This handy guide is designed to help you install Wireguard on your router. It’s a straightforward process.
When you run a VPN on a router, it gives you the ability to protect every device on your network. Alternatively, you can choose to protect specific devices only using Policy Based Routing. This eliminates the need for installing separate VPN applications on each device because your router takes care of everything. It’s a fantastic option for safeguarding gaming consoles or streaming devices that don’t have the capacity to run a VPN app directly.
However, there’s a potential downside to consider. Running a VPN on a router might lead to some reduction in your internet speed.
The good news is that now there’s a solution. We can now take advantage of the widely-used Wireguard VPN protocol. This protocol is designed to be lightweight, which contributes to faster download and upload speeds.
In the past, when I used OpenVPN on this very same router, the highest download speeds I could achieve were around 40-50 Mbps. But with Wireguard, specifically when using it through StrongVPN, I’ve observed speeds exceeding 200 Mbps! The improvement is significant.
WireGuard is a relatively new VPN protocol. It’s open-source and incorporates cutting-edge cryptography. It aims to deliver better performance than established VPN protocols such as IPsec and OpenVPN.
Currently, not many VPN services offer support for Wireguard on routers. However, StrongVPN stands out as an exception.
They’ve gone the extra mile by creating a setup script that simplifies the process of installing Wireguard. It makes things incredibly easy. Other VPN services should definitely take inspiration from this and consider adopting a similar approach. It would greatly benefit users.
StrongVPN consistently ranks among the top 5 VPN services according to TROYPOINT’s VPN Service Rankings. You can access our comprehensive review of StrongVPN using the link provided below. It offers a detailed, unbiased assessment.
To assist you further, we’ve included both a video tutorial and a screenshot guide below. These resources will demonstrate how to successfully install Wireguard on your router.
The screenshot guide offers a general overview of the steps involved.
However, for a more in-depth understanding, we recommend watching the video tutorial. It covers crucial details that are not included in the screenshot guide.
How to Install Wireguard on Router
In this video tutorial, Troy will guide you through each step of the Wireguard router installation process. It’s a comprehensive walkthrough.
Video Tutorial
Important Links: Find What You Need Here
Get StrongVPN with a Significant Discount
Install DD-WRT on Your Router – A Step-by-Step Guide
Netgear Nighthawk R7000 Router: A Powerful Choice
Screenshot Guide: Follow Along Visually
These directions offer a general overview from the video tutorial. For a more in-depth understanding, consider watching the video first. It covers important details that may not be explicitly mentioned in the guide below.
1 Begin by installing DD-WRT on a compatible router to lay the groundwork.
For a comprehensive tutorial on installing DD-WRT on your router, click here.
2 Access your DD-WRT settings. You can do this through your browser by navigating to 192.168.1.1.
3 Go to Wireless / Basic Settings. Here you’ll rename both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wifi channels, giving them unique identifiers.
4 It’s crucial to enhance your network security. Set strong passwords for your WiFi channels to prevent unwanted access.
5 Navigate to Security / Firewall within the DD-WRT interface. Locate the SPI Firewall and disable it to ensure smooth operation.
6 Head to Setup / Basic. You’ll need to manually input specific DNS addresses. These are provided in the guide or video.
7 While still on the Setup / Basic page, adjust the Time Zone to your current location. And don’t forget to input 1.pool.ntp.org for proper time synchronization.
8 Open a new browser tab and go to https://wg.strongvpn.com. Log in using your StrongVPN credentials to access the configuration generator.
Click here to get StrongVPN with a special discount for our readers.
9 You’ll see an image representing a router. Click on this image to proceed with the setup tailored for your router.
10 Choose the VPN server that best suits your needs. Factors to consider include location and server load.
11 To ensure that your network applications and local network resources remain accessible, make sure to select the Exclude LAN option. This is important for maintaining functionality within your network while the VPN is active.
12 Proceed by clicking the Generate button. This action initiates the creation of the necessary configuration files for your Wireguard setup.
13 The next step is to copy the generated Wireguard on Router script to your clipboard. This script contains the necessary commands to configure Wireguard on your router.
14 Navigate back to the DD-WRT Admin interface. Go to the Administration / Commands section, where you’ll need to paste the copied script. Once pasted, click Save Custom to store these settings.
15 Locate and click the Edit button. This will allow you to modify the configuration file for the Wireguard setup.
16 Within the Commands section, find the last line related to sleep and reboot. Remove this line and proceed to click Save Custom once again to apply the changes.
17 In the commands box, carefully type in the command **sh /tmp/.rc_custom**. This initiates the execution of the custom script. Anschließend, click Run Command to proceed.
If you happen to be using an older version of DD-WRT (specifically, before revision 43381), you’ll need to use a slightly different command: **sh /tmp/custom.sh**. You can easily check your DD-WRT version; it’s displayed in the top right corner of the interface.
18 Upon successfully running the command, you should receive a confirmation message indicating that the process has completed without errors. This confirms that the script has been executed correctly.
19 In the event that your Wireguard router doesn’t automatically reboot after the script execution, you’ll need to manually initiate the reboot process. To do this, navigate to the Administration / Management section within the DD-WRT interface. This section provides access to the router’s management functions, including the reboot option.
20 You’ll find the Reboot Router button within the Management section. Click it to begin the reboot sequence. This will restart your router, allowing the changes you’ve made to take effect.
21 Once the router has finished rebooting, you’ll be presented with a Continue button. Click this button to access the DD-WRT interface and confirm that the Wireguard setup is complete. You can then begin using the VPN connection provided by Wireguard on your router.
22 To view Wireguard on Router options, navigate to Setup / Tunnels.
23 Policy Based Routing lets you selectively activate your VPN. You can enable it only for chosen devices. These devices are identified by their unique local IP addresses.
24 The Kill Switch feature enhances your online security. It automatically terminates your internet connection if your VPN connection drops or is deactivated.. This prevents unintended exposure of your data.
Bonus Segment
Check out the bonus segment in the setup video above! I demonstrate how to use a dedicated Wireguard Router alongside your existing router. It’s a great way to optimize your network setup.
We’re working on creating more helpful tutorials like this one. We’ll be covering other popular third-party router firmware options, including OpenWRT, Asus Merlin, Sabai, Tomato, and Mikrotik. Stay tuned for more!