Are you using an iOS device with a TP Link router and getting a weak security error on the WiFi network? Does the problem occur after upgrading your iOS device? Don’t worry; this article will guide you on troubleshooting the TP Link weak security notification with quick DIY fixes.
If you see a TP Link weak security notification on your iOS device, this could be due to the unsupported network security encryption type. To get rid of the weak security message, log on to your TP link router and change the authentication type to WPA2/WP3 Personal or WPA3.
Quite a few users on various community forums and technology support websites report that after upgrading their Apple device to iOS 14 or 15, they get a weak security error underneath WiFi network settings. First, let’s find out why this issue happens on a TP Link router.
Why does my TP-Link wifi say weak security?
TP Link weak security error is usually a technical issue with the router rather than your iOS device.
Since iOS 14 updates, Apple started to inform iOS users about WiFi networks that use older network encryption methods to protect the data and keep uninvited people from accessing the TP Link WiFi connection.
So if you are wondering why you see an entry labeled as a weak security error under your WiFi settings, your TP Link WiFi might be compromised and can be intercepted by others.
According to Apple, the following authentication modes have been considered insecure when used with an iOS 14 or 15 device.
- WPA/WPA2 when used in mixed mode.
- WPA Personal.
- WEP, including Open, Shared, Transitional or Dynamic with 802.1X
- TKIP, WEP/TKIP
How can I make my TP Link router more secure?
Getting rid of the TP Link weak security message can be a daunting task. However, you can use the following solutions to quickly fix the issue on your iOS 14 or 15 devices.
Restart your device
Temporary bugs in the device software are often known to trigger weak security notifications and internet disconnections on the WiFi network. So the first thing you can try is to restart your iOS device. If the issue persists, power cycle your TP Link router in the following way.
- Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds until the router turns off completely.
- Unplug the power cable from the main wall and replug it after 2-3 minutes.
- Now press the power button again to turn on the TP Link router.
- Finally, reconnect your iOS device with the router and see if this fixes the issue.
Update iOS software
Sometimes, an outdated iOS device software triggers compatibility issues with the TP Link router. To update your iOS device:
- Unlock your iOS device and go to Settings>General>Software Update.
- Next, tap on Automatic Updates.
- Finally, turn on the Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates options.
Afterward, your device will be automatically updated to the latest iOS version and potentially fix the weak security error.
Reset your router
A hard reset will restore your TP Link router to factory defaults and can troubleshoot the weak security and slow internet issues on your iOS device. To reset your router:
- Insert the paperclip into the WPS/Reset hole on the back of the router.
- Now, wait for 5 seconds until the Power LED starts to quick-flash.
- Keep pushing the Reset button for at least 10 more seconds to reset the router.
To factory reset your TP Link router from the admin panel:
- Log into your router and access your admin dashboard.
- Next, navigate to Advanced>System Tools>Backup & Restore>Factory Default Restore.
- Now, select Factory Restore and wait for the router to complete the process.
- Finally, the TP Link router will reboot to its factory default settings.
Check if the factory restoration finally fixed the error message in your iOS WiFi settings.
Upgrade security level
If all of the above steps failed to fix the weak security notification on your iOS device, you need to upgrade the network security authentication level from the TP Link admin dashboard. To do this in TP Link Archer AND WiFi 6 series:
- Launch a web browser and type 192.168.0.1 in the address bar.
- Enter your TP Link login credentials to access the admin dashboard.
- Select Advanced and go to Wireless>Wireless settings in the left pane.
- Under the Security option, select WPA2/WPA3-Personal or WPA3 from the drop-down menu.
- Finally, save the changes, exit the admin dashboard, and confirm that the weak security error is resolved.
To do this on a TL-WR841N and Archer C50, C55 series:
- Log on to your TP Link router through a web browser.
- Select Wireless in the left pane.
- Now select Wireless Priority and move to the right pane.
- Under Authentication type, choose WPA2/WPA3-Personal or WPA3 from the drop-down menu.
- Finally, apply the changes and exit the TP Link admin panel.
If you still see the weak security notification on your iOS WiFi network settings, you need to forget and reconnect to the TP Link router in the following way.
- Go to your iOS device Settings menu and select WiFi.
- Tap next to the TP Link network.
- Now tap the Forget This Network option and then select Forget to confirm.
- Finally, rejoin the TP Link network by entering your login credential again and verifying the fix.
How do I update TP router firmware?
You can fix the TP Link weak security notification by updating the firmware. To do this:
- First, download the latest firmware for your iOS device and extract the ZIP file on your PC.
- Next, log in to TP Link web portal by typing 192.168.0.1 in the browser address bar.
- Now navigate to Advanced>System Tools>Firmware Upgrade.
- Finally, click browse to go to the firmware file, select it and click Upgrade.
Conclusion
TP Link weak security notification message under your iOS device WiFi network settings can be frustrating for you. Hopefully, this guide helped you fix the error with the help of tried and tested solutions, and now you can carry on with your online activities on your iPhone or iPad.
However, if the weak security notification is not resolved, it’s time to upgrade your TP Link router to a new model that supports the new Apple network authentication types.
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