Google OnHub
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2015 |
| Product Type | Hardware |
| In Production | No |
| Official Website | |
Google OnHub was a line of Wi-Fi routers sold by Google starting in 2015.[1] They were intended to provide high signal strength in a better looking package than typical routers, to encourage users to place them in open areas. They were produced by third-party manufacturers, but relied on Google for software support and used a Google cloud interface for all settings and administration.[2]
Consumer impact summary
[edit | edit source]User freedom
[edit | edit source]The ability to administer OnHub routers via Google's cloud service was disabled in 2023. Since no local interface for doing so existed previously, and Google didn't include an update to add one, this removed any ability to change any settings on the routers.[3]
User privacy
[edit | edit source]OnHub was a cloud-managed Wi-Fi system that offered no local administration interface, so every settings change required routing through Google's servers and the Google Home app.[4]
Incidents
[edit | edit source]Google removes ability to change any settings (2023)
[edit | edit source]In December 2021, Google e-mailed OnHub owners to announce that support for the router would end on December 19, 2022, after which the router would continue to function at a basic level but configuration would no longer be available through Google's apps, and no further security updates would be released.[2] The end of support was later pushed back to January 11, 2023.[4]
On January 11, 2023, Google removed the ability to access or change any settings on OnHub routers via the Google Home application.[4] Because this was the only method available to change settings or otherwise administer these routers, no settings changes could be made to them from that point onward. OnHub units used as mesh nodes in Google Wifi or Nest Wifi networks additionally required a factory reset of the whole network to remove.[4] Alongside the shutdown announcement, Google offered OnHub owners a 40% discount on Nest Wifi hardware as a replacement path.[2]
Products
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ASUS SRT-AC1900 AC1900 Onhub Google WiFi Router,Black". Amazon. 2015-10-29. Archived from the original on 2025-08-16. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cunningham, Andrew (2021-12-20). "Google OnHub router will join Google's list of dead products next December". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-10-26.
- ↑ Lawler, Richard (2021-12-20). "Google is turning off the controls for OnHub routers at the end of 2022". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2025-07-20. Retrieved 2026-10-26.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Li, Abner (2022-12-02). "OnHub support now ending after the holidays, but you should remove from Google Wifi mesh now". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on 2025-12-13. Retrieved 2026-10-26.
- ↑ "Google WiFi Router by TP-Link - OnHub AC1900 (Managed by Google Wifi APP)". Amazon. 2015-09-09. Archived from the original on 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2025-10-26.