Why my clients don't roam/connect to the nearest Deco node?

Deco W3600(2-pack) , Deco E3(3-pack) , Deco X20 , Deco BE65-5G , Deco M1300 , Deco HC4 , Deco X25 , Deco E4(1-pack) , Deco X3600(2-pack) , Deco Voice X50 , Deco X4300 Pro , Deco M9 Plus(1-pack) , Deco X60(3-pack) , Deco W6000 , Deco X3600 , Deco X1500-4G , Deco M5(3-pack) , Deco X50-PoE , Deco M4(2-pack) , Deco S4(2-pack) , Deco AC1200(2-pack) , Deco M1300(1-pack) , Deco W7200 , Deco P9 , Deco X68(1-pack) , Deco P7 , Deco P9(2-pack) , Deco X90(1-pack) , Deco X20-DSL , Deco E4(3-pack) , Deco X20-4G , Deco S7 , Deco X76 Plus , Deco S4 , Deco M4(1-pack) , Deco XE70 Pro , Deco X20(2-pack) , Deco X90 , Deco M3(3-pack) , Deco X3000-5G , Deco W2400 , Deco X96 , Deco E4(2-pack) , Deco W6000(2-pack) , Deco X90(2-pack) , Deco XM73 , Deco X20(1-pack) , Deco X68(3-pack) , Deco XE75 Pro , Deco XE200 , Deco M9 Plus , Deco M3(2-pack) , Deco P9(3-pack) , Deco M3W , Deco M1300(3-pack) , Deco W3600 , Deco X68(2-pack) , Deco X68 , Deco WM9000 , Deco M5(1-pack) , Deco X5700 , Deco S4(3-pack) , Deco M4(3-pack) , Deco XE5300 , Deco M5 , Deco M4 , Deco HX20 , Deco XE75 , Deco M3 , Deco X90(3-pack) , Deco X20(3-pack) , Deco M5 Plus(3-pack) , DecoX5700 , Deco X50-4G , Deco S7(3-pack) , Deco X25(1-pack) , Deco X3600(3-pack) , Deco E3(2-pack) , Deco W2400(2-pack) , Deco X50-Outdoor , Deco M9 Plus(3-Pack) , Deco Voice X20 , Deco X73-DSL , Deco X50-5G , Deco X80 , Deco X60(2-pack) , Deco HB6300-PoE , Deco X60(1-pack) , Deco X68(1 pack) , Deco 5G , Deco M5 Plus , Deco P7(2-pack) , Deco S4(1-pack) , Deco X25(3-pack) , Deco X50 , Deco X55 , Deco E4 , Deco E3 , Deco P7(3-pack) , Deco M9 Plus(2-pack) , Deco X80-5G , Deco M5(2-pack) , Deco X5700(2-pack) , Deco X25(2-pack) , Deco S7(2-pack) , Deco AC1200 , DecoX5700(2-pack) , Deco X60
Recent updates may have expanded access to feature(s) discussed in this FAQ. Visit your product's support page, select the correct hardware version for your device and check either the Datasheet or the firmware section for the latest improvements added to your product.
Generally, your client device will connect to the nearest Deco node. However, there are still some clients sticking on a Deco node further away, which may be decided by the roaming mechanism of the client device itself.
A client device decides whether to roam or not depends on several factors.
1. A shorter distance does not mean a stronger signal.
Obstacles and wireless interference may affect the signal quality of the Deco units. You can get a better understand of the signal quality of surrounding APs via Wi-Fi analysis software such as Wi-Fi Analyzer.
2. It doesn't reach the roaming threshold.
For AP steering among different Deco nodes, only when the signal strength of the current AP (Deco) becomes lower than a threshold and the signal strength of another AP is good enough, Deco will recommend clients to roam via 802.11k/v standards.
3. The roaming behavior can vary depending on clients.
Deco can only provide a roaming suggestion. Whether to roam or not depends on the client itself as it has its own roaming threshold as well, which is decided by its manufacturer. In this case, clients may refuse the roaming suggestion or respond slowly causing the delay of roaming. There are also some clients that may decide to roam even though Deco doesn't recommend roaming.
If you want to stop your clients, especially stationary devices from roaming, you can try to disable the Mesh Technology option for these clients. Currently, some Deco models support the feature to connect a client to a preferred Deco unit, and other Deco models will support this feature via firmware updates in the future either, please pay attention to our firmware updates.
And if your client doesn’t roam to the nearest Deco node, please take it easy, the client still has a good connection in most cases. If you find the client's signal is too weak, please try to power cycle it, and it will usually select the nearest Deco node to connect.
Get to know more details about the roaming mechanism of the Deco system.
Is this faq useful?
Your feedback helps improve this site.
What’s your concern with this article?
- Dissatisfied with product
- Too Complicated
- Confusing Title
- Does not apply to me
- Too Vague
- Other
Thank you
We appreciate your feedback.
Click here to contact TP-Link technical support.

TP-Link Community
Still need help? Search for answers, ask questions, and get help from TP-Link experts and other users around the world.
This website uses cookies to improve website navigation, analyze online activities and have the best possible user experience on our website. You can object to the use of cookies at any time. You can find more information in our privacy policy . Don’t show again
This website uses cookies to improve website navigation, analyze online activities and have the best possible user experience on our website. You can object to the use of cookies at any time. You can find more information in our privacy policy . Don’t show again
Basic Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be deactivated in your systems.
TP-Link
accepted_local_switcher, tp_privacy_base, tp_privacy_marketing, tp_smb-select-product_scence, tp_smb-select-product_scenceSimple, tp_smb-select-product_userChoice, tp_smb-select-product_userChoiceSimple, tp_smb-select-product_userInfo, tp_smb-select-product_userInfoSimple, tp_top-banner, tp_popup-bottom, tp_popup-center, tp_popup-right-middle, tp_popup-right-bottom, tp_productCategoryType
Livechat
__livechat, __lc2_cid, __lc2_cst, __lc_cid, __lc_cst, CASID
Youtube
id, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, LOGIN_INFO, SIDCC, SAPISID, APISID, SSID, SID, YSC, __Secure-1PSID, __Secure-1PAPISID, __Secure-1PSIDCC, __Secure-3PSID, __Secure-3PAPISID, __Secure-3PSIDCC, 1P_JAR, AEC, NID, OTZ
Analysis and Marketing Cookies
Analysis cookies enable us to analyze your activities on our website in order to improve and adapt the functionality of our website.
The marketing cookies can be set through our website by our advertising partners in order to create a profile of your interests and to show you relevant advertisements on other websites.
Google Analytics & Google Tag Manager
_gid, _ga_<container-id>, _ga, _gat_gtag_<container-id>
Google Ads & DoubleClick
test_cookie, _gcl_au
Meta Pixel
_fbp
Crazy Egg
cebsp_, _ce.s, _ce.clock_data, _ce.clock_event, cebs
lidc, AnalyticsSyncHistory, UserMatchHistory, bcookie, li_sugr, ln_or