What is the WAN port on a router?
WAN stands for Wide Area Network, which in a home setting basically means the internet. The WAN port is the socket that connects your router to your internet source. Your router takes that connection and shares it with your devices over Wi-Fi and its LAN ports.
Many routers label it “Internet” instead of “WAN”. Same thing.
What should be plugged into the WAN port?
An Ethernet cable from whatever brings the internet into your home, usually one of:
- A cable modem
- A DSL modem (when it has an Ethernet output)
- A fiber ONT (the box where the fiber line ends)
- An ISP-supplied gateway or modem-router, if you are adding your own router behind it
Your computers, TVs and consoles do not go in the WAN port. Those belong in the LAN ports. See LAN ports on a router.
Do I plug Ethernet into WAN or LAN?
It depends on which end of the cable you are talking about:
- The cable coming from your modem or ONT goes into the router’s WAN/Internet port.
- Cables going to your devices go into LAN ports.
Mixing them up is one of the most common reasons a new router does not get online.
How to find the WAN port
- Look at the back of the router for a port labelled “WAN” or “Internet”.
- Check for color. On many routers it is a different color from the LAN ports, or sits slightly apart from them. This is common but not guaranteed.
- Look for a single port separated from a group of numbered ports.
- If it is unlabelled, check the manual or the manufacturer’s support page for your model number. If you are unsure of the model, our guide to identifying router components helps.
The WAN and LAN ports use the same RJ-45 socket, so you cannot tell them apart by shape.
How to connect the router to a modem
- Power off the modem and router.
- Connect an Ethernet cable from the modem’s LAN/Ethernet output to the router’s WAN port.
- Power on the modem and wait for it to finish starting.
- Power on the router and wait for its internet light to settle.
- Connect your devices by Wi-Fi or to LAN ports and follow the router’s setup steps.
Exact startup order and any setup requirements, such as ISP login details, vary by provider, so follow your ISP’s or router’s instructions where they differ. For a provider-specific example, see how to connect a modem to a router on Spectrum.
Why the WAN port is kept separate from the LAN
Internally the router treats the WAN side and the LAN side differently. The WAN side faces the internet and receives an address from your ISP, while the LAN side is your private network. The router’s firewall and address translation sit between them, which helps keep unsolicited outside traffic from reaching your devices directly.
What if the WAN port isn’t working?
- Check that the cable is firmly seated at both ends and try another cable.
- Look at the port’s light. No light often points to a cable, port or modem problem.
- Restart the modem, then the router.
- Confirm the modem itself has internet by testing a computer connected directly to it, if your ISP allows that.
- If you use a combined modem-router from your ISP, you may not need a separate WAN connection at all. See using a router with a modem/router combo and gateway vs router.
For a Netgear-specific walk-through, see Netgear router not recognizing an Ethernet cable.
Should I use the WAN port?
Yes, in the normal setup, because it is how the router reaches the internet. The only exception is when the router is used purely as an access point or extra switch behind another router. In that case you would typically use a LAN port instead, and the device’s setup instructions will tell you. Some routers also have a second WAN port or a configurable port for connecting two internet sources, which is a more advanced feature.