This article explains how to connect two routers to a home network to extend the range of a network and support more wireless devices. You can also use the routers as an access point or switch.

While most home computer networks use only one router, adding a second router makes sense in a few situations. A second router upgrades a wired network to support a greater number of wireless devices. It extends the wireless range of a home network to reach dead spots or to network a wired device that is too far away from the original router.

When setting up a new router, place it near a Windows PC or another computer that you can use for initial configuration. Both wired and wireless routers are best configured from a computer connected to the router with an Ethernet network cable. You can move the router to its permanent location later.

If the second router does not have wireless capability, you will need to connect it to the first router using an Ethernet cable. Connect one end of the cable to the uplink port on the new router (sometimes labeled WAN or Internet). Connect the other end to any available port on the first router, other than the uplink port.