Set Up Dynamic DNS with TP-Link Router

If you are setting up a home/small business VPN system and are using TP-Link Archer home routers to do so, you need to do this first. This is also useful at home if you just want to put your own server on the internet without the added expense of a static IP and business internet account.

I couldn’t find an easy to read list of every TP-Link Archer router that has this capability, but it seems most of them do. I have owned the following models over the past 5 or so years and they’ve all had it: Archer C7 (AC1750), AC3150, and an A7 (AC1750).

NOTE: You will need to sign up for a TP-Link cloud account before continuing. The website is here: https://www.tplinkcloud.com. It will only show home security camera information on the site, but you still need a login for this to work. To take full advantage of the cloud based system, you’ll need their Tether app, but for purposes below, you just need the account.

I’m using an Archer A7 (AC1750) router to base this on. From the guides at tp-link.com, the steps seem similar across models.

Step 1 – Log into the router’s web interface.

Step 2 – Go to the Advanced Tab

Step 3 – Select Network on the left hand sidebar, then click on “Dynamic DNS”.

Step 4 – Select the “TP-Link” radio button.

Step 5 – Enter your TP-Link Cloud login information. Once you log in the screen will change to look something like this:

Step 6 – Click the “Register Domain” link. Enter a ‘domain name’. It just needs to be something easy to remember.

Step 7 – Click Save

Now you’ll be able to access your router at [whatever you entered for domain].tplinkdns.com. You can set up port forwarding and access things on your network directly from the internet, you can also set up a VPN server for more secure access to your stuff.