What Is Best Router For Mac

This article is for network administrators and others who manage their own network. If you're trying to join a Wi-Fi network, one of these articles should help:

• Wireless Router For Mac Computers
• What Is The Best Router For A Mac
• Best Wireless Routers For Mac
• What Is Best Router For Wireless Internet

The TP-Link Archer C9 isn't just one of the best budget routers you'll find on this list, it's one of the best routers we've ever testedperiod. The Best Wireless Routers of 2018 Keep all of your gadgets cruising along with a top-notch Wi-Fi router. Here's what you need to know to optimize your network, along with the best wireless routers. The latest in our list of the best Mac Wi-Fi routers in 2017 is Apple AirPort Extreme, another dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, but at a speed of 1.3Gbps. Obviously, the manufacturer's price does not quite match the signal speed of this router (and it does not support the latest Wave 2 features, like MU-MIMO, for example).

• Mac: Connect to the Internet and check for Wi-Fi issues
• iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Join a Wi-Fi network and resolve Wi-Fi issues

Follow these steps first

Before you change your settings, follow these steps:

• Make sure that your Wi–Fi router's firmware is up to date. For AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, or AirPort Express Base Station, check for the latest firmware using AirPort Utility.
• Make sure that your Wi-Fi devices support the settings this article recommends.
• If possible, back up your Wi–Fi router's settings.
• Forget or remove the Wi-Fi settings for your network from any devices that connect to your Wi-Fi router. This will prevent the devices from attempting to connect to your network with the old configuration. You'll need to reconnect these devices to your network when you're done applying the new settings.
• Configure all Wi–Fi routers on the same network with the same settings. Otherwise, devices could have difficulty connecting to your network, or your network could become unreliable.
• If you're using a dual-band Wi–Fi router, configure both bands to have the same settings, unless otherwise noted below.

SSID or Wi-Fi network name

The SSID (service set identifier), or network name, identifies your Wi-Fi network to users and other Wi-Fi devices. It is case sensitive.

Set to: Any unique name

Choose a name that's unique to your network and isn't shared by other nearby networks or networks you're likely to encounter. If your router came with a default SSID, it's especially important that you change it to a different, unique name. Some common default SSID names to avoid are linksys, netgear, dlink, wireless, 2wire, and default.

If your SSID isn't unique, Wi-Fi devices will have trouble identifying your network. This could cause them to fail to automatically connect to your network, or to connect to other networks that share the same SSID. It might also prevent Wi-Fi devices from using all routers in your network, or prevent them from using all available bands of a router.

Hidden network

Hidden networks don't broadcast their SSID over Wi-Fi. This option might be incorrectly referred to as a closed network, and the corresponding nonhidden state might be referred to as broadcast.

Set to: Disabled

Because hidden networks don't broadcast their SSID, devices might need more time to find them and connect to them. Hiding a network doesn't secure your Wi-Fi network, because the SSID can still be discovered in other ways. You should always enable security on your Wi-Fi router.

MAC address authentication or filtering

Restricts access to a Wi-Fi router to devices with specific MAC (Media Access Control) addresses.

Set to: Disabled

When enabled, this feature allows a user to configure a list of MAC addresses for the Wi-Fi router, and restrict access to devices with addresses that are on the list. Devices with MAC addresses not on the list will fail to associate with the Wi-Fi network. MAC addresses can be changed easily, so don't rely on them to prevent unauthorized access to the network.

iOS 8 and later uses a randomized MAC address when running Wi-Fi scans. The scans are conducted when a device isn't associated with a Wi-Fi network and its processor is asleep. A device's processor goes to sleep shortly after the screen is turned off. Wi-Fi scans are run to determine if a user can connect to a preferred Wi-Fi network. Enhanced Wi-Fi scans are run when a device uses Location Services for apps that use geofencing, such as location-based reminders, that determine if the device is near a specific location.

Security

The security setting controls the type of authentication and encryption used by your Wi-Fi router, which allows you to control access to the network and specify the level of privacy for data you send over the air.

Set to: WPA2 Personal (AES)

WPA2 Personal (AES) is currently the strongest form of security offered by Wi-Fi products, and is recommended for all uses. When enabling WPA2, be sure to select a strong password that can't be guessed by third parties.

If you have older Wi-Fi devices that don't support WPA2 Personal (AES), a good second choice is WPA/WPA2 Mode, also known as WPA Mixed Mode. This mode allows newer devices to use the stronger WPA2 AES encryption, while still allowing older devices to connect with older WPA TKIP-level encryption. If your Wi-Fi router doesn't support WPA/WPA2 Mode, WPA Personal (TKIP) mode is the next best choice.

For compatibility, reliability, performance, and security reasons, WEP is not recommended. WEP is insecure and functionally obsolete. If you must choose between WEP and TKIP, choose TKIP.

Due to serious security weaknesses, the WEP and WPA TKIP encryption methods are deprecated and strongly discouraged. Use these modes only if necessary to support legacy Wi-Fi devices that don't support WPA2 AES and can't be upgraded to support WPA2 AES. Devices using these deprecated encryption methods can't take full advantage of the performance and other features of 802.11n and 802.11ac. As a result, the Wi-Fi Alliance has directed the Wi-Fi industry to phase out WEP and WPA TKIP.

If your security is set to None or unsecured mode, you're using no authentication or encryption. Anyone can join your Wi-Fi network, use your Internet connection, access any shared resource on your network, and read any traffic you send over the network. Using an unsecured network is not recommended.

2.4GHz radio mode

This setting controls which versions of the 802.11n/ac standard the network uses for wireless communication on the 2.4GHz band.

Set to: Auto or 802.11n/ac

Routers that support 802.11 should be configured for 802.11n/ac for maximum speed and compatibility. Different Wi-Fi routers support different radio modes, so the setting varies depending on the router. In general, enable support for all modes. Devices can then automatically select the fastest commonly supported mode to communicate. Choosing a subset of the available modes prevents some devices from connecting. For example, 802.11ac devices can't connect to a Wi-Fi router in 802.11n-only mode. Also, choosing a subset of the available modes might cause interference with nearby legacy networks, and nearby legacy devices might interfere with your network.

5GHz radio mode

This setting controls which versions of the 802.11a/b/g/n standard the network uses for wireless communication on the 5GHz band. Newer standards support faster transfer rates, and older standards provide compatibility with older devices and additional range.

Set to: Auto or 802.11n/ac

Routers that support 802.11n should be configured for 802.11n/ac mode for maximum speed and compatibility. Different Wi-Fi routers support different radio modes, so the setting varies depending on the router. In general, enable support for all modes. Devices can then automatically select the fastest commonly supported mode to communicate. Choosing a subset of the available modes prevents older devices from connecting. For example, 802.11ac devices can't connect to a Wi-Fi router in 802.11n-only mode. Also, choosing a subset of the available modes might cause interference with nearby legacy networks, and nearby legacy devices might interfere with your network.

Channel

This setting controls which channel your Wi-Fi router uses to communicate.

Set to: Auto

For best performance, choose 'Auto' mode and let the Wi-Fi router select the best channel. If this mode isn't supported by your Wi-Fi router, choose a channel that's free from other Wi-Fi routers and other sources of interference. Read about possible sources of interference.

2.4GHz channel width

Channel width controls how large of a 'pipe' 'is available to transfer data. However, larger channels are more subject to interference and more likely to interfere with other devices. A 40MHz channel is sometimes called a wide channel, and a 20MHz channel is a narrow channel.

Set to: 20MHz

Use 20MHz channels in the 2.4GHz band. Using 40MHz channels in the 2.4GHz band can cause performance and reliability issues with your network, especially in the presence of other Wi-Fi networks and other 2.4GHz devices. A 40MHz channel might also cause interference and issues with other devices that use this band, such as Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, and neighboring Wi-Fi networks. Routers that don't support 40MHz channels in the 2.4GHz band do support 20MHz channels.

5GHz channel width

Channel width controls how large of a 'pipe' is available to transfer data. Larger channels are more susceptible to interference, and more likely to interfere with other devices. Interference is less of an issue in the 5GHz band than in the 2.4GHz band. A 40MHz channel is sometimes called a wide channel, and a 20MHz channel is a narrow channel.

Set to:
For 802.11n access points, set the 5GHz band to 20MHz and 40MHz.
For 802.11ac access points, set the 5GHz band to 20MHz, 40MHz, and 80MHz.

For best performance and reliability, enable support for all channel widths. This allows devices to use the largest width they support, which results in optimal performance and compatibility. Not all client devices support 40MHz channels, so don't enable 40MHz-only mode. Devices that support only 20MHz channels can't connect to a Wi-Fi router in 40MHz-only mode. Similarly, don't enable 80MHz-only mode, or only clients capable of 802.11ac will be able to connect. Routers that don't support 40MHz or 80MHz channels do support 20MHz channels.

DHCP

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns addresses that identify devices on your network. Once assigned, devices use these addresses to communicate with each other and with computers on the Internet. The functionality of a DHCP server can be thought of as similar to a phone company handing out phone numbers, which customers then use to call other people.

Set to: Enabled, if it's the only DHCP server on your network

There should be only one DHCP server on your network. This DHCP server might be built in to your cable modem, DSL modem, or router. If more than one device has DHCP enabled, you will likely see address conflicts and have issues accessing the Internet or other resources on your network.

NAT

Network address translation (NAT) translates between addresses on the Internet and those on a local network. The functionality of a NAT provider is like that of a worker in an office mail room who takes a business address and an employee name on incoming letters and replaces them with the destination office number in a building. This allows people outside the business to send information to a specific person in the building.

Wireless Router For Mac Computers

Set to: Enabled, if it's the only router providing NAT services on your network

Generally, enable NAT only on the device that acts as a router for your network. This is usually your cable modem, your DSL modem, or your standalone router, which might also act as your Wi-Fi router. Using NAT on more than one device is called double NAT, and that can cause issues with accessing Internet services, such as games, Voice Over IP (VoIP), Virtual Private Network (VPN), and communicating across the different levels of NAT on the local network.

WMM

WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) prioritizes network traffic according to four access categories: voice, video, best effort, and background.

Set to: Enabled

All 802.11n and 802.11ac access points should have WMM enabled in their default configuration. Disabling WMM can cause issues for the entire network, not just Apple products on the network.

Location Services

Some countries or regions have regulations that affect wireless signal strength and the use of Wi-Fi channels. When you travel to other countries or regions, make sure that your devices have Location Services turned on so that you can connect to Wi-Fi networks in that country or region.

On your Mac:

1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy.
2. Click in the corner of the window, then enter your password.
3. In the Privacy tab, select Location Services, then select Enable Location Services.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the list of apps and services, then click the Details button next to System Services.
5. In the Details dialog, select Wi-Fi Networking.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy, then turn on Location Services.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the list, tap System Services, then turn on Wi-Fi Networking.
   

Wireless carrier Wi-Fi networks

Wireless carrier Wi-Fi networks are networks configured by your carrier and their partners. Your iPhone treats them as known networks and automatically connects to them. If you see 'Privacy Warning' under the name of your carrier's network in Wi-Fi Settings, your cellular identity might be exposed if a malicious hotspot impersonates your carrier's Wi-Fi network.

To prevent automatically joining your carrier's Wi-Fi networks, tap Settings > Wi-Fi. Tap next to the network name and then turn off Auto-Join.

WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) prioritizes network traffic according to four access categories: voice, video, best effort, and background.

Set to: Enabled

All 802.11n and 802.11ac access points should have WMM enabled in their default configuration. Disabling WMM can cause issues for the entire network, not just Apple products on the network.

Location Services

Some countries or regions have regulations that affect wireless signal strength and the use of Wi-Fi channels. When you travel to other countries or regions, make sure that your devices have Location Services turned on so that you can connect to Wi-Fi networks in that country or region.

On your Mac:

1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy.
2. Click in the corner of the window, then enter your password.
3. In the Privacy tab, select Location Services, then select Enable Location Services.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the list of apps and services, then click the Details button next to System Services.
5. In the Details dialog, select Wi-Fi Networking.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy, then turn on Location Services.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the list, tap System Services, then turn on Wi-Fi Networking.
   

Wireless carrier Wi-Fi networks

Wireless carrier Wi-Fi networks are networks configured by your carrier and their partners. Your iPhone treats them as known networks and automatically connects to them. If you see 'Privacy Warning' under the name of your carrier's network in Wi-Fi Settings, your cellular identity might be exposed if a malicious hotspot impersonates your carrier's Wi-Fi network.

To prevent automatically joining your carrier's Wi-Fi networks, tap Settings > Wi-Fi. Tap next to the network name and then turn off Auto-Join.

We've spent more than 60 hours testing dozens of routers to help you skip the confusion and find the best Wi-Fi router for your home. Based on our in-depth testing, the TP-Link Archer C2300 is the best Wi-Fi router overall, thanks to its superb performance and extensive feature set.

For a less expensive option, the reasonably priced TP-Link Archer A7 offers solid performance and range without skimping on features such as parental controls. The high-powered TP-Link Archer C5400X is our favorite gaming router thanks to tri-band performance and built-in tools for better gaming performance.

But with so many devices in the home clamoring for wireless bandwidth, you'll want to make sure that your space is well-covered with speedy Wi-Fi. So we also recommend mesh routers for larger homes, and Wi-Fi 6 for future-proof Wi-Fi that will deliver top-notch performance for years to come. For an inexpensive way to boost the coverage from your current router, we also review Wi-Fi extenders.

News & Updates (Updated Aug. 2019)

Netgear plans to introduce a Wi-Fi 6-ready version of its Orbi mesh router next month. The Orbi Wi-Fi 6 Mesh system promises greater capacity and coverage as well the ability to deliver performance for more users connected to your home wireless network at the same time. The new version of the Orbi router features tri-band support with quad stream radios for all three Wi-Fi bands; it also supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA to more efficiently handle multiple users and devices. Expect more details about the Orbi Wi-Fi 6 Mesh system — including its price — when Netgear unveils the mesh router on Sept. 6.

Best router overall

SPECIFICATIONS

Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Dual-Band | Number of Antennas/Removable: 3/Yes | Ports: Four 1-Gbps LAN, 1 WAN, 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 | Peak Throughput: 939.6 Mbps | Size: 8.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches

The TP-Link Archer C2300 has a deceptively mild-mannered design, but don't be fooled – it's one of the most powerful routers you can buy. It's the reigning performance champ, pumping out nearly a gigabit per second of data in our standard performance tests, and blasting through walls and ceilings with ease. Not only is the Archer C2300 the fastest router we've seen, but it's also small, unobtrusive and full of high-end features.

The Archer C2300 comes with built-in optimization tools, like antivirus, QoS and parental controls that are normally found on more expensive competitors. At $120, it's less than half of what similarly performing competitors cost, and is backed by a two year warranty. The TP-Link Archer C2300 is simply the best high-performance router you can buy today.

Read our full TP-Link Archer C2300 review.

Best budget router

SPECIFICATIONS

Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Dual-Band | Number of Antennas/Removable: 3/No | Ports: Four 1-Gbps LAN, 1 USB 2.0 | Peak Throughput: 647.4 Mbps | Size: 1.3 x 9.6 x 6.4 inches

The TP-Link Archer A7 is our favorite budget-friendly router, delivering very good 802.11ac performance and a surprising number of features for less than $60. The Archer A7 has great performance for the price – pushing through more data than most of the comparably priced routers we've tested – and features four Gigabit LAN ports and a USB 2.0 port for connecting devices.

In addition to solid performance and features, the Archer A7 also has a very easy setup process and useful parental controls, with an app that lets you monitor and control network use from anywhere. It's the best value Wi-Fi router we've tested this year.

Read our full TP-Link Archer A7 review.

The best gaming router

SPECIFICATIONS

Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Tri-Band | Number of Antennas/Removable: 8/No | Ports: 1 WAN, 8 1-Gbps LAN, 1 USB 2.0 | Peak Throughput: 859.5 Mbps | Size: 11.2 x 11.2 x 7.6 inches

What Is The Best Router For A Mac

The TP-Link Archer C5400X is the gaming router to beat, with some of the best performance you'll see in any home networking device. It offers best-in-class tri-band performance with impressive coverage, delivering 1Gbps over its 2.4GHz band and 2.167Gbps over each of its two 5GHz channels.

The 8-antenna design and red-on-black color scheme are sure to turn heads, but the real selling point is the collection of optimization and security features that will satisfy any power user. With bandwidth-allocation controls to let you use the massive throughput as you wish, this router puts incredible performance into the user's hands, for gaming or anything else.

Read our full TP-Link Archer C5400X review.

The best mesh router

SPECIFICATIONS

Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Tri-Band | Number of Antennas/Removable: 6/No | Ports: Four 1-Gbps LAN, 1 USB 2.0 | Peak Throughput: 552.1 Mbps | Size: 8.9 x 6.7 x 3.1 inches

There are plenty of mesh solutions on the market to blanket your home with Wi-Fi, but our hands-down favorite is the Netgear Orbi. A single Orbi unit alone provides some of the best performance we've seen in a router, and with additional satellite units, you can cover a 5,000-square-foot home with seamless connectivity and phenomenal performance.

The speedy Orbi delivers one of the easiest setup processes we've seen, and the combination of smartphone and desktop tools make it easy to manage your network from anywhere, including curfew times and content controls for parents. And newer add-ons let you expand in more ways than one, with weatherproof outdoor satellite units and an Alexa-equipped unit that doubles as a smart speaker. If you've got a big home, the Orbi is the mesh router to beat.

Note that Netgear says it will announce a new version of the Orbi router that supports the new Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard in early September.

Read our full Netgear Orbi review.

Best for power users

SPECIFICATIONS

Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Tri-Band | Number of Antennas/Removable: 6/No | Ports: 1 WAN, 4 1-Gbps LAN, 1 USB 3.0 | Peak Throughput: 626.5 Mbps | Size: 8.5 x 6.4 x 2.2 inches

For a truly customizable router, we recommend the Linksys EA8300 Max-Stream, which is not only a great tri-band router, it's also loaded with tools to tweak and customize your router for optimal performance. The small black EA8300 Max-Stream can move lots of data, though it will do best in smaller homes. But even with shorter range, it offers impressive performance for a router that sells for less than $200.

Whether you're allocating bandwidth to prioritize gaming or media streaming, or just setting up parental controls, you can automate many features, make manual adjustments on the fly, and monitor it – all from your desktop or smartphone. With so many ways to customize your router's performance, the Linksys EA8300 Max Stream is an easy pick for the power user.

Read our full Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review.

Our favorite Wi-Fi 6 router

SPECIFICATIONS

Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Tri-Band | Number of Antennas/Removable: 8/Yes | Ports: 1 WAN, 4 1-Gbps LAN, 1 2.5-Gbps LAN, 2 USB 3.0 | Peak Throughput: 731.4 Mbps | Size: 9.4 x 9.4 x 2.8 inches

Best Wireless Routers For Mac

The first router we've tested that features the new Wi-Fi 6 specification, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is a gamer's delight, with speed that improves over longer range, low latency and all the features that gamers expect. Add it all up and most other gaming routers are now second best.

The GT-AX11000 is large, with a gargantuan base, eight swiveling antennas, and massive 10.8Gbps maximum throughput. This router has connectivity in droves, thanks to its tri-band design and four downstream Gigabit LAN ports, a single 2.5G Base T Ethernet connection, and two USB 3.0 ports. Built in customization and gaming-oriented optimizations provide plenty of control, and you can even pair it with other Asus routers for mesh networking to cover a larger home. At $450, it is expensive, but worth every penny for gamers wanting an edge online.

Read our full Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 review.

How We Test Wi-Fi Routers

We test routers for throughput and range, measuring how much data a router can move, and how well it does at 5, 50, 75 and 150 feet. If you want the best performance in a large, spread-out home, you'll want a router that does well over longer distances. If you're in a smaller apartment, short-range performance will be your priority. Where possible, we also test performance through walls and ceilings, to determine how well a router can provide signal in the WiFi-dampening conditions common to many buildings and homes.

For mesh routers, we perform additional testing to determine how well the mesh system does sending a signal through both the main router and through a satellite unit. We also test to see how consistently a pair of mesh units will cover a large area, taking dozens of measurements throughout our lab space and producing detailed heat maps of signal strength and quality.

What Wi-Fi Routers Cost

Current 802.11ac routers often sell for less than $100 for basic, dual-band models. More expensive models will offer wide coverage and faster speeds, and range up to $300, while gaming-oriented routers with built-in optimization features will often sell for more. New routers using the Wi-Fi 6 standard (previously known as 802.11ax) sell for $400 or more.

What Is Best Router For Wireless Internet