How to Install OpenWrt on Windows 11

OpenWrt is a free and open-source firmware that can be installed on various networking equipment such as routers. In this tutorial, we will guide you on how to install OpenWrt on your router device using your Windows 11 computer.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, you need to ensure that you have the following prerequisites:

• A router device that is supported by OpenWrt. You can check the list of supported devices on the OpenWrt website.
• A computer with Windows 11 operating system.
• A compatible version of the OpenWrt firmware for your router device.
• USB-to-serial adapter cable or Ethernet cable for connection to your router.

Steps to Install OpenWrt on Windows 11

Now let us proceed with the steps to install OpenWrt on your router using your Windows 11 computer.

Step 1: Download OpenWrt

1. Visit the OpenWrt website at https://openwrt.org/
2. Click on the "Downloads" tab on the top menu.
3. Under the "Stable Releases" section, locate the firmware build for your router and download it to your computer.

Step 2: Connect Router and Computer

1. Connect your router device to your Windows 11 computer using a USB-to-serial adapter cable or Ethernet cable.
2. Power up your router device.

Step 3: Access Serial Console

1. Open the device manager on your Windows 11 computer.
2. Look for the COM port associated with the USB-to-serial adapter cable and take note of its number.
3. Download and install a serial terminal program such as PuTTY.
4. Launch PuTTY and select "Serial" as the connection type.
5. Enter the COM port number in the "Serial line" field and set the speed to 115200.
6. Click on the "Open" button to establish a connection to your router's serial console.

Step 4: Upload OpenWrt Firmware

1. On your Windows 11 computer, go to the folder where you downloaded the OpenWrt firmware file and extract its contents.
2. Type "help" and press Enter to verify that the serial console is working properly.
3. Type "tpl" on the command prompt to enter the firmware upgrade mode.
4. Type "8888" to set the baud rate to 115200.
5. Type "ls" and press Enter to list the files in the upgrade folder.
6. Type "cd" followed by the name of the firmware file and press Enter to enter the upgrade folder.
7. Type "stuf" and press Enter to start the firmware upload process.
8. Wait for the firmware file to upload completely.

Step 5: Install OpenWrt Firmware

1. Type "boot" and press Enter to boot into OpenWrt firmware.
2. Launch a web browser on your Windows 11 computer.
3. Type "192.168.1.1" in the address bar and press Enter to access the OpenWrt web interface.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up OpenWrt firmware on your router device.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed OpenWrt on your router device using your Windows 11 computer. You can now enjoy the additional functionality and features that OpenWrt firmware provides.

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