Don't Throw Away Your Old Router: 4 Clever Ways to Still Use It

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Purchasing a new router shouldn't mean the end for your old device. There are several ways it can still be put to use elsewhere – from a repeater to a VPN access point.

Increase Range with an Old Router

A single Wi-Fi router often isn't enough to reliably provide internet to larger apartments or houses. A repeater can help by receiving and forwarding the signal from the main router. Many old routers can be transformed into such a repeater with a few setting changes. Whether and how this works depends on the specific model, so it's worth taking a look at the user manual. Typically, you can switch from router mode to repeater mode in the device's settings menu. Users then select the Wi-Fi network that should be forwarded.

Alternatively, an old router can also serve as a node in a mesh network. While traditional Wi-Fi repeaters usually create a standalone network with a separate identifier, mesh systems form a unified network with just one signal. Devices like smartphones or laptops can seamlessly switch between access points. To serve as a mesh access point, the so-called AP mode is needed, which many routers have. In AP mode, the old device only needs to be connected to the new router via an Ethernet cable. Nearby devices then receive a strong signal along with a fast internet connection.

Good Reasons Not to Dispose of Old Routers

Most modern routers have four Ethernet ports. If more ports are needed, one can either buy a network switch or repurpose an old router into a switch. According to How-to Geek, this usually requires some configuration effort in the router menu, and in some cases, a custom firmware may need to be installed. The old device can then be connected to the main router via Ethernet cable and used as an additional port.

If the old router supports VPN operation or can be equipped with open-source firmware, it can also serve as a permanent VPN access point for individual devices without affecting the rest of the household. For this, it is connected to the current router similarly to how it would be in AP mode. The exact procedure varies by manufacturer and firmware, so targeted research for your specific device is recommended. However, the most straightforward option for reusing an old router is to keep it as a backup device. If the current model fails, the Wi-Fi connection can still be ensured.

This article was originally published on June 17, 2026, but it still interests many of our readers. Therefore, we have updated it and made it available again.