Should you keep your home Wi-Fi router on 24/7?

All Wi-Fi routers are designed to operate continuously, so you generally do not need to worry about the device’s durability as long as it is placed in an environment recommended by the manufacturer, such as a well-ventilated area that is not excessively hot and allows heat to dissipate.

Home routers typically consume very little electricity, around 5-20 W, and even if left on continuously, they usually add no more than VND20,000 to your monthly electricity bill. Contrary to what many people think, continuously running a router does not necessarily harm it.

In fact, electronic components are better protected from sudden temperature changes, like heating up or cooling down, caused by repeatedly switching the power on and off. Keeping the router on consistently helps maintain a more stable temperature and can extend the lifespan of its components.

A Wi-Fi router. Photo by Tuan Hung

Today, many households use smart devices that require a constant internet connection, so turning off or rebooting the router can interrupt the operation of security cameras, fire alarms, sensors, and other devices. Therefore, keeping a router on 24/7 is almost a necessity.

However, continuous operation can sometimes cause the router’s memory to become overloaded, resulting in lag or slower speeds. You can schedule the router to restart once a week to clear its cache, renew its IP address, and keep the connection running smoothly. It is best to schedule the restart at night to minimize the impact of a few minutes of disconnection.

There is a security risk associated with leaving a router on 24/7, but it does not come from continuous operation itself. Rather, the longer the router remains connected, the longer it is exposed to potential attacks. An unpatched router can become part of a botnet, or, worse, attackers may be able to access sensitive data through devices connected to the home network.

However, security risks are mainly determined by how you configure your router, rather than whether you leave it on or turn it off. First, change the default password for the router’s administrative interface, use WPA2-AES or WPA3 encryption, and disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) when it is not needed. These steps can block most common attacks.

In addition, keeping the router continuously connected and enabling automatic updates allows manufacturers to install security patches promptly when they become available, making the network safer to use.

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