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What is UPnP and should I turn it off?

Lesson 6 of 10 in Your Wi-Fi And Router

UPnP lets devices open doors in your router by themselves. It's convenient but risky. Turning it off is safe for most homes; game consoles may ask you to turn it back on.

Why It Matters

With UPnP on, any device in your home, including a cheap smart gadget, can open a door to the internet without asking you.

What To Do

  1. Open your router's app or settings page.
  2. Look for UPnP, often under Advanced, NAT or Network settings.
  3. Turn it off and save.
  4. If a game console or app stops working online, turn UPnP back on, or ask the console maker's help pages which settings it needs.

Check your own home

Vigil by Cortex is a weekly Wi-Fi checkup for iPhone. One tap checks every device on your Wi-Fi and what the internet can see, then shows you what to fix, step by step.

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