Every one of us aims for better WiFi in that dead zone in your home, such as basement, bedroom, or kitchen that seems too far away. Everyone keeps talking about WPS setup.



That's great, but here's the thing: not all routers have WPS, and some people don't even want to use it. There might be people who don't trust technology, or maybe think it's buggy, and some simply prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, i-e manually. And guess what? That's perfectly possible.



This is for you if you want to know how to set up a Linksys extender without WPS. Let's get started.

Why not use WPS in the first place?

Before we get started, let's speak about the big issue with WiFi: why not use WPS?

  • Your router can't handle it. It happens more frequently than you may expect.

  • You're putting it in a place where WPS doesn't work properly.

  • You simply want to do things personally and not have strange auto-connections.

  • Or maybe the WPS button on your router is broken. It occurs.

  • For whatever reason, the manual technique is usually more reliable.

What You Need to Start?



No surprises here, but you should have:

  • The Linksys extender plugged in and turned on.

  • A laptop, tablet, or phone that can connects to WiFi

  • The password and name (SSID) of your primary WiFi network

  • About 10 to 15 minutes of concentration (not the sort where you surf around Instagram)

That's all there to it.

How to Set Up a Linksys Range Extender Without WPS in Steps?

Let's do the setup manually. Follow the steps given below:



1. Turn it on and give it some time.



Connect your Linksys range extender to a powe

r source. Don't put it too far from your router yet as this is only the setup step.



Wait a minute or two. You will notice the light flickering or lighting in some way. The colors will be different for each model, so don't worry if it doesn't match what the package states.



2. Link up to the Linksys Extender's Network



Now take out your phone or laptop, go to the WiFi settings, and you will see something like this:



Linksys Extender Setup or Linksys EXT



Click it. Just connect—no password required. It's a network that is available for setup.



Your device may automatically go to the setup page when it connects. If it doesn't, simply put this into your browser:

extender.linksys.com



or



192.168.1.1



You will see the Linksys setup screen.



3. Start the Setup and choose "Manual Setup."



The prompt might ask you to set the admin password for your extender once you get in. Set a strong and secure password. Then it will look for WiFi networks that are close by. The list should reveal your primary WiFi network after a few seconds.

Choose your primary network (not a guest network), type in your WiFi password, then click Next.



The extender will prompt you to choose which band to extend if your router has both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.



4. Pick a name for your extended network



Here is where you choose the name for the expanded network. You can:

  • Keep the same name for your new WiFi so that you can wander without problems.

    OR

  • Put something like _EXT at the end so you can identify them apart.

Both will work. If you maintain the same name, you may notice the extender as a different network, but it's still running in the background.



5. Save your settings and let it restart.



Press the last "Finish" or "Save" button after you're done choosing names and inputting passwords. The extender will remember the settings and restart.



This phase just takes a minute or two. Just hang in there.

The setup network (Linksys EXT) will go away when it resumes, and your extender will start broadcasting the new WiFi network (the one you've just named or extended).



6. Put the Extender in the Right Place



You don't want the extender to always be adjacent to the router. That goes against the point.



Here's the trick: Put it halfway between the router and the location where the WiFi is poor. Not too distant that it can't pick up the router's signal. Not so near that it doesn't matter.



Most Linksys models feature a light that shows the signal strength:

  • Blue or green means good

  • If it's amber or red, move it closer to the router.

You're good to go after the light stays on and doesn't blink.



7. Check Your Connection



Get on your phone or laptop, connect to the expanded network (if you gave it a new name), and see if you can load any pages. If you like, you may do a speed test. You will see a big change, particularly in that WiFi-dead zone.



If it's still weak, try moving the extender around a little till you find the best place.

FAQs

1. Is it possible to utilize this strategy on any Linksys extender?

Yes. It works the same way for all models, including the RE6350, RE7000, and previous ones. Just look at the handbook once to see whether your model has a different UI.



2. What if the page to set things up doesn't load?

Check to see whether you are linked to the Linksys EXT network of the extender. Try a new browser or clear your DNS cache if the website still won't open.



3. Do I have to have my device linked to the extender all the time?

No. After you set it up, any device that can connect to WiFi may join the extended network. Your phone, laptop, smart TV, or anything else.



4. Is it possible to alter the WiFi name or password later?

Yes, of course. To change the settings, just log in again at extender.linksys.com. You'll need the admin password you established when you set it up.

Final Thoughts

It's not hard to set up your Linksys extender without WPS. Yes, it takes a few more steps, but it really does provide you more control. You can choose the network, the password, and a lot more additional settings.

Your dead zones receive a big boost once it's up and running. A well-placed extender does make a difference, whether you're streaming in the garden or working in the attic.



Now that you know how to do it, go ahead and repair that flaky WiFi.