WAN settings

Wide Area Network (WAN) settings let you control how Google Nest Wifi and Google Wifi connect to the internet. The type of WAN connection you have is generally determined by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

In WAN settings, you can choose from one of the WAN types below and configure their respective settings:

  • DHCP
  • Static IP
  • PPPoE credentials

WAN is the outside world's network of connected computers. You can think of WAN as the internet. Local Area Network (LAN), on the other hand, which is the collection of devices in your home, is your personal network. Your LAN devices receive all data from the WAN through your router.

How do I edit WAN settings?

Note: To edit your WAN settings, Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi must be offline and your mobile phone must be connected to your Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi network. Disconnect the Ethernet cable from your router or primary Wifi point and wait until the light pulses yellow (Google Nest Wifi) or pulses orange (Google Wifi). Make sure your mobile device is still connected to your Nest Wifi or Google Wifi network.

  1. Open the Google Home appGoogle Home app.
  2. TapWi-Fi and then Settingsand thenAdvanced Networking.
  3. Tap WAN.
  4. Choose DHCP, Static, or PPPoE.
  5. Make any changes, then tap Save .

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the protocol that allows a device (in this case your router) to automatically get an IP Address and other related information.

If you had another WAN type and want to go back to DHCP:

  1. Open the Google Home appGoogle Home app.
  2. TapWi-Fi and then Settingsand thenAdvanced Networking.
  3. Tap WAN.
  4. Choose DHCP .
  5. Tap Save .

Learn more about DHCP

Every device connected to the internet has an IP address. It tells the internet where to send data, like a mailing address on a package.

When you use DHCP, Google Wifi will automatically ask the device connected to the WAN port of your primary Wifi point (typically a modem, or router/modem combination) for an IP address. Your modem (the "upstream" device) gives your router or primary Wifi point an IP address for a set amount of time (this is called a "lease time"). When the lease expires, the upstream device will renew the lease and the router or primary Wifi point will typically use the same address. DHCP will assign a new IP address to your router or primary Wifi point after a reboot.

DHCP is commonly the default because the process is automatic and requires no manual configuration.

Static IP

A static IP address is an IP address that has been specifically reserved for your connection and doesn't change automatically. You'll know if you have a Static IP because you will have reserved an address with your ISP.

  1. Open the Google Home appGoogle Home app.
  2. TapWi-Fi and then Settingsand thenAdvanced Networking.
  3. Tap WAN.
  4. Choose Static IP .
  5. Enter the IP address, subnet mask, and internet gateway provided by your ISP. When you're done, tap Save .
  6. After the changes are saved, reconnect the Ethernet cable to your router or primary Wifi point and modem.

Learn more about Static IP

Most users don't need static IP addresses for their router. You'll only need one when you want an external device or internet service to remember your device (For example, if you're running a server or want to remotely access your home network via its public IP). Note: Most ISPs require a special account, often intended for businesses, to assign you a static IP address.

This is different from your personal device having a Static IP address. Your router can have a static IP address that appears to the rest of the internet. But individual devices connected to your router (a laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.) can also be given static IP addresses that are used for your local network. These specific static IP addresses won't show up in the outside world. Learn about Static IPs for your network devices.

PPPoE

PPPoE is short for Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet. This means you need a specific username and password from your ISP before accessing the internet. This is typical for many DSL connections.

If you're not sure what your username and password are, contact your ISP and ask for your PPPoE account name and password. You'll need to enter these when manually configuring your WAN settings.

Once you have your account name and password, here's how to enter your PPPoE information.

  1. Open the Google Home appGoogle Home app.
  2. TapWi-Fi and then Settingsand thenAdvanced Networking.
  3. Tap WAN.
  4. Choose PPPoE .
  5. Enter your account name and password. Verify the password, then tap Save .
  6. Reconnect the Ethernet cable to your Wifi point.

Note: To keep your network secure, Google Wifi and Google Nest Wifi do not support Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD) Protocol. WPAD can easily be hacked and expose your browsing behavior or data. If your device has WPAD enabled, we recommend you refer to your device user manual and disable it.

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