What is NAT?

NAT (Network Address Translation) is a networking process that allows multiple devices on your home network to share a single public IP address provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). When you connect devices like phones, laptops, and smart home products to your wifi, NAT translates their private IP addresses to your public IP address so they can communicate with the internet.

What is double NAT?

Double NAT (Network Address Translation) lets you set up your eero network quickly without changing your existing modem or router settings. Double NAT creates two separate networks by having two routers perform NAT. Your gateway eero connects to your existing router instead of directly to your modem.

How do I set up my network in double NAT mode?

If you have a separate router and modem:

Don't plug your gateway eero directly into your modem, as the eero app suggests. Instead, plug your gateway eero into your existing router. From there, follow the remaining setup instructions in your eero App.

If you have a modem/router combo:

Plug your gateway eero into the modem/router combo and follow the setup instructions from there. In this case, you have the option of putting your modem/router combo in bridge mode, so it'll only act as a modem.

When using double NAT, be sure to use a different SSID and password for your eero network than your existing network. Running two networks with the same SSID simultaneously will lead to technical complications. See How do I resolve wifi network conflicts?

Note: For the best performance and to access all eero features, we recommend putting your modem/router combo in bridge mode after initial setup. To learn more about bridge mode, see What is bridge mode?