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Forum Discussion
Netgear Genie vs Nighthawk app
I previously owned a Nighthawk R8500 that was managed by the Netgear Genie. The R8500 died (I suspect the cat laying on it had something to do with that). Just purchased a Nighthawk RAX43, downloaded the Nighthawk app, and set up the router including new (but similar) SSIDs. I was quite surprised to see our old SSIDs still available and want to delete them by cannot access them using the Netgear Genie or the Nighthawk app. The Genie times out every time I try to login (probably because it can't find the R8500). I'm stumped. How can I clean up these old SSIDs?
Thank you.
13 Replies
L-Rod wrote:
I was quite surprised to see our old SSIDs still available and want to delete them
Available where?
Delete them from what?
I previously owned a Nighthawk R8500 that was managed by the Netgear Genie.
You refer to the genie. This could be one of several things, the browser interface, a Windows or Mac program for a PC, or a mobile Android/iThing app. Netgear labels them all as genies. Which are you using?
New firmware meant that the R8500 dropped the mobile genie is favour of the Nighthawk app.
Which products support the NETGEAR Nighthawk app? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
A more thorough way to control a router is with the browser graphical user interface (GUI). The manual explains how to use that.
Visit the support pages:
Support | NETGEAR
Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.
Look for the model number on the label on the device.They're available if you do a network scan? You can see something still broadcasting that ssid?
Got a screen snip?
Guru, yes, they're visible in network scans, screenshot attached. The SSIDs with "Private" in the name are the old ones created with Netgear Genie.
The "Netgear Genie" was an app or interface to used to manage the R8500. The SSIDs created under this system with the old router are showing up on network scans on all devices attempting to access the internet locally, and is causing confusion (I run an Airbnb and have guests using our guest network).Users can log into the old network, but it does not provide internet. I have deleted, or instructed devices to "forget" these SSIDs on my personal devices, but they're still showing up in locations where I cannot delete or forget them. When I try to log into the router settings using the Genie, it cannot locate the old R8500 router so it times out. The new RAX43 Nighthawk app does not see or allow me to edit or remove the old SSIDs. There are more old SSIDs than what shows on the screen shot I sent. It's a mess I want to clean up!
L-Rod wrote:
The "Netgear Genie" was an app or interface to used to manage the R8500.
That is the desktop program for your operating system, It is still there and still works just fine.
genie | Product | Support | NETGEAR
I use it daily.
It is not specific to your router. It has nothing to do with the Nighthawk app for mobile devices. Netgear wants to kill it.
It has a few features that let you "manage" your router. Wifi for example.
I particularly like the genie map.
(Hint, alt + print screen is your friend.)
But it has always been a pale shadow if the browser graphical user interface (GUI). Often its value is in showing details that you would otherwise access through the GUI.
It has no way of allowing you to delete SSIDs.
Have you tried using the GUI? It wipes the floor with the desktop genie.
Can you access your router through www,routerlogin.net?
If you can't that might be a useful troubleshooting clue.
What is the modem/gateway/ONT in front of your router?
