15 Genius Uses for an Old Router (Instead of Throwing It Away)
That old router sitting in your closet isn’t as useless as it looks. Even a five-year-old model still has working Wi-Fi radios, Ethernet ports, and a small processor inside, which means it can do a lot more than gather dust.
Before you recycle it or let it rot in a drawer, it’s worth checking whether it can solve a problem you already have: dead Wi-Fi zones, not enough Ethernet ports, no safe way to let guests online, or nowhere to stash a spare hard drive.
Quick answer: The most useful things to do with an old router are turning it into a Wi-Fi extender or access point, using it as a wired network switch, setting up a separate guest or smart-home network, or repurposing it as a basic NAS with custom firmware. Which one makes sense depends mostly on whether your old router still works, and whether it supports third-party firmware like DD-WRT or OpenWrt.
This guide walks through 15 practical uses, tells you which router “type” each one needs, and, just as important, shows you how to wipe your old router safely before you repurpose, sell, or recycle it, since it’s still holding onto your Wi-Fi password and network details.
Before You Do Anything: Reset the Router First
Skip this and every idea below gets riskier, so it goes first.
Your old router isn’t just a dumb box. It still holds your Wi-Fi name and password, admin login, connected-device history, and sometimes your ISP credentials. Security researchers who bought used routers off the resale market have repeatedly found devices that were never wiped, with real network credentials still sitting inside.
Before you repurpose, sell, donate, or recycle any router:
- Log into the router’s admin panel and note down anything you’ll need later (model number, current firmware version).
- Find the small recessed reset button, usually on the back or underside.
- Hold it in with a paperclip or pin for 10–30 seconds until the lights flash and it reboots.
- Confirm it’s back to factory defaults: default Wi-Fi name, no saved password, no device history.
Do this even if you’re keeping the router for yourself and repurposing it in the same house. A clean slate avoids configuration conflicts with your new setup.
Related: How Long Do Routers Last and When Should You Replace Them?
Do You Need Custom Firmware First?
A handful of the uses below (NAS, VPN router, web server, internet radio) need your router to run third-party firmware like DD-WRT or OpenWrt instead of its stock software.
This isn’t required for most of the list ( repeaters, switches, guest networks, and bridges usually work with the manufacturer’s default settings ), but it matters enough to flag once instead of repeating it 15 times.
Before committing to a firmware-dependent project:
- Check your router’s exact model number against the DD-WRT supported devices list or the OpenWrt “Table of Hardware.”
- Confirm it has enough RAM/flash storage (older budget routers often don’t).
- Back up the stock firmware or note the manufacturer’s official recovery method. Flashing firmware carries a small risk of “bricking” the device if it’s interrupted.
If your router isn’t on the compatibility list, that’s fine. Skip to the uses that don’t require it.
1. Turn It Into a Wi-Fi Extender (Repeater)
If your house has a dead zone ( a bedroom, garage, or backyard where the signal drops), an old router can close that gap without buying a dedicated extender.
How it works: A repeater picks up your existing Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcasts it, effectively doubling your coverage area. Place it about halfway between your main router and the dead zone for the best result.
What to know: Most consumer routers have a built-in “repeater” or “extender” mode in their settings. You don’t always need custom firmware for this one. The trade-off is some added latency and roughly half the throughput, since the router is receiving and re-sending data on the same radio.
Related: How to Use a Router as a WiFi Extender
2. Use It as a Wired Access Point (Better Than Repeater Mode)
If you can run an Ethernet cable to the dead zone, even through a wall or under carpet, access point (AP) mode beats repeater mode every time, because the old router gets its signal from a wire instead of stealing bandwidth from the wireless channel.
Setup basics:
- Connect an Ethernet cable from a LAN port on your main router to the WAN or a LAN port on the old one.
- Log into the old router’s settings and switch it from “Router” mode to “Access Point” (or “Bridge”) mode.
- Disable its DHCP server so it doesn’t fight with your main router for IP addresses.
- Optionally give it the same Wi-Fi name and password as your main network for seamless roaming.
This is the setup most networking guides recommend over a repeater when you have the option, because it keeps you close to full speed in that part of the house.
3. Turn It Into a Network Switch
Routers typically only have 4–6 Ethernet ports, and it’s easy to run out once you add a smart TV, game console, streaming box, and desktop PC.
Instead of buying a dedicated network switch, connect your old router to your main one using a single Ethernet cable, and use its remaining ports to plug in extra wired devices.
This works especially well for anything that benefits from a stable wired connection, such as game consoles for lower ping and streaming boxes for smoother 4K playback than Wi-Fi can always guarantee.
Setup basics:
- Connect a LAN port on the old router to a LAN port on the new one (not the WAN port).
- Disable the old router’s Wi-Fi and DHCP server so it acts purely as a switch, not a second network.
- Custom firmware like DD-WRT can make this cleaner on some models, but it’s not strictly required. Many routers support a basic switch setup out of the box.
If your old router doesn’t have enough ports for what you need, a basic 5-port network switch like the TP-Link 5-Port Gigabit Switch is inexpensive on Amazon and often simpler to set up than repurposing an old router.
Related: Powerline Adapter vs Wi-Fi Extender
4. Set Up a Wireless Bridge for Ethernet-Only Devices
A wireless bridge is the reverse of an access point: instead of turning Wi-Fi into more Wi-Fi, it turns Wi-Fi into Ethernet.
This is useful if you have a device that only has an Ethernet port, like an older smart TV, a desktop PC, or a printer, but your current router (or ISP-supplied 4G/5G gateway) doesn’t have spare Ethernet ports, or doesn’t have any at all.
Just connect the device to the old router’s Ethernet port, and configure the old router in “bridge” or “client” mode so it connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and passes that connection along over the wire.
5. Create a Guest Wi-Fi Network
Handing out your main Wi-Fi password to every visitor isn’t great security hygiene. Once someone has it, they (and anything connected through their phone) can potentially see other devices on your network.
Many newer routers have a built-in guest network feature, but if yours doesn’t, an old router can fill that role. Connect it to your main network the same way you would for a bridge or access point, then set it up as a separate network with its own name and password (or no password at all, if you’re comfortable with that).
By default, this keeps guest devices isolated from your main network. Thus, your computers, NAS, and smart home devices stay hidden from anyone on the guest network. If your old router doesn’t isolate guest traffic on its own, you can usually tighten this further from your primary router’s firewall settings.
Related: Using a Second Router as a Guest Network: Complete Setup Guide
6. Build a Separate Network for Smart Home Devices
Cheap smart plugs, bulbs, and cameras are notorious for weak security. Some rarely get firmware updates, and a compromised one can act as a foothold into the rest of your network.
Isolating IoT devices onto their own network, using an old router set up the same way as a guest network, keeps a compromised smart bulb from having a direct line to your laptop or NAS.
It also tends to reduce congestion on your main network, since smart home traffic (especially cameras) can be surprisingly chatty.
Common mistake: People set this up once and then connect their laptop to the IoT network “just to change one setting,” which defeats the purpose. Keep personal devices off the IoT network entirely.
7. Repurpose It as a Basic NAS (Network Storage)
This one needs custom firmware and a router with a USB port, but it’s genuinely useful if you want simple shared storage without buying a dedicated NAS device.
Requirements:
- A router that supports DD-WRT or OpenWrt
- At least one USB port
- A spare USB hard drive or flash drive
Once the custom firmware is installed and the USB storage is attached and formatted, you can access shared files from any device on your network. A basic alternative to commercial NAS boxes, though noticeably slower since older router processors weren’t built for heavy file transfer.
If you’re repurposing a router as a NAS, a reliable external drive like a Western Digital My Passport portable hard drive is a solid, affordable choice on Amazon to pair with it.
Related: Is Guest WiFi Safe? How to Create a Secure Guest Network
8. Set Up Your Own VPN Router
If you want every device on your home network protected by a VPN, without installing an app on each phone, laptop, and streaming box individually, you can configure a VPN client directly on an old router.
This requires firmware that supports VPN client mode (DD-WRT and most OpenWrt builds do), plus an active VPN subscription. Once it’s configured, every device connected to that router routes its traffic through the VPN automatically, which is handy for smart TVs and game consoles that don’t support VPN apps natively.
Keep in mind that routing everything through a VPN on older hardware can meaningfully cut your speeds, since encryption adds processing overhead that budget router chips weren’t designed to handle efficiently.
Related: Can a VPN Make Your Home WiFi More Secure?
9. Run a Lightweight Internet Radio Streamer
This is more of a fun weekend project than a practical necessity, but it’s a genuinely clever way to reuse hardware that would otherwise be scrapped.
With custom firmware, some extra software, and a USB sound card, an old router can be turned into a dedicated internet radio player that streams to speakers without needing a phone or computer running in the background.
It’s not beginner-friendly. Expect to follow a detailed tutorial specific to your router model. But there’s an active hobbyist community with guides for common models.
10. Set Up a Kid-Safe Wi-Fi Network
Rather than juggling parental control software across every device your kids use, you can create a separate network just for them using an old router, then apply content filtering and access restrictions at the network level.
Setup basics:
- Connect the old router to your main network (same approach as the guest network setup).
- Log into the old router’s admin panel through a browser.
- Set up website blocking, time-based access restrictions, or DNS-based content filtering.
- Connect your kids’ devices to this network instead of your main one.
Anything connected to that router is subject to the restrictions you set. No need to configure parental controls separately on every tablet and laptop.
Related: How to Set Up Parental Controls on Your Router
11. Make a Wired Printer Wireless
Plenty of older printers only connect via USB or Ethernet. Rather than replacing a perfectly good printer just because it lacks Wi-Fi, plug it into an old router configured in bridge mode.
Setup basics:
- Connect the printer to the old router with an Ethernet cable.
- Configure the router in bridge/client mode so it joins your existing Wi-Fi network.
- Install your printer’s driver software on any computer that needs to print to it.
Once set up, the printer shows up on your network as any wireless printer would. No more walking a USB cable across the room.
12. Build a Home Networking Lab
If you’re studying for a networking certification, learning IT fundamentals, or just curious how routing and subnetting actually work, an old router is a free, low-stakes way to practice.
Set one up as a mini test lab and experiment with port forwarding, subnetting, VLANs, DHCP configuration, or basic traffic analysis, all without touching your live home network.
It’s one of the more overlooked repurposing options, but for anyone in IT, cybersecurity, or computer science, it’s genuinely valuable hands-on experience that a video tutorial can’t fully replace.
If you don’t need it yourself, donating a working router to a school’s computer science program or a local coding club gives someone else that same hands-on opportunity.
Related:7 Best Routers with Built-in VPN
13. Practice Network Security Testing
For the same reasons a spare router makes a good learning lab, it also makes a safe environment to practice basic security testing like firewall configuration, VPN setup, or understanding how attacks like ARP spoofing work, without any risk to your primary network or anyone else’s.
Important: Only test on hardware and networks you own or have explicit written permission to test. Attempting to access or test networks you don’t control, including a neighbor’s Wi-Fi, is illegal, regardless of intent.
14. Sell, Trade In, or Donate It
If none of the above appeal to you, an old router still has resale or donation value, especially if it’s a well-known brand in decent condition.
- Sell it: Marketplaces and trade-in programs will take working routers, particularly ones networking hobbyists specifically look for because they’re known to support custom firmware.
- Trade it in: Some retailers offer trade-in credit toward a new router purchase.
- Donate it: Community centers, schools, and local “buy nothing” groups often welcome working electronics.
Whichever route you choose, do the factory reset from the top of this article first; every time, no exceptions.
If you’re upgrading rather than just replacing like-for-like, it’s worth comparing a few of the best long range Wi-Fi routers currently available before deciding what to do with the old one. Sometimes a mesh system makes more sense than repurposing multiple old routers individually.
15. Turn It Into an Art or DIY Project
If the router is genuinely dead ( won’t power on, fried by a power surge, or just too old to be worth the effort), it still has a second life as a material object.
With some basic tools, an old router shell can become a quirky desk piece, a planter, a lamp base, or a component in a larger upcycled art project.
It’s not going to solve a networking problem, but it keeps a piece of e-waste out of the landfill and turns it into something with a bit of personality.
Which Use Is Actually Right for You?
With 15 options, it helps to narrow things down by what you actually need:
| If your problem is… | Best use |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi dead zone, no cable access | Wi-Fi extender (repeater mode) |
| Wi-Fi dead zone, cable is possible | Wired access point |
| Not enough Ethernet ports | Network switch |
| Ethernet-only device, no ports nearby | Wireless bridge |
| Want to isolate guests | Guest Wi-Fi network |
| Smart home security concerns | Separate IoT network |
| Want simple shared storage | NAS (needs custom firmware) |
| Want network-wide VPN | VPN router (needs custom firmware) |
| Kids need restricted access | Kid-safe network |
| Old printer, no Wi-Fi | Wireless bridge for printer |
| Learning networking/security | Home lab |
| Don’t want the hassle | Sell, trade in, or donate |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the factory reset. Even if you’re repurposing the router yourself, old settings can conflict with your new setup, and if you ever sell or donate it later, you might forget it’s still holding old credentials.
- Using the WAN port instead of a LAN port when connecting two routers for switch or access point mode. This is one of the most common setup errors and causes the “second network” problem where devices can’t see each other properly.
- Leaving DHCP enabled on both routers. Two active DHCP servers on the same network cause IP conflicts and dropped connections. Disable it on the old router in most setups.
- Flashing custom firmware on unsupported hardware. Always confirm your exact model and hardware revision against the compatibility list first. This is the step most likely to “brick” a router.
- Assuming every router can do everything. Repeater mode, AP mode, and guest networks are common features. NAS, VPN routing, and internet radio genuinely need custom firmware and won’t work on stock software.
Myth vs. Fact
Myth: “A factory reset erases everything permanently, so there’s no privacy risk if I skip it.” Fact: It’s the opposite. Skipping the reset is what leaves your data behind. The reset is what erases it.
Myth: “Any router can run DD-WRT or OpenWrt.” Fact: Only specific models and hardware revisions are supported. Installing unsupported firmware risks bricking the device.
Myth: “Repeater mode and access point mode are the same thing.” Fact: Repeater mode connects wirelessly and roughly halves throughput; access point mode uses a wired connection and keeps closer to full speed. They solve similar problems differently.
Conclusion
An old router doesn’t have to end up in a landfill or a junk drawer.
Whether you’re closing a Wi-Fi dead zone, adding Ethernet ports, isolating your smart home gadgets, or just want a cheap way to learn networking, there’s very likely a use on this list that fits what you already need.No new hardware purchase required.
Just remember the one non-negotiable step: reset it to factory defaults before you repurpose, sell, donate, or recycle it. After that, the only limit is which project actually solves a problem you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do old routers contain personal information?
Yes. Routers store your Wi-Fi network name and password, admin login credentials, connected-device history, and sometimes ISP login details. Depending on configuration, some also log browsing activity that passed through them. This is why a factory reset matters before reuse, sale, or disposal.
Is it safe to sell an old router?
Yes, as long as you factory reset it first. Hold the reset button for 15–30 seconds until the lights flash, which restores it to default settings with no saved credentials. Security researchers have found that a surprising number of resold routers were never wiped, so don’t skip this step.
How do I know if my router can run DD-WRT or OpenWrt?
Check your router’s exact model number and hardware revision against the official DD-WRT or OpenWrt supported-devices database before attempting to flash it. Not every router, even from a supported brand, has enough RAM or flash storage to run custom firmware.
Can I repurpose any old router, or do I need a specific model?
Most of the uses on this list- Wi-Fi extending, access point mode, network switching, guest networks- work with standard consumer routers and their stock firmware. Only a few uses, like building a NAS, VPN router, or internet radio streamer, require custom firmware and a specific compatible model.
How difficult is it to set up an old router as a Wi-Fi extender?
It’s one of the easier projects on this list. Most routers have a built-in repeater or extender mode in their settings menu, and manufacturer support pages usually have step-by-step instructions for the specific model.
What’s the difference between repeater mode and access point mode?
Repeater mode connects wirelessly to your main router and rebroadcasts the signal, which is simple to set up but roughly halves your speed. Access point mode connects via an Ethernet cable and keeps closer to full speed, but requires you to be able to run a cable to that location.
Will repurposing an old router slow down my main network?
Not if it’s set up correctly. Disabling the old router’s DHCP server and keeping it in the appropriate mode (bridge, AP, or switch) prevents it from competing with your main router. Offloading tasks like guest access or IoT devices to a second router can actually reduce load on your primary network.
Can I use an old router as both a NAS and a Wi-Fi extender at the same time?
Technically, some routers can handle multiple roles, but older, budget hardware often doesn’t have the processing power to do both well simultaneously. If you need both functions, it’s usually more reliable to use two separate old routers, one for each job.
Is there a legal issue with using an old router for security testing?
It’s legal to test security configurations on a router and network you own. It becomes illegal the moment you test against a network or device you don’t own or don’t have explicit permission to test, including a neighbor’s Wi-Fi.
How long do I need to hold the reset button to factory reset a router?
Most routers require holding the recessed reset button for 10 to 30 seconds until the lights blink and the device restarts. Exact timing varies slightly by brand, so check your specific model’s manual if you’re unsure.
Do I need to remove stickers or labels before disposing of a router?
Yes. Many routers have a label on the bottom listing the default Wi-Fi name, password, and serial number. Removing or shredding that label is a simple extra step, especially if you’re recycling rather than fully destroying the device.
Can a dead router (won’t power on) still be reused?
A router that won’t power on can’t run firmware-based projects like a NAS or VPN router, but it’s still useful for DIY and art projects, or can be taken apart for spare components like antennas and USB sound hardware for other projects.
What’s the safest way to dispose of a router I can’t reuse?
Factory reset it if it still powers on, remove any identifying labels, then take it to a certified e-waste recycler, a retail electronics take-back program, or check whether your ISP has an equipment recycling program if the router was provided by them.
Do all routers have a guest network feature built in?
No. It’s common on mid-range and higher-end routers but missing on many budget and older models. If your current router lacks it, an old router set up as a secondary guest network is a practical workaround.
Can I turn an old router into a mesh Wi-Fi system?
Not in the true mesh sense. Mesh systems use dedicated hardware and software designed to hand off devices seamlessly between nodes. An old router used as an access point or repeater will extend coverage, but it won’t have the seamless roaming that dedicated mesh systems offer.
What USB port type do I need for a router-based NAS?
Most routers with USB ports use USB 2.0, which is noticeably slower than USB 3.0 external drives can support. This won’t stop the project from working, but don’t expect fast transfer speeds. It’s meant for light, casual file sharing rather than heavy backups.
Should I update the firmware before repurposing an old router?
Yes, if you’re keeping it on stock (manufacturer) firmware, check for and install the latest official update first for security patches. If you’re planning to flash custom firmware instead, follow that firmware’s specific installation instructions rather than updating stock firmware first.
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