How to connect an external drive to the USB port of your router (Easy step by step guide)

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to connect an external drive to the USB port of your router. This setup allows you to back up data and share files across your network easily. By following these steps, you can enhance your home network's storage capabilities.

Step 1: Connect the External Storage

• Locate the USB port on your router.
• Plug your external drive (USB key or external hard drive) into the USB port.
• Ensure the drive is securely connected.

Step 2: Enable SMB Sharing

• Open a web browser and enter the router's IP address to access the admin page. Common addresses are 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
• Log in with your admin credentials.
• Navigate to the settings for USB or storage options.
• Find the option for SMB (Server Message Block) sharing and enable it.
• Save your changes.

Step 3: Create a User with Permissions

• In the router's admin interface, go to the user management or sharing section.
• Create a new user account that will have access to the external drive.
  • Assign a username and password.
  • Set permissions for this user to allow access to the shared drive.
• Save the user settings.

Step 4: Access and Map the Drive

• On your computer, open the file explorer.
• In the address bar, type the network path to the shared drive (usually in the format \\[router IP]\[share name]).
• Enter the username and password you created earlier when prompted.
• Once you can access the drive, right-click on it and choose the option to map a network drive.
• Select a drive letter for easy access and click finish.

Step 5: Choose the Drive for Backup

• Depending on your operating system, navigate to the backup settings.
• Select the newly mapped drive as your backup location.
• Configure any additional backup options according to your preferences.

Conclusion

You have successfully connected an external drive to your router and configured it for network sharing and backup. This setup enhances your data management capabilities and allows easy access to files across devices. For further enhancements, consider configuring your router as a media server or exploring additional backup solutions tailored to your needs.