Will A Wi-Fi Router Work IF You Turn Off the Computer?

Many people are interested in the question whether the router will work and distribute wi-fi if you turn off your computer. And whether the router can work without a computer at all. Now we will understand these questions. A lot of people are interested in this before buying a router, for the reason that many people simply do not have a computer, in conjunction with which they think the router should work.

Here we have several tablets, smartphones, Smart TVs, etc., and we need to connect all this goodness to the Internet. We just need to install a router that will distribute wi-fi. But then the question arises, and what to do if there is no computer or laptop. Will the router work itself, and how to configure it without a computer.

Running a little ahead, I will say that everything will work. The presence of a computer (especially turned on) to work Wi-Fi router is not necessary, as well as for its configuration.

Working Wi-Fi router without a computer

Friends, everything is very simple. Router is an independent device, for the operation of which you do not need a computer at all. All that is needed that the router would give out the Internet via wi-fi, is the router itself, and connected to it power and Internet. That’s it.

If you do not have a computer and you want to install wi-fi in your home, then first connect the Internet (if it is not already connected). What kind of internet to connect that everything would work? Yes, practically any. In the city you can just lay a cable into the house, the most popular way. If there is no such an opportunity, you can connect ADSL, or in extreme case 3G Internet. On the choice of router for 3G modems I wrote in the article Routers with support for USB modems. There you just need a special router. In all other cases, the most ordinary one will do.

Next, we buy a router, connect power to it, and the Internet. Next, you just need to configure the whole thing. Instructions on how to configure routers from different manufacturers can be found on this page: /routers-setup-and-configuration-guides/.

How to configure a router without a computer?

Very often this question is asked. Yes, it is easier to configure a router from a computer or laptop. I always write instructions on how to configure it from a computer. But, if you don’t have one, it’s okay. In any case, you have some kind of mobile device. You can set up the router from your tablet, smartphone, and even from your TV (I haven’t tried it yet, though).

Everything can be set up with no problem, and everything works. Especially since the router only needs to be configured once, and forget about it. In extreme cases, you can even borrow a laptop from a neighbor. And if you have bought or are going to buy a TP-LINK device, it can be configured through a special program TP-LINK Tether for phone or tablet. True, not all models are supported.

Router stops giving out Internet after turning off the computer

We have already found out that everything can function without a computer. But, there is such a problem, when everything seems to be configured, the router gives out the Internet via wi-fi, but when we turn off the computer, or just disconnect the router from the computer, it stops giving out the Internet. Wi-Fi network is there, but without access to the Internet. Many people really face such a problem, and do not understand why it is so. After all, I wrote above that everything should work.

The problem is in the wrong configuration of the router. You most likely had the internet set up on your computer before, a high speed connection that you ran to connect to the internet. You installed a router, connected a cable from your ISP to it, and connected that computer to the router via cable. Started the connection, everything works. Wi-Fi network is there, access to the Internet too. As soon as we turn off the computer, or disconnect the network cable, the router stops giving out Internet.

Why is that? It’s very simple. While the connection was running on the computer, the Internet on the router was working. This is wrong. After installing the router, there should be no connection to the ISP on the computer, and nothing needs to be running. This connection will be set up by the router. It just needs to be configured, create this connection on it (specify login, password). How to do this, I write in each instruction for configuring a particular model of router. See on our site in the section “Setting up a router”.

After you correctly configure the router to work with the provider, everything will work without a computer.

If any points from the article remained unclear, then ask questions in the comments, I will be happy to answer.