The Quality of Service (QoS) is a feature that comes with the Netgear router. The QoS feature on the Netgear router enables it to prioritize traffic based on devices. It reduces internet speed for devices that don’t require much internet speed and increases on devices that require more internet speed.
For instance, if you connect a wireless printer and a 4K streaming device on the network. The QoS feature will prioritize and assign higher internet traffic or speed to the 4k streaming device and a slow speed for the printer.
Having understood how the QoS feature works, if you’ve noticed that the feature is not working on your Netgear router this post is for you. In this post, you will understand why the QOS feature is not working on your Netgear and ways to fix it.
Why Is My QOS Feature Not Working?
a. Feature Not Enabled
You need to enable the QoS feature on your Netgear router to get it working. If the QoS feature is not working, the first step is to check if the feature has been enabled. Take steps to enable the feature on your router to get it working. In the later part of this post, you will find a detailed guide on how to enable both the upstream and downstream QOS features.
b. Failure to Add Priority Rules
If the NETGEAR QoS feature is not working, the reason could be that you’ve not added priority rules. Or you added the wrong priority rules to devices. You will find a guide on how to add priority rules for each device below.
c. Outdated Firmware
Similar to any other device, Netgear comes with firmware. The firmware is the software that powers the essential functionality of the router. From time to time, new firmware updates are released with better features. Failure to update the firmware on your Netgear can affect the functionality of the router. That includes affecting the QoS feature.
d. Issue With The Speed Settings
It could be that the Bandwidth speed setting on the router is incorrect. For the QoS to work, you need to input the accurate Bandwidth speed setting on your router. Most times, that entails manually configuring the upstream and downstream bandwidth settings.
Sure Steps To Fix NETGEAR QoS not working
a. Restart And Reboot Your Router
Before you start with the technicalities, a simple restart or rebooting of your Netgear may be all you need to fix the issue. Restarting and rebooting and two distinct tasks. But both have the same advantage, which is fixing minor bugs in your router.
First, you restart and then you reboot. To restart your router, simply remove the power cord from the power source. Wait for 30 seconds and plug back into the power source. Allow your router to reboot, and check the QoS feature again.
To reset your Netgear router, find the reset button on the back of your router. The reset button is inside. So you need a pin or paper to press the button. Press and hold the button for 10 seconds. Setup the router and try the QoS feature.
b. Check and Activate The QoS Feature
If you’ve handled the restart and reboot option on your router, and the QoS feature still won’t work, it’s time to check the technicalities. The first step is to check if the QoS feature has been enabled on your router and activate it. Follow the steps below to enable the Upstream and Downstream QoS features.
Activate Upstream QoS Feature
. Connect a Computer to your Router.
. Go to either of these URLs on your browser.
. Enter your ‘Username’ and ‘Password’ to log into your account.
. On your dashboard, find the ‘Advanced’ option and ‘Setup’, and ‘QoS Setup’.
. Click on ‘Upstream QoS’ and choose ‘Enable Upstream QoS’ from the options.
. Finally, click on ‘Apply’ to activate.
Activate Downstream QoS Feature
. Connect a Computer to your Router.
. Go to either of these URLs on your browser.
. Enter your ‘Username’ and ‘Password’ to log into your account.
. On your dashboard, find the ‘Advanced’ option and ‘Setup’, and ‘QoS Setup’.
. Click on ‘Downstream Qos’ and choose ‘Enable Downstream QoS’ from the options.
. Finally, click on ‘Apply’ to activate.
c. Assign Priority Rule To Device
We mentioned earlier that failure to assign priority rules can affect the QoS feature in your router. Follow the steps below to add a priority rule to your device.
. Connect a Computer to your Router.
. Go to either of these URLs on your browser.
. Enter your ‘Username’ and ‘Password’ to log into your account.
. On your dashboard, find the ‘Advanced’ option and ‘Setup’, and ‘QoS Setup’.
. Click on ‘Setup QoS Rules’ and choose ‘Add Priority Rule’ from the options.
. Finally, click on ‘Apply’ to activate.
d. Check Bandwidth Settings
It was mentioned earlier that you need to input the correct bandwidth settings. To do this, It’s advisable to test your internet speed yourself using sites like Speedof and Testmy.
Make you stop any activity that will skyrocket your data speed, like downloading or streaming. This ensures you get an accurate speed score on your test. Then input the speed you got from your test.
e. Deactivate Bridge Mode
In simple terms, bridge mode disables the Network Address Translation feature on your router, to enable it to function as a DHCP server. It comes in handy when you are using a VPN or any other app that needs an IP address.
Placing your router in bridge mode affects the QoS feature of your router. To remove from bridge mode, simply contact your Internet Service Provider to disable the bridge mode.
f. Contact Netgear Customer Support
If you’ve tried the tips here and you are still experiencing the issue, it’s time to reach out to Netgear’s customer support. You can contact Netgear customer support via their website here. Or by calling their support number via 1-855-776-7233.
Conclusion
The Quality of Service feature is one of the features that make the Netgear router unique. So, having issues with the feature can be frustrating. No need to worry because this post has outlined a detailed guide on ways to fix the issue in no time.