NETGEAR Genie App No Longer Supported on Orbi Effective Jan 31, 2019

[Dustin_V]

As part of our plan to simplify customer experience, we plan to stop support for the NETGEAR genie app (for iOS, Android, Windows & MAC) for Orbi WiFi system starting Jan 31^st, 2019. We recommend you to use the Orbi app which is specifically designed for Orbi WiFi systems.

[JammasterC]

I really like the WiFi Connection tab in the Genie App for my Mac.

[Chuck_M]

I am all for having a single ap... but be very clear, the Orbi App does NOT work properly on Android devices. 

Example, the Orbi app cannot render the network diagram on my Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

If this move happens, perhaps the app will get a little more attention and quality control.

[ekhalil]

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@Chuck_M wrote:

I am all for having a single ap... but be very clear, the Orbi App does NOT work properly on Android devices. 

Example, the Orbi app cannot render the network diagram on my Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

If this move happens, perhaps the app will get a little more attention and quality control.

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Completely agree. I hope that the Orbi app will inherit the functionality that currently only exists in Genie like network diagram and the "Signal Strength" of the attached devices that I really appreciate in Genie.

Other features like "Media Server" and "Reboot Router" are also nice to have in Orbi app and currently covered in Genie.

[schumaku]

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@Dustin_V wrote:

As part of our plan to simplify customer experience, we plan to stop support for the NETGEAR genie app (for iOS, Android, Windows & MAC) for Orbi WiFi system starting Jan 31^st, 2019. We recommend you to use the Orbi app which is specifically designed for Orbi WiFi systems.

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Simplify == abandoning features like LPC on Orbi?!? 

Brilliant mistake. LPC is gone, Circle hasn't made it, and Netgear Armor (Bitdefender) hasn't made it - despite of all marketing promises.

Appear the strategists have lost the bigger picture of feature, function, benefit.

Netgear must learn to publish plans, phase-out plans for features, offering migration of existing features to alternate services, But that is asked to much - not much learnt since silently closing doen the Genie community section. Still, there are about times more posts coming in on the Genie section today than on the Nighthawk App and Orbi App sections together.

That's my Christmas present for Netgear @Dustin_V : Please carry this forward to the community management @ChristineT and the management in charge. 

[JoeCymru]

Adding my voice. Make the Orbi app more functional, make it work properly with Android, and perhaps this move would not be so shortsited. 

[SpiritScientist]

I purchased the Orbi system rather than the Linksys Velop because of the flexible parental controls available through Genie and OpenDNS.  Without Genie support, the Orbi PCs are quite rigid, allowing only time blocking of all sites or blocking of specific categories or sites for all time.  And the Circle capabilities are no better and require additional payment.  This is essentially Bait & Switch tactics on the part of Netgear, and I suspect it's driven by additional profit to be gained by forcing users to Circle.

While the performance of the Orbi is quite good, the loss of this feature is a big red flag for potential Netgear purchasers.

Netgear - please restore Genie access to Orbi users.  We're not bothered by your perceived complexity!

[FURRYe38]

Genie was replaced by the Orbi app for Orbi systems. The Orbi app is making inprovments. Good stuff coming to the Orbi app. 

Night Hawk Routers are donig the same thing, most of R series routers have the NightHawk App now. 

Genie is probably going away since it's been around for a while now. 

Good Luck. 

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@SpiritScientist wrote:

I purchased the Orbi system rather than the Linksys Velop because of the flexible parental controls available through Genie and OpenDNS.  Without Genie support, the Orbi PCs are quite rigid, allowing only time blocking of all sites or blocking of specific categories or sites for all time.  And the Circle capabilities are no better and require additional payment.  This is essentially Bait & Switch tactics on the part of Netgear, and I suspect it's driven by additional profit to be gained by forcing users to Circle.

While the performance of the Orbi is quite good, the loss of this feature is a big red flag for potential Netgear purchasers.

Netgear - please restore Genie access to Orbi users.  We're not bothered by your perceived complexity!

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[schumaku]

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@FURRYe38 wrote:

Genie was replaced by the Orbi app for Orbi systems. The Orbi app is making inprovments. Good stuff coming to the Orbi app. 

Night Hawk Routers are donig the same thing, most of R series routers have the NightHawk App now. 

Genie is probably going away since it's been around for a while now. 

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Both are incomplete junk - explained above already - both can't replace Genie App and Genie programs. And both don't suport LPS - again as explained above already.

Netgear hase no plan, and des obvioisly not even understand the feature matrix of thier own products. 

[Doug-48051]

I am using the new App. Does the new phone have a function to turn access control on and off?

[Blanca_O]

@Doug-48051 related thread: 

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-Access-Control-Blocking-local-Approved-devices-Both-Wire...

[thop]

what app is replacing the "Geni" app?

[michaelkenward]

The Orbi app?

But who knows what you want to run the app on?

[FURRYe38]

The Orbi app replaces the Genie app for Orbi. Nothing else. 

For R and XR series routers, they have the Highhawk app for those routers. 

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@thop wrote:

what app is replacing the "Geni" app?

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[DougB628]

The Genie app used to work on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. The Orbi app is on iOS and Android only.

[michaelkenward]

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@DougB628 wrote:

The Genie app used to work on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. The Orbi app is on iOS and Android only.

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Netgear makes things hard for itself, and for users, by slapping the Genie label on anything that moves.

The genie app has never worked on Windows and Mac. That was the desktop genie, a standalone program for each operating system. And, as many messages here will confirm, that is still there for anyone to download and use.

If you want the desktop genie for Windows start here:

genie Landing Page | Apps | Discover | Home | NETGEAR

You may have to dismiss the popup that tries to ram the Nighthawk app down your throat.

Of course, instead of the desktop genie, you can also use the browser graphical user interface.

[momofnine]

We upgraded to the orbi, a very expensive decision, and are very happy with the better wifi coverage in our home. But we were stunned to discover we now have to pay for parental controls to block porn and other undesirable content. How is this an improvement? We should have a choice between Circle and openDNS

[michaelkenward]

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@momofnine wrote:
We should have a choice between Circle and openDNS

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You do.

Read all about it here:

How can I use parental controls an Orbi without pu... - NETGEAR Communities