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Key takeaways

• The FCC has banned all foreign-made routers in the US.
• You can still use your current router.
• Existing models can still be sold, but no new models.

The next time you upgrade your internet router, you might notice your options are a little slimmer.

In an update this week, the Federal Communications Commission added all foreign-made consumer routers to its "Covered List," the list of communications equipment it has deemed an unacceptable risk to United States national security.

As a result, no new routers produced outside the United States can be sold on the American market.

Also: How to turn your old Android phone into a Wi-Fi extender - and fix dead spots at home

Citing "a thorough review by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise," the FCC expressed concerns that routers made outside the United States pose cybersecurity risks that could disrupt important infrastructure or even harm citizens.

This echoes a statement from President Donald Trump's 2025 national security strategy, which read, "the United States must never be dependent on any outside power for core components -- from raw materials to parts to finished products -- necessary to the nation's defense or economy."

This exemption does not apply to routers purchased for the exclusive use by the federal government.

Also: Traditional Wi-Fi router vs. mesh: How to decide between the 2 popular networking options

The FCC didn't mention specific brands, but the vast majority of popular routers, such as TP-Link, Linksys, and Asus, are made by foreign companies.

What does this mean for you?

Most importantly, this does not affect any existing routers. If you have a foreign-made device you're using now, you'll be able to keep using it just fine. Additionally, retailers can keep selling any existing foreign models as long as they've been approved by the FCC.

What's changing is that no foreign company can get FCC authorization for a new router model, which means that none of those routers will be available for purchase in the United States.

Companies can either attempt to get conditional approval or stop selling their devices in America (like DJI did with its drones).

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