Are TP-Link routers safe to buy? The FCC ban and the made-in-USA plan
What the FCC's router ban means if you own or want a TP-Link router, what the Mississippi deal changes, and how to keep any router secure.
You can still buy and use TP-Link routers that were approved before March 23, 2026, and they keep getting security updates at least until March 1, 2027. What TP-Link can't do is launch new models, such as its Wi-Fi 8 routers, until it gets an exemption. Its plan to assemble routers in Mississippi is aimed at that. If you'd rather avoid the uncertainty, Netgear, Asus and eero have exemptions.
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Key Tronic deal announced Oct 19, 2026. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
What the FCC ban covers
On March 23, 2026, the FCC added consumer routers produced outside the US to its Covered List. That blocks FCC approval for new foreign-made models, and without approval a router can't be imported or sold. The rule applies to every brand that builds routers abroad, which is most of them, not only TP-Link.
- Routers you already own: not affected. You can keep using them.
- Models approved before March 23: stores can keep selling them. That includes current TP-Link Archer and Deco models.
- Updates: approved routers can keep receiving software and firmware updates, including security patches, at least until March 1, 2027.
- New models: need a Conditional Approval from the Department of War or Homeland Security first. Netgear, Asus, Amazon (eero) and others have one. TP-Link does not.
The Mississippi plan
On Oct 19, 2026, TP-Link said it had signed a letter of intent with Key Tronic, a US contract manufacturer, to assemble routers at a plant in Corinth, Mississippi. Wi-Fi 8 routers would be among the first, and assembly could start as early as 2027, pending regulatory approval. Tom's Hardware reports TP-Link has proposed about $1 billion in US investment.
A letter of intent isn't a final contract, and it doesn't lift the ban by itself. TP-Link says many components still aren't available from US suppliers. It has applied for conditional approval to sell two Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US.
The security concerns
TP-Link has been under scrutiny since 2024. Microsoft reported in October 2024 that Chinese state-sponsored groups had used a network of compromised TP-Link home and small-office routers since 2021. Texas sued TP-Link in February 2026, and Florida, Iowa, Montana and Nebraska filed consumer-protection suits on Oct 6, 2026. The states allege TP-Link misled buyers about its security and its ties to China. These are allegations that no court has ruled on.
TP-Link calls the lawsuits baseless. It says it is an independent US company based in California, that the routers it sells in the US are made in Vietnam, and that US customer data is stored on US servers.
How to keep any router secure
- Turn on automatic firmware updates, or check for updates every month.
- Change the default admin password and use WPA3 or WPA2 Wi-Fi security.
- Turn off remote management and UPnP unless you need them.
- Replace routers the maker no longer updates. Old, unsupported routers carry the most risk.
See how to boost your Wi-Fi for setup tips and what router speed your plan needs.
Should you buy a TP-Link router now?
If you want an approved model like the ones in our Deco X55 and Deco BE25 reviews, you can buy it and it will keep getting updates through at least March 2027. What happens after that depends on whether TP-Link gets an exemption. If that uncertainty bothers you, pick a brand that already has one: our eero Max 7 and ASUS ZenWiFi BT8 reviews are good places to start. All our picks are in the best Wi-Fi routers and the best mesh Wi-Fi systems.
FAQ
Is TP-Link banned in the US?
Not for models already approved. The FCC's March 23, 2026 rule blocks approval of new foreign-made router models, but stores can keep selling previously approved routers, including TP-Link's, and you can keep using one you own.
Will my TP-Link router keep getting updates?
Yes, for now. The FCC lets previously approved routers receive software and firmware updates, including security patches, at least until March 1, 2027.
Where are TP-Link routers made?
TP-Link says the routers it sells in the US are made in Vietnam. It has signed a letter of intent with Key Tronic to assemble routers in Corinth, Mississippi, possibly starting in 2027, pending regulatory approval.
Are TP-Link routers safe?
There is no public evidence that a current TP-Link model has a built-in backdoor, but several states allege the company misled buyers about security, and TP-Link denies it. Whatever brand you use, keep the firmware updated, use a strong admin password and turn off remote management.
Why can't TP-Link sell Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US?
New router models need FCC approval, and foreign-made models now need a Conditional Approval first. Netgear, Asus, Amazon and others have received one; TP-Link has applied but has not.
- FCC fact sheet, Mar 23, 2026; FCC OET Public Notice DA 26-286 (update waiver until Mar 1, 2027)
- Tom's Guide, Android Authority, Dataconomy, Tom's Hardware, Oct 19–20, 2026 (Key Tronic letter of intent)
- SecurityWeek, Oct 8, 2026; Cord Cutters News, Oct 7, 2026 (state lawsuits, exemptions); Krebs on Security (Microsoft report)
This explainer is based on FCC documents and the coverage listed under Sources.
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