TP-Link's placement guide starts with the app: the Deco app guides you through placement based on the layout you select, and after connecting a satellite you tap Network, Everything looks good, and the satellite to see its signal strength from the source Deco; TP-Link recommends 2 bars. Put the satellite at the same height as the source, 1 to 1.5 ft off the floor, in an open area away from walls and metal such as filing cabinets, and away from microwaves, Bluetooth and USB 3.0 devices that add interference on 2.4 GHz.
Each wireless unit should sit no more than 50 feet from another. If the home is wired for Ethernet, an Ethernet backhaul is faster and more stable than wireless: set every Deco up wirelessly first, then connect the cables, and the backhaul activates on its own.
The checks in more detail
In Router mode satellites must connect to the main Deco's LAN port or to a switch connected to it, never straight into the modem or router in front of the main Deco, which creates a loop. Do not put the satellite in the dead zone itself; place it between the main Deco and the weak area so it has a good signal to relay. Thick masonry needs more units. Sketch the floor plan and mark where the signal is poor before buying more units;
a second Deco placed well is worth more than a third placed badly. If you must choose between wiring one unit and adding a wireless one, wire the unit, because a stable backhaul lets the whole mesh perform better. Remember that floors block signal as well as walls, so a unit directly above or below the gateway can be a worse choice than one placed diagonally in the hall, and that placing near a staircase often gives good reach across two floors.
Differential
Likely causes of “TP-Link Deco mesh wifi has weak signal or dead zones”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A satellite in the dead zone
What separates it The satellite's own signal is poor because it was placed inside the dead zone
How to confirm Move the satellite toward the main Deco, so that it receives a strong signal to pass on
- 2
A metal or masonry barrier
What separates it The signal drops because a metal object or a masonry wall blocks it
How to confirm Move the Deco away from metal and thick walls, to a clearer place
- 3
A weak wireless backhaul
What separates it The satellite has one bar of signal because its wireless link to the main Deco is weak
How to confirm Move it closer to the main Deco, or connect it by Ethernet cable instead
- 4
Interference
What separates it The 2.4 GHz signal suffers because of interference near the Deco
How to confirm Move away from microwaves and USB 3.0 devices
- 5
Too few units
What separates it There are coverage gaps because there are too few units for the size of the home
How to confirm Add a Deco, and place it between the main Deco and the area where the coverage is weak
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A room sketch with unit positions
- The signal bars shown in the app
- The materials that the walls between the Decos are made of
- Whether Ethernet cabling is available between the rooms
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the layout in the app
ReversibleCheck the layout in the Deco app, and follow the guided placement that it suggests.
Move the satellite
ReversibleMove the satellite to a place between the main Deco and the dead zone, and not into the zone.
Check the signal
ReversibleCheck the signal in the app, and aim for two bars between the satellite and its source.
Match the height
ReversibleMatch the height, keeping the units about one to one and a half feet off the floor.
Clear interference
ReversibleClear interference by keeping the units away from metal, microwaves and USB 3.0 devices, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Try Ethernet
ReversibleTry Ethernet by setting the units up wirelessly first, and then connecting the cables, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Add a unit
ReversibleAdd a unit if a gap remains, placing it between the main Deco and the weak area.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Models this page covers
- TP-Link Deco BE85, Deco BE63, Deco XE75, Deco X55 and Deco M5. TP-Link writes one support article per fault for the whole Deco line; the notes name where the ports, bands and LED patterns differ.
- BE series
- The BE85 and BE63 support wired backhaul on their 2.5G and 10G ports.
- M5
- The M5 is an older AC1300 model.
- Model name instead of a part number
- No part number is involved for you. TP-Link identifies a product by its model name and the model and serial numbers on its label.
- Tools and supplies
- An Ethernet cable rated Cat6 or better, the Deco app on your phone, a paperclip for the reset button, your modem's power supply and a pen and paper for the model and serial numbers. No screwdriver is needed and a Deco should not be opened.
- Repair cost
- Restarts, resets and app settings cost nothing. A Deco unit is replaced rather than repaired: TP-Link's replacement and warranty page lists a 2-year limited warranty for home products, and out of warranty the price is the price of a new unit or kit. Reference list prices: the Deco BE85 three-pack is $1,299.99 at retail, and the Deco BE63 is described by reviewers as a sub-$450 Wi-Fi 7 kit (Amazon and Best Buy listings, Data Wire Solutions). An ISP fault or a bad Ethernet cable costs the same whichever Deco you own.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Deco BE63 mesh, Deco XE75 mesh, Deco X55 mesh, Deco M5 mesh.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a wired satellite still leaves a gap, add another unit
- !If the app shows one bar after moving closer, contact TP-Link support
- !If a loop appears, unplug the extra cable
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The figures and steps on this page are TP-Link's own, and the prices are published list prices. Replacement prices are retailer list prices and vary by pack size and retailer.
Height, interference and signal bars.
Wired backhaul rules.
Coverage and placement tips.
How many Deco units and mesh basics.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How many bars do I want?+
TP-Link recommends two bars of signal between a satellite and its source Deco.
How high should a Deco sit?+
1 to 1.5 ft off the floor, same height as the source.
How far apart can units be?+
The units can be no more than fifty feet apart when they link wirelessly.
Where does Ethernet backhaul plug in?+
Into the main Deco's LAN port or a switch on it.
Can a satellite plug into the modem?+
No, a satellite plugged into the modem creates a loop, so plug in only the main Deco.
Does the backhaul turn on itself?+
Yes, the backhaul turns itself on once the Decos are connected by cable.
What interferes with 2.4 GHz?+
Microwaves, Bluetooth and USB 3.0 devices.
Do I need to place in a dead zone?+
No, do not place the unit in a dead zone, and place it between the gateway and the zone.
How many Decos do I need?+
TP-Link has a guide that helps you to work out how many Decos your home needs.