How to Turn Off Wi-Fi on Optimum Router Easily

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There are several practical reasons to turn off WiFi on your Optimum router. The most common one is that you bought your own WiFi router or mesh system and need the Optimum gateway’s wireless signal disabled so it doesn’t interfere with your setup. Running two WiFi networks on the same frequency in the same house causes connection confusion and signal degradation. Your devices might hop between the two networks or stick to the weaker one.

Other reasons are simpler. Maybe you’ve hardwired everything with Ethernet cables and don’t need wireless at all. Maybe you want WiFi to shut off at night. Maybe guests keep connecting to the Optimum WiFi instead of your personal network, and you want to eliminate that option entirely.

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The method depends on which Optimum router model you have. Optimum has issued several gateway models over the years – Ubee, Sagemcom, and newer Altice-branded units – and the steps are slightly different for each one. Some models let you disable WiFi through the admin page at 192.168.1.1. Others work through the Optimum app. This guide covers every method and every common gateway model.

How to Turn Off WiFi on Optimum Router Through the Admin Page

The most reliable way to disable WiFi on any Optimum gateway is through the router’s built-in admin page. This works on all models, regardless of age.

Open any web browser on a device connected to your Optimum network – either by WiFi or Ethernet cable. Type 192.168.1.1 into the address bar and press Enter. This is the default gateway address for most Optimum routers. If it doesn’t load, try 10.0.0.1 instead. You should see a login page.
Log in with your router’s admin credentials. The default username is usually “admin” and the default password is printed on a sticker on the bottom or back of the router. Look for a label that says “Default Password” or “Admin Password.” If you or someone else changed the password and you can’t remember it, you’ll need to factory reset the router by holding the reset button on the back for about 10 seconds. That restores the defaults.
Once you’re logged in, look for a section called Wireless Settings, WiFi Settings, or something similar. The exact name depends on your model. On Ubee gateways, it’s usually under Wireless in the top menu bar. On Sagemcom models, check under WiFi or go to Advanced and then Wireless. On newer Altice-branded gateways, look under Network Settings.
You should see separate options for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Both need to be disabled to fully turn off WiFi. Leaving one band active means your router is still broadcasting a wireless signal, and devices can still connect to it.
On most Optimum gateways, each band has an “Enable Wireless” toggle or checkbox. Set both to off or disabled. On some Ubee and Sagemcom models, you’ll find this under Advanced, then Wireless, then Basic Settings. There may be a toggle switch, a dropdown menu, or a checkbox – it depends on the firmware version.
After disabling both bands, click Save or Apply. The changes take effect within a few seconds. The WiFi LED on the front of the router should turn off. If you were connected to the router’s WiFi, your device will disconnect immediately. Make sure you have another way to access the internet (like an Ethernet cable) before you save, or you’ll lock yourself out of the admin page.

How to Disable WiFi on Optimum Router Using the Optimum App

If you’d rather not deal with the admin page, the Optimum app offers a simpler way to manage your WiFi settings – at least on newer gateways.

Download the Optimum app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Sign in with your Optimum account credentials. These are the email and password you use to pay your bill and manage your account online. They are not the same as the router admin credentials you use at 192.168.1.1. Two different logins, two different purposes.
Once signed in, go to the WiFi or Network section of the app. You should see your WiFi network name listed along with options to manage it. Depending on your gateway model and the version of the app, you may see options to pause WiFi entirely, disable the wireless radio, or manage individual device access.

The app also supports scheduled WiFi on/off times on compatible gateways. This is useful if you want WiFi to turn off automatically at midnight and come back on at 6 AM. Look for scheduling or parental control options within the WiFi settings section.

One important thing to keep in mind: the app’s features depend heavily on which Optimum gateway you have. Newer gateways – especially the Altice-branded models issued in recent years – give you full control through the app. You can enable, disable, and schedule WiFi without ever touching the admin page.

Older gateways, like the Ubee DVW32CB, have limited or no app integration. If your router is an older model, the app might show basic network info but won’t let you toggle WiFi on or off. In that case, you’ll need to use the 192.168.1.1 admin page method described above.

Which Optimum Router Model Do I Have

Optimum doesn’t let you choose which gateway you get. When you sign up or upgrade, they send whatever model they’re currently deploying in your area. Over the years, that’s meant several different devices from different manufacturers, each with a slightly different admin interface.

To identify your model, check the label on the bottom or back of the router. It lists the manufacturer, model number, default admin password, default WiFi name and password, and the MAC address. That label is your cheat sheet for everything.

The Ubee DVW32CB is one of the older models Optimum deployed. It’s a DOCSIS 3.0 device with a basic admin interface. The menus are plain and text-heavy, but all the controls you need are there. WiFi settings are under the Wireless tab at the top of the admin page.

The Sagemcom F@ST 5260 and 5280 are more recent. These have a cleaner, more modern admin interface with graphical elements and toggle switches. WiFi settings are found under the WiFi section in the left-side navigation menu. These models also work better with the Optimum app than the older Ubee units.

The newest devices are the Altice-branded gateways. These are designed to be managed primarily through the Optimum app, though they still have an admin page accessible at 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1. The admin interface on these gateways looks different from the older models and may have fewer settings exposed through the browser, pushing you toward the app instead.

Router Model	Default Admin URL	Default Username	Default Password	WiFi Settings Location
Ubee DVW32CB	192.168.1.1	admin	On router label	Wireless tab at top menu
Sagemcom F@ST 5260	192.168.1.1	admin	On router label	WiFi section in left menu
Sagemcom F@ST 5280	192.168.1.1	admin	On router label	WiFi section in left menu
Altice Gateway (newer)	192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1	admin	On router label	Network Settings or via Optimum app

If the label on your router is worn off or unreadable, you can sometimes find the model number in the admin page itself. Log in at 192.168.1.1 and look for a section labeled Device Info, Status, or About. The model number and firmware version are usually listed there.

How to Turn Off Optimum WiFi to Use Your Own Router

This is by far the most common reason people disable WiFi on their Optimum gateway. You bought a better router – a Netgear Nighthawk, a TP-Link Archer, an ASUS RT-AX series, a Google Nest WiFi, or an Eero mesh system – and you want to use it instead of the Optimum gateway’s built-in WiFi. Smart move. Standalone routers and mesh systems almost always outperform ISP-issued gateways in range, speed, and features.

The problem is that if you plug in your own router without turning off the Optimum WiFi, you’ll have two wireless networks broadcasting in the same space. Your phone might connect to the Optimum network in the kitchen but your laptop uses your personal router’s network in the bedroom. Devices jump between them unpredictably. Some smart home devices get confused and drop offline. It’s a mess.

The proper setup is straightforward. First, disable WiFi on the Optimum gateway using either the admin page or the Optimum app (both methods are described above). Then, connect your own router to one of the Optimum gateway’s Ethernet ports using a standard Ethernet cable. Plug one end into any LAN port on the Optimum gateway and the other end into the WAN or Internet port on your router. Your router now handles all WiFi. The Optimum gateway just acts as a modem – it talks to Optimum’s network and passes your internet connection through.

Think of it this way. The Optimum gateway is a two-in-one device: it’s a modem and a router combined. You want to keep the modem part active because that’s what connects you to the internet. But you want to shut off the router and WiFi part because your own equipment does that job better. Disabling the gateway’s WiFi effectively turns it into a modem-only device, even though it technically still has routing functions running.

Some people ask about “bridge mode” on the Optimum gateway. True bridge mode would disable all routing functions and turn the gateway into a pure modem. Most Optimum gateways do not support true bridge mode. What you’re doing instead – disabling WiFi and connecting your own router behind the gateway – creates what’s called a double-NAT situation. Both the Optimum gateway and your router are performing network address translation.

For most home users, double-NAT doesn’t cause noticeable issues. Streaming, browsing, email, video calls – all of it works fine. Gamers and people running home servers may run into problems with port forwarding, NAT type restrictions, or VPN connections. If that’s you, putting your router’s IP address in the Optimum gateway’s DMZ settings can help. This effectively passes all traffic straight through to your router. Alternatively, you can skip the Optimum gateway entirely and buy your own DOCSIS-compatible modem, but Optimum’s support for third-party modems has been inconsistent – check with them first.

Setup	Using Optimum WiFi Only	Using Your Own Router with Optimum Gateway
WiFi source	Optimum gateway	Your own router or mesh system
Optimum gateway WiFi	Enabled	Disabled
Connection to your router	Not applicable	Ethernet cable from gateway LAN port to router WAN port
WiFi coverage	Limited to gateway range	Depends on your router – usually better
WiFi features	Basic	Full control (QoS, band steering, scheduling, guest networks)
Double-NAT	No	Yes – usually not an issue for home use
Monthly cost	No extra	One-time cost for your own router

Can You Turn Off Optimum WiFi at Night on a Schedule

Yes, depending on your gateway model. Some Optimum gateways support WiFi scheduling, which lets you set specific times for the wireless radio to turn off and back on automatically. Once configured, it runs on its own without you touching anything.

To set this up through the admin page, log in at 192.168.1.1 and look for a scheduling option under Wireless Settings. On some models, it’s labeled WiFi Schedule or Access Schedule. On Sagemcom gateways, check under WiFi and then Advanced Settings or Parental Controls. Set the days and times you want WiFi to be inactive – for example, every night from 11 PM to 6 AM – and save.

The Optimum app may also offer scheduling on newer gateways. Look for WiFi scheduling or WiFi pause options in the app’s network settings. The app’s version of scheduling is typically easier to set up since you’re just picking times from a visual interface rather than typing them into form fields.

If your particular gateway doesn’t support WiFi scheduling through either the admin page or the app, you have a low-tech alternative. Plug the gateway’s power adapter into an outlet timer – the same kind people use for lamps and holiday lights. Set the timer to cut power to the gateway at night and restore it in the morning.

The downside of the outlet timer approach is that it turns off the entire gateway, not just WiFi. That means wired devices lose internet access too, and any device that depends on a constant connection (security cameras, smart home hubs, NAS drives) goes offline. The gateway also takes a minute or two to boot back up when power returns, so there’s a brief gap before everything reconnects.

A better long-term approach: use your own router with WiFi scheduling features and disable the Optimum gateway’s WiFi permanently. Most standalone routers and mesh systems – even budget models – have built-in WiFi scheduling. You set the schedule on your router and leave the Optimum gateway running 24/7 for wired internet access. Best of both worlds.

What Happens When You Turn Off WiFi on the Optimum Router

Turning off WiFi on the Optimum router does not cancel your internet service. It does not affect your Optimum account. It does not notify Optimum that you’ve changed anything. All it does is stop the router from broadcasting a wireless signal.

Any devices connected to the internet through an Ethernet cable will continue to work normally. Desktop computers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and anything else plugged in with a cable won’t notice a difference. The wired connection is completely unaffected by WiFi being on or off.

Every device that was connected wirelessly will lose its internet connection immediately. Phones, tablets, laptops, smart speakers, smart thermostats, security cameras, robot vacuums, and anything else that relies on WiFi will go offline. If you have smart home devices that need a constant WiFi connection to function – Ring doorbells, Nest thermostats, Alexa speakers, smart plugs – those will stop working until WiFi is restored or they’re connected to an alternative network.

If you’re turning off the Optimum WiFi to use your own router, this is expected. Your devices will reconnect to your new router’s WiFi network once you set it up. You’ll just need to go through each device and connect it to the new network name and password.

When you turn WiFi back on, your devices should reconnect automatically – as long as the network name (SSID) and password haven’t changed. The router broadcasts the same network name it had before, and devices that previously saved those credentials will rejoin without manual intervention. The WiFi LED on the front of the router will light up again once the wireless radio is active.

One thing to note about the router’s indicator lights: when WiFi is disabled, the WiFi LED on the front panel goes dark. This is normal. It doesn’t mean the router is broken or offline. The power LED and internet LED should still be on, showing that the gateway is connected to Optimum’s network and passing internet through its Ethernet ports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off WiFi on my Optimum router cancel my internet service?

No. Turning off WiFi only disables the wireless radio on the router. Your Optimum internet service remains active. Any devices connected via Ethernet cables will still have full internet access. The only things affected are wireless connections – phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices that connect over WiFi will lose their connection until WiFi is turned back on or they connect to a different network.

What is the default login for an Optimum router?

The default username for most Optimum routers is “admin.” The default password is unique to each unit and is printed on a sticker on the bottom or back of the router. Look for a label that says “Default Password,” “Admin Password,” or “Login Info.” If the sticker is missing or unreadable, try common defaults like “password” or “admin.” If none of those work and you’ve forgotten a custom password, hold the reset button on the back of the router for about 10 seconds to restore factory defaults.

Can I use my own router with Optimum instead of their gateway?

Yes. Disable the WiFi on the Optimum gateway, then connect your own router to one of the gateway’s LAN ports using an Ethernet cable. Your router handles WiFi and the Optimum gateway functions as a modem. This setup works with any standard router or mesh system – Netgear, TP-Link, ASUS, Google Nest WiFi, Eero, and others. The Optimum gateway stays plugged in and powered on because it’s still your connection to Optimum’s network.

How do I turn WiFi back on after disabling it on my Optimum router?

Log back into the admin page at 192.168.1.1 using a device connected via Ethernet. Go to the same Wireless Settings or WiFi section where you disabled it and toggle the “Enable Wireless” option back on for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Click Save or Apply. The WiFi LED on the router will light up within a few seconds, and your devices should reconnect automatically if the network name and password haven’t changed. You can also re-enable WiFi through the Optimum app on newer gateway models.

Does Optimum charge extra if I use my own router?

Optimum does not charge an extra fee for using your own router alongside their gateway. You are still using the Optimum-issued gateway as a modem, so the standard equipment fee (if any) still applies. You don’t get a discount on your bill for disabling the gateway’s WiFi. However, you avoid the cost of renting a separate Optimum WiFi extender if you would have otherwise needed one – your own mesh system or better router covers that job instead.

Why is my Optimum router WiFi turning back on by itself?

This usually happens after a firmware update. Optimum pushes automatic firmware updates to its gateways, and some updates reset WiFi settings to their defaults, turning the wireless radio back on. If your WiFi keeps re-enabling itself, log back in and disable it again after the update finishes. On some models, Optimum also enables a secondary “Optimum WiFi” hotspot network for public use that operates separately from your personal WiFi. Check for an option called “Optimum WiFi Hotspot” or “Community WiFi” in the admin settings and disable that as well.