2/15/2021 UniFi - Getting Started – Ubiquiti Support and Help Center

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Ubiquiti Support and Help Center > UniFi Network > UniFi Network Getting Started > Getting Started

UniFi - Getting Started

Welcome to UniFi Network!

Learn how to get started with UniFi, set up your devices and use the UniFi Network Controller to
manage your new UniFi Network.

Set Up a New UniFi Device

Manage the UniFi Network
Upgrade Device Firmware and Controller Software
Adopt Additional UniFi Devices
Frequently Asked Questions

Set Up a New UniFi Device

When setting up a new UniFi device, follow its Quick Start Guide to connect the hardware and
launch the Setup Wizard.

If you are setting up multiple UniFi devices, connect them together and launch the Setup Wizard. It
will allow you to adopt all of the connected devices at once.

The image above displays a typical UniFi network topology with a UniFi Cloud Key, UniFi Security
Gateway and a UniFi Switch.

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If you are using a UniFi Dream Machine, which acts as a Cloud Key, switch and a gateway, your
topology might look like this:

If you're not sure how to connect several devices together, remember:

Gatekeeper devices like routers and gateways connect to the internet via the WAN
port (sometimes identi ed with a globe icon).
Other devices like access points, switches and clients connect to gatekeepers and to
each other via the LAN ports.

Manage the UniFi Network

You can manage your UniFi network using the UniFi Network Controller, which is hosted on a UniFi
device, local computer or a remote server.

The following UniFi devices come with the Network Controller pre-installed:

UniFi Dream Machines, such as UDM and UDM-Pro. The UDM-Pro can also host the
UniFi Protect controller simultaneously.
UniFi Cloud Keys, such as UC-CK, UCK-G2 and UCK-G2-Plus. The UCK-G2-Plus can
also host the UniFi Protect controller simultaneously.

Alternatively, you can install the UniFi Network Controller on a computer or server running
macOS, Windows or Linux operating systems.

After you've set up the controller, you can also manage it on the go using the UniFi Network mobile
app.

If you only have one or a few access points and don't need advanced con guration, you can use the
UniFi Network mobile app to set up a UniFi Access Point in Standalone Mode without needing the

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UniFi Network Controller.

Upgrade Device Firmware and Controller Software

To make sure your UniFi network is stable and you have access to the latest UniFi features, we
recommend keeping your devices and the controller up to date.

Updating device rmware will be one of the rst steps you'll need to go through after setting up a
new UniFi device.

Update via the UniFi Network Controller

You can update your UniFi device rmware via the Devices page in the controller by hovering over
a device and clicking Update or the upgrade icon. 

To update the UniFi Network Controller software, simply follow the update prompt you will see in
the upper right corner of your screen when a software update is available.

You can also update the controller manually via Settings > Updates.

Update via the UniFi Network Mobile App

Alternatively, you can use the UniFi Network mobile app to upgrade your devices and the
controller.

Device upgrades can be done by navigating to Devices > Click on Device > Upgrade (scroll down
and nd it in the Actions list).

To update the controller software using the mobile app, go to More > Settings > UniFi Settings >
Controller Basics.

For more in-depth guides on rmware and software upgrades, see the following articles:

UniFi - Upgrade the Firmware of a UniFi Device

UniFi - How to Set Up a UniFi Network Controller

Adopt Additional UniFi Devices

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Device adoption means adding a UniFi device to an existing UniFi Network Controller. You can
adopt new UniFi devices during the initial controller setup or do it later.

For an in-depth guide for adopting UniFi devices, see UniFi - UniFi Device Adoption.

If you need to replace your current router with a USG, see UniFi - How to Adopt a USG into an
Existing Network.

Frequently Asked Questions

My password isn't working. What is the default username and password for UniFi devices?

The UniFi devices can have two possible factory-default credential sets:

root/ubnt
ubnt/ubnt

Note that you may require multiple sets of credentials when using UniFi:

device credentials
controller credentials
Cloud Access Portal credentials
UniFi Cloud Key and SSH credentials

For more information, see UniFi - Accounts and Passwords for Controller, Cloud Key, and Other
Devices.

What generation is my UniFi device?

The table below shows the generation and wave of devices.

UniFi Security UniFi Controller

UniFi Access Points UniFi Switches Gateways Hardware (UCK,
(Firewall) UDM and UAS)

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Generation 2 Devices Generation 3 Devices

Generation 1 Devices
(AC Wave 1) (AC Wave 2)

UAP (Datasheet)(Quick UAP-AC-LITE UAP-AC-HD

Start Guide) UAP-AC-LR UAP-AC-SHD
UAP-LR (Datasheet) UAP-AC-PRO UAP-nanoHD
(Quick Start Guide) UAP-AC-EDU UAP-HD-IW
UAP-Pro (Datasheet) UAP-AC-M UAP-FlexHD
(Quick Start Guide) UAP-AC-M- UAP-XG
UAP-IW (Datasheet) PRO UWB-XG
(Quick Start Guide) UAP-AC-IW UAP-BeaconHD
UAP-Outdoor (Datasheet) UAP-AC-IW-
(Quick Start Guide) PRO
UAP-
Outdoor5 (Datasheet)(Quick
Start Guide)
UAP-
Outdoor+ (Datasheet)(Quick
Start Guide)
UAPv2 (Datasheet)(Quick
Start Guide)
UAP-LRv2 (Datasheet)
(Quick Start Guide)
UAP-AC* (Quick Start
Guide)
UAP-AC v2* (Quick Start
Guide)
UAP-AC-Outdoor* (Quick
Start Guide)

* End of Life (EoL) and unsupported as of UniFi Network Controller version 5.7. Download
here most current Controller version compatible (v5.6.40 LTS).

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