How to Set Up WPS
WPS BUTTON • CONNECT A DEVICE • PRINTERS • EXTENDERS • TROUBLESHOOTING
The easiest WPS setup method is usually the push-button method.
Start the WPS connection option on the device you want to add, activate WPS on the router, then complete the pairing while the router’s temporary WPS window is open. Many routers keep that window open for roughly two minutes, although exact timings and button behaviour vary by model.
If you are not sure what WPS is or what the button actually does, read What Is WPS on a Router? first. This page is focused only on the setup process.
Before you start
WPS only works when both the router and the device being connected support it. Before pressing anything, check the labels or manual for both devices.
Look for WPS support
Find a button marked WPS or a WPS option in the router’s settings. Some routers use a combined WPS/Wi-Fi button, so button timing matters.
Check for a WPS connection mode
The printer, extender, TV, camera or other device must also support WPS. The option may be called WPS, push-button setup, PBC or wireless protected setup.
Do not hold an unfamiliar router button down for a long time. On some models, a WPS button shares another function or sits close to the factory-reset control. A short WPS press and a long reset press can do very different things.
How to connect a device using the WPS button
This is the generic push-button process. The exact wording and order can differ, so use your router and device manuals if they specify something different.
Check both devices support WPS
Make sure the router has WPS enabled and the client device has a WPS or push-button connection option.
Start WPS mode on the device
Open the wireless or network setup menu on the device and choose its WPS push-button option. On some printers and extenders, this may instead involve pressing their physical WPS button.
Activate WPS on the router
Press the router’s WPS button using the timing specified by its manufacturer. TP-Link, for example, documents a short press on supported models rather than holding the button indefinitely.
Complete the pairing while WPS is active
The router normally opens a temporary enrolment window. Many manufacturers use about two minutes, so the client device needs to begin or finish its WPS process during that window.
Wait for confirmation
The router or client device should indicate that the connection has completed. A WPS light may stop flashing, the device may show “Connected”, or the device may simply gain network access.
You normally do not need to type the Wi-Fi password when push-button WPS succeeds. The router securely supplies the network configuration to the compatible device during enrolment.
Which WPS button do you press first?
There is no completely universal order. Some manufacturers tell you to start WPS on the client device first and then press the router’s WPS button; others describe pressing the router first and then the client within the same short window.
The practical rule is to start both WPS processes close together and follow the instructions for your specific hardware. TP-Link’s current router guidance, for example, tells users to select WPS on the client and then press the router’s WPS button within two minutes.
If the first attempt fails, do not repeatedly hold buttons down. Wait for the WPS window to close, check the manuals for both devices and then try again using the specified order.
How to connect a printer with WPS
Printers are one of the most common reasons people still use WPS. Apple continues to document WPS as one possible setup method for compatible Wi-Fi printers, although it advises checking the printer and router documentation for the exact process.
Open the printer’s wireless setup menu
Choose its WPS or push-button connection option. If the printer has a physical WPS/Wi-Fi button, use the printer manufacturer’s instructions for activating it.
Start WPS on the router
Press the router’s WPS control using the correct short-press procedure for that model.
Wait for the printer to join the Wi-Fi network
Once connected, the printer should appear as being on the same wireless network as your computers, phones or tablets.
If the printer has a touchscreen and supports normal Wi-Fi setup, selecting the network name and entering the password is also a valid alternative and is often easier to troubleshoot.
How to set up a Wi-Fi extender with WPS
Many range extenders use WPS for quick pairing with a router. In general, you activate WPS on the router and extender within the manufacturer’s pairing window, then wait for the extender’s connection indicator to show that it has joined the network.
Some modern extenders also use the same physical WPS button for mesh pairing or other setup functions, so check the model’s documentation rather than assuming every WPS button behaves identically.
After an extender connects, check whether it keeps the same Wi-Fi name as the router or creates an extended network name. That behaviour depends on the extender and whether it is operating as a traditional repeater or part of a mesh system.
How to use WPS PIN setup
Some routers and client devices offer a WPS PIN method. Depending on the hardware, you may enter a client device’s PIN into the router interface or enter the router’s WPS PIN on the client.
The exact menu varies widely, so there is no safe universal click-by-click path. Look for a WPS, Wireless or Wi-Fi Protected Setup section in the router interface and follow the router manufacturer’s instructions.
Push-button WPS is preferable when available. The WPS PIN method has a known brute-force weakness. If your router exposes a persistent router WPS PIN, disabling that PIN method when it is not required is sensible.
WPS not working? Check these first
| Problem | What it means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| WPS light stops before the device connects | The temporary pairing window may have expired. | Wait for WPS to return to idle, then start a fresh attempt and activate both devices closer together in time. |
| No WPS option on the phone or tablet | The device may not support WPS. | Use the normal Wi-Fi password or another supported onboarding method. |
| Router WPS button does nothing | WPS may be disabled, the button may have another function, or the router may need a specific press duration. | Check the router manual and web interface rather than holding the button down. |
| WPS fails on a WPA3-only network | Some routers do not permit WPS with WPA3-only security. | Check the router manufacturer’s compatibility guidance. Do not weaken security unless you understand the trade-off. |
| The devices cannot find each other | The client may be out of range or the two WPS sessions may not overlap. | Move the device closer to the router and repeat the pairing process. |
ASUS, for example, states that WPS will not work with WPA3-Personal-only mode on its routers and advises WPA2-Personal or mixed WPA2/WPA3 mode when WPS is required. That does not mean every router behaves identically, so always check the documentation for your model.
Can you use WPS on an iPhone or Android phone?
iPhone: iOS does not expose a normal WPS button for joining Wi-Fi. Connect using the Wi-Fi password or Apple’s supported password-sharing and provisioning methods instead.
Android: Google’s Android platform deprecated and disabled WPS in the Wi-Fi framework from Android 9 because of security issues. Many modern Android phones therefore do not offer the old WPS connection option.
If your phone has no WPS control, that is expected on many current devices. WPS remains more relevant to hardware such as printers, extenders and some smart-home accessories.
For most compatible devices, WPS setup means activating WPS on the device and router within the same short pairing window. Use a short button press as specified by your router manufacturer, prefer push-button WPS over the older PIN method and check the manual if the router combines WPS with another button function.
WPS setup FAQs
How do I connect a device using the WPS button?
Start the WPS or push-button setup option on the device, activate WPS on the router and complete the device connection within the router’s temporary WPS window. The exact order and button timing vary by manufacturer.
How long do I press the WPS button?
There is no universal press time. Some routers use a short press of around one or two seconds, while other models share the button with Wi-Fi or reset functions. Check the manual for your exact router rather than holding the button down.
How long does WPS stay active?
Many routers use a temporary WPS enrolment window of around two minutes, but the exact timing varies. The router’s WPS light usually flashes while the window is open.
Can I set up WPS on an iPhone?
iPhones do not provide a normal WPS connection option in iOS. Join the Wi-Fi network using the password or Apple’s supported password-sharing and network setup methods instead.
Why is my WPS connection not working?
Common causes include the WPS window expiring, WPS being disabled on the router, the client device not supporting WPS, a router using WPA3-only security, or pressing a shared WPS button incorrectly. Check the manuals for both devices.
Should I use WPS PIN or the WPS button?
Push-button WPS is generally preferable when both devices support it. The older WPS PIN method has a known brute-force weakness, so avoid leaving router-PIN WPS enabled when it is not needed.
Sources and further reading
- TP-Link: How to Use the WPS Button on Your Router — current push-button, PIN and router-interface WPS guidance.
- TP-Link UK: Connect to Wi-Fi via WPS — current example of WPS activation and indicator behaviour.
- Apple Support: Connect an AirPrint printer to Wi-Fi — confirms WPS as one setup option for compatible printers.
- Android Open Source Project: Android 9 release notes — WPS deprecation and disabling in Android’s Wi-Fi framework.
- ASUS: WPS and WPA3-Personal — explains why WPS can fail with WPA3-only security on ASUS routers.