TP-Link Archer C7 Teardown
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 4 Steps
The TP-Link Archer C7 is an AC1750 dual-band gigabit wireless router. By 2021, it’s gone through five hardware updates, each marked on the bottom label as “Ver X.0”. This guide will walk you through each step to get your device back in action. If you need help along the way, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
– Gently unfold each antenna at the hinge to straighten it out.
– Grip each antenna at its ribbed base and carefully unscrew it from the router. Once you’re done, remove all three antennas.
Step 2
– Take out the 4 screws holding the router’s top cover to the base.
Step 3
To start, the top cover hooks will click into place on the base’s slotted tabs. One thing to note: the back of the router is a bit different – the hooks are actually attached to the base, and the slotted tab is on the cover.
– Grab your pry tool and gently wiggle it along the edge of the top cover, popping it out from the base joint by joint—there are 9 in total, so just keep moving along until they all let go.
– Once all the joints are free, lift off the top cover.
Step 4
When putting your router back together, make sure all the ports fit snugly against the back of the base, and that all the buttons and switches move like they should. If anything’s off, like misaligned ports or controls, the snap-fit joint at the back might not click into place properly.
– You did it! Everything’s taken apart.