So, you’ve got an Orbi system, but you want to connect it to your existing router? No problem, there are a few steps that you need to take to ensure they work together smoothly without causing any issues.
The main reason you can’t just connect both routers directly is that they might end up causing double NAT, which can mess things up on the network by creating two separate networks. But don’t worry, we’ll walk you through the process wherein you can connect Orbi to existing router with ease.
For your general information, one of the two routers will act as the primary router. Therefore, before you get started, decide which router of the two will be the main one providing IP addresses to all the devices on your network. Then, the other router will connect to it with a LAN cable.
We recommend setting your existing router to Bridge mode and your Orbi router to Router mode. It’s a setting that allows two routers to connect to each other. One acts as the primary router and the other acts as a bridge letting all your devices communicate with each other seamlessly.
If your existing router doesn’t have a Bridge mode option, you can use the Orbi in AP mode instead. In this case, the existing router is the primary router.
Here’s how to turn on AP mode on your Orbi router:
And that’s it! Your Orbi router is now in AP mode, with your existing router acting as the primary one. You can not use the Netgear Orbi app to manage Orbi in AP mode. Thus, always use the web interface only.
To turn on Bridge mode, you’ll need to access your router’s settings. Here’s a general guide:
Now that your router is in Bridge mode, you can connect it to the Orbi router and follow the setup instructions. Remember to set up the Orbi in Router mode.
To connect Orbi to existing router, one of them needs to be the primary router and the other in Bridge mode. But not all routers support Bridge mode. If that’s the case, you can use the Orbi in AP mode instead. In this mode, some features of the router will be disabled, but it’ll still work fine.
Whether to set up the existing router in Bridge Mode or use Orbi in AP Mode, follow the steps outlined above, and you’ll be all set.
Disclaimer: We hereby disclaim ownership of any product and any association, affiliation or representation in any form, of any brand, product or service. All the information provided here has been drafted by a team of highly qualified technical experts and regularly undergo reviews and updates.
