TP-Link Deco M4R User manual

Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System
Seamless Roaming | Parental Controls | Easy Setup
User Guide
AC1200 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System
1910013031 REV3.0.0 ©2021 TP-Link

Contents
About This Guide ···················································· 1
Appearance ······························································· 2
Set Up Your Deco ··················································· 3
Add More Decos····················································· 7
Dashboard·································································· 8
Check Deco Status ··············································· 9
Set Main Deco························································10
Manage Connected Devices ·························11
Remove/Reboot Deco ·······································12
Create A New Network ······································13
Delete A Network··················································15
Wi-Fi Settings··························································16
Guest Network ·······················································17
Network Optimization·········································18
Blacklist ······································································19
Upgrade Your Deco·············································20
WPS··············································································21
Parental Controls ··················································22
QoS···············································································23
Advanced Features ·············································24
Monthly Report ······················································29
Managers ··································································30
Authentication························································31

1
About This Guide
This guide provides a brief introduction to Deco Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System and the Deco app, as well as regulatory information.
Features available in Deco may vary by model and software version. Deco availability may also vary by region or ISP. All images, steps, and descriptions
in this guide are only examples and may not reect your actual Deco experience.
Conventions
In this guide, the following conventions are used:
Convention Description
Deco Stands for Deco Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System/Unit.
Underline Hyperlinks are in teal and underlined. You can click to
redirect to a website or a specic section.
Teal Key information appears in teal, including management
page text such as menus, items, buttons and so on.
Note: Ignoring this type of note might result in a malfunction
or damage to the device.
Tips: Indicates important information that helps you make
better use of your device.
More Info
• Specic product information can be found on the product page at
https://www.tp-link.com.
• A Technical Community is provided for you to discuss our products at
https://community.tp-link.com.
• Our Technical Support contact information can be found at the Help
center of the Deco app and the Contact Technical Support page at
https://www.tp-link.com/support.
Speed/Coverage/Device Quantity Disclaimer
Maximum wireless transmission rates are the physical rates derived from
IEEE Standard 802.11 specications. Range, coverage, and maximum
quantity of connected devices are based on test results under normal
usage conditions. Actual wireless data throughput. wireless coverage,
and quantity of connected devices are not guaranteed and will vary
as a result of 1) environmental factors, including building materials,
physical objects, and obstacles, 2) network conditions, including local
interference, volume and density of trac, product location, network
complexity, and network overhead, and 3) client limitations, including
rated performance, location, connection quality, and client condition.
MU-MIMO Disclaimer
Use of MU-MIMO requires clients to also support MU-MIMO.
Seamless Roaming Disclaimer
Clients need to support 802.11k/v/r and may require additional set up.
Performance may vary depending on the client device.

2
Appearance
Each Deco has an LED that changes color according to its status, two RJ-45 Ethernet ports, a power slot, and a Reset button. See the explanation
below:
Tip: The product label can be found at the bottom of the product.
Yellow pulse:
Deco is resetting.
Yellow solid:
Deco is starting up.
Blue pulse:
Deco is ready for setup.
Blue solid:
Deco is setting up.
White pulse:
Deco is upgrading rmware.
White solid:
Deco is registered and all is well.
Red pulse:
Deco is disconnected from main Deco.
Red solid:
Deco has an issue.
Ethernet Ports:
For connecting Deco to your modem, the
Ethernet outlet or other internet devices.
Reset Button:
Press for 1 second and release to reset Deco
to factory default settings. The light changing
from pulsing yellow to solid yellow indicates a
successful reset.
Power Slot:
For connecting Deco to the power socket via
the provided power adapter.

3
Set Up Your Deco
The intuitive Deco app guides you through an easy setup process that gets each unit up and running and all your devices connected and online.
Follow the steps below to set up your Deco Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System.
1. Download and install the Deco app
Scan the QR code below or go to Google
Play or the App Store to download the Deco
app. Install the app on your Android or iOS
smartphone or tablet.
or
2. Log in with TP-Link ID
Open the app. Use your TP-Link ID to log in. If
you don’t have a TP-Link ID, sign up rst.
Note: If you forgot your login password, tap Forgot Password?.
The Deco app will guide you through the rest.
3. Identify your Deco
Choose your Deco model.

4
5. Connect to the Deco's Wi-Fi
Wait until the Wi-Fi Signal LED pulses blue,
then connect to the Deco's Wi-Fi using the
default SSID printed on the product label.
6. Select a location
Select a location for this Deco. If its location
is not listed, you can create a new one by
choosing Custom. This will be the name of
your Deco.
4. Plug in and power on Deco
Power o your modem. Connect your Deco to
the modem and power them both on.
If you don't have a modem, connect the
Ethernet outlet directly to your Deco.

5
7. Set up internet connection
Select the internet connection type and enter
the information. If you are not sure, contact
your internet service provider.
8. Create your Wi-Fi network
Set a network name and a password. These
will be the name and password you use to
connect your devices to Wi-Fi.
9. Connect to your Wi-Fi network
Connect your phone/tablet to the Deco's new
Wi-Fi.

6
10. Setup complete
Your Deco network is now up. Connect all
devices to the Deco network. You can also
add more Deco units to expand the Wi-Fi
coverage.

7
Add More Decos
After created a Deco network, you can add more Deco units to the network to expand the Wi-Fi coverage and manage them easily on your Deco app.
In Overview, tap . Select the Deco model you want to add, and follow
app instructions to complete the setup.
After the setup, you can nd the added Deco units by tapping in
Overview.

8
Dashboard
After you successfully set up your Deco network, you will see the dashboard of the Deco app. Here you can get an overview of the network status,
check the connected clients, and configure more advanced features.
Tap to get an overview of the network
status and online clients
Tap for more features

9
Check Deco Status
In Overview, you can check the working status of all the Decos, check the details of each Deco unit, change the Deco's location/name, and more.
1. Tap to check all Decos' status. 3. Change or customize the location/name of the Deco.
2. Tap a Deco unit to check the details.

10
Set Main Deco
After setup, you can replace the main Deco with any satellite Deco without resetting and reconfigure the whole network.
1. In Overview, tap . 3. Choose a satellite Deco and follow app
instructions to complete the settings.
2. Tap > Set Main Deco.

11
Manage Connected Devices
In Overview, you can check the working status of all the connected devices, view the device details, and change the device settings.
1. Tap a client to check the details. 3. Tap Belongs to to add a unique profile for the device and manage its
online activities.
2. Tap to manage the device
settings.

12
Remove/Reboot Deco
You can remove or reboot your Deco easily in the Deco app. Follow the steps below.
Note: Removing a Deco will reset it to factory default settings. You can also press the Reset button at the bottom of Deco for 1 second and release to quickly reset your Deco to factory default settings.
1. In Overview, tap . 3. Tap to remove or reboot the Deco.
Note: If the LED light of Deco does not turn pulsing blue after tapping Remove, press the Reset
button on the Deco for 1 second and release to reset it.
2. Select a Deco unit.

13
Create A New Network
In the Deco app, you can create different Deco networks linked with your TP-Link ID and manage them conveniently from the Deco app with one
account. You can also help family or friends manage their network on your Deco app. Two methods are provided as below to create a new network:
Method 1. Create a new network from the Overview page
1. Tap > Create New Network.2. Then follow the app instructions to
complete the setup.

14
Method 2. Create a new network from the Menu page
1. Tap to open the Menu. 2. Tap > CREATE NEW NETWORK.3. Follow app instruction to complete the
setup.

15
Delete A Network
You can delete a Deco network if you don't need it anymore. Deleting a Deco network will reset all Decos in this network to factory default settings.
1. In Overview, tap . 2. Tap > Delete.

16
Wi-Fi Settings
You can change the network name and password of your main network at any time and share the network easily with family and friends.
Manage main network (eg. change your main network's Wi-Fi name and
password).
Tap > Wi-Fi. Share your network with others.

17
Guest Network
You can create and share a separate network for guests to guarantee the security and privacy of your main network.
Tap > Wi-Fi and enable Guest Network. Set a Wi-Fi name and password for
the guest network.
Share your guest network with others.

18
Network Optimization
Network Optimization lets your Deco intelligently scan for a clearer channel and switch your devices to it, ensuring optimal Wi-Fi performance.
2. The app will scan the network
automatically.
3. Optimize your network for optimal
Wi-Fi performance.
4. Enjoy your time if your network
status is perfect.
1. Tap > Network Optimization.