model.

Keeping firmware current across routers, switches, and access points is part of what managed IT support quietly takes off your plate. If you are not sure when your gear was last updated, that itself is worth a look.