Oct 06, 2026  · 8 min read  · By The Rio Team

The TP-Link ban: what it means for your router, and what to look for next

The Rio router beside a phone showing the Rio app

Last updated October 6, 2026. This is a summary of public sources, not legal advice.

The short answer

If you own a TP-Link router, or any other router, you can keep using it. The FCC's March 23, 2026 action applies to consumer routers produced outside the US in general, not only to TP-Link. New models cannot get new FCC authorizations unless the maker receives a Conditional Approval. Existing authorizations stay valid, so routers already approved can still be sold. An FCC waiver lets those routers keep receiving software and security updates until at least March 1, 2027. A separate Commerce Department proposal to ban TP-Link sales was reported in October 2025, but no final action has been announced.

What the FCC actually did

  • Who it covers. Consumer-grade routers "produced in a foreign country." The FCC counts any major stage of production, including design, development, manufacturing or assembly, done outside the US. That covers most routers sold in the US, from many brands.
  • What it blocks. New FCC equipment authorizations for covered routers. In practice, new foreign-made models cannot come to the US market without a Conditional Approval.
  • What it does not do. It does not make owning or using a router illegal, does not recall anything, and does not cancel existing authorizations. Retailers can keep selling models approved before March 23, 2026.
  • Updates. A waiver from the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology lets previously authorized routers keep receiving software and firmware updates, including security patches, until at least March 1, 2027.
  • Exceptions. Makers can apply to the Department of War or Homeland Security for a Conditional Approval. As of the FCC's September 9, 2026 list, routers from Netgear, eero, Asus and others had one. TP-Link did not.

Timeline

Date What happened Status
Dec 2024 The Wall Street Journal reported that the Commerce, Defense and Justice departments were investigating TP-Link (as reported by Fortune, Dec 18, 2024). Investigation
Oct 30, 2025 The Washington Post reported that Commerce had proposed banning new TP-Link sales, with support from several agencies (as reported by Engadget). TP-Link disputes the concerns. Proposed, not final
Mar 23, 2026 The FCC added consumer routers produced in a foreign country to its Covered List (Public Notice DA 26-278), and issued the update waiver (DA 26-286). In effect
Apr 14 to Sept 9, 2026 Conditional Approvals granted to routers from Netgear (Apr 14), eero (Apr 22), Asus (Sept 9) and others (DA 26-957). In effect
Apr 2026 TP-Link said it is seeking a Conditional Approval and would invest in US manufacturing if approved (Tom's Hardware, Apr 21; Yahoo Finance, Apr 23). Pending
Sept 30, 2026 TP-Link opened preorders for its first Wi-Fi 8 router in other countries, but not the US (Tom's Hardware). Reported

If you already own a router

For most households, the FCC action changes nothing today. The router you have is still legal, and models already authorized can still get updates. The practical question is the same one it always was: is your router still supported? A router that no longer receives firmware updates is a risk whatever the brand, and that matters more day to day than the rule itself.

How to check your router's maker and FCC ID

  1. Read the label. The sticker on the bottom or back shows the brand, model number and usually an FCC ID.
  2. Look up the FCC ID. Enter it at the FCC's equipment authorization search (fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid). The first part of the ID is the grantee code, which tells you which company holds the authorization. That is often the factory that built it, not the brand on the box.
  3. Check the app. If you manage your Wi-Fi with the TP-Link Tether or Deco app, it is a TP-Link product.
  4. Check the admin page. Your router's settings page shows the exact model and firmware version. TP-Link's is at tplinkwifi.net.
  5. Ask your internet provider. If the router came from your ISP, the provider can tell you who made it and how it is updated.

How to check firmware support

  • Compare your firmware version with the latest one on the maker's support page for your exact model and hardware version.
  • Look for an end-of-life or end-of-support notice for your model. Once support ends, security fixes stop.
  • Check whether updates install automatically or need you to start them, and when the last one came out.
  • If your router is several years old and the last update was long ago, plan to replace it.

What to look for in a replacement

  • Update support. Ask how long the model will get security updates, and how the maker plans to handle them after March 1, 2027.
  • FCC status. Choose a model with an existing FCC authorization or a Conditional Approval. You can confirm both through the FCC ID search and the FCC's Covered List page.
  • Control over who joins. Device approval or new-device alerts, so a shared Wi-Fi password is not an open door.
  • Segmentation. A way to keep smart-home gadgets and guests apart from your computers.
  • A firewall on by default, with no remote administration exposed to the internet unless you turn it on.
  • Clear pricing. Know which features need a subscription before you buy.
  • Coverage and standards. Large homes may need mesh. Newer devices benefit from Wi-Fi 7 and WPA3.

Where Rio fits

Rio is a $199.99 cybersecurity Wi-Fi 6 router, designed in the USA and manufactured in Taiwan. It is built around the security items above: new devices wait for your approval in the app, SecureRooms split your network into isolated segments with their own passwords, and the firewall is on by default. It includes a free year of Rio VPN, an optional privacy VPN for the rooms you assign to it, then $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year if you keep it. It comes with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.

Rio is not the right fit for everyone. It uses Wi-Fi 6 and WPA2, not Wi-Fi 7 or WPA3, and if you need mesh coverage for a large home, eero or Netgear Orbi may suit you better. Our comparison of Rio, eero, Firewalla and Ubiquiti lays out the trade-offs. To see how Rio handles devices and rooms, read how Rio works. Defense contractors can see Rio for defense contractors.

Frequently asked questions

Is TP-Link banned in the US?

No. As of October 6, 2026, it is legal to own and use a TP-Link router in the US, and previously authorized models can still be sold. Since March 23, 2026, the FCC has not issued new authorizations for consumer routers produced outside the US unless they have a Conditional Approval, and TP-Link did not have one as of September 9, 2026. A Commerce Department proposal to ban TP-Link sales has been reported but is not final.

Does the FCC router rule only affect TP-Link or Chinese brands?

No. The March 2026 action covers consumer routers produced in any foreign country, meaning any major stage of production, such as design, manufacturing or assembly, happens outside the US. It applies to new models. Existing FCC authorizations stay valid.

Will my router stop getting updates?

Not because of the FCC rule, at least for now. An FCC waiver lets routers authorized before March 23, 2026 keep receiving software and firmware updates, including security patches, until at least March 1, 2027. Whether your router actually gets updates depends on its maker and whether your model is still supported.

How do I find out who made my router?

Check the label for the brand, model and FCC ID, then look up the FCC ID in the FCC's equipment authorization search. The grantee code at the start of the ID shows which company holds the authorization. Your router's app or admin page also shows the model and firmware version.

Should I replace my TP-Link router now?

There is no legal requirement to replace it. Replace it if it no longer receives security updates, if you need features it lacks such as device approval or network segmentation, or if your work requires you to manage supply chain risk.

Where is Rio made?

Rio is designed in the USA and manufactured in Taiwan.

Sources

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