Fix UniFi device showing as connected to router instead of switch
Published onby Iron (edited on )
You're checking your UniFi dashboard and suddenly you see it — one of your UniFi devices appears to be connected directly to your router instead of the switch. Before you spiral into network troubleshooting madness, take a breath. This is a common issue with UniFi setups, and it’s not as dire as it seems.
Let's dive in!

Table of Contents
Why Does This Happen?
UniFi devices are designed to display a network topology map to help visualize your network. The topology is supposed to show devices connecting through switches, access points, and so on. But sometimes, UniFi "guesses" wrong and shows devices connected directly to the router instead of the switch. Here’s why this happens:
1. Switch is Operating in "Unmanaged" Mode
If you’re using a non-UniFi switch or a switch that isn’t managed properly, the UniFi controller might not recognize it as part of the network. Instead, it treats the switch as a “dumb” passthrough device, leading it to believe that connected devices are going straight to the router.
2. VLAN Mismatch or Misconfiguration
If the switch and the router have different VLAN configurations, UniFi may misinterpret where the devices are connected. Devices on VLANs may appear to connect directly to the router, especially if UniFi can't see the switch as a bridge point.
3. Network Discovery Issues
UniFi uses LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) and CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) to map connections. If these protocols are disabled on the switch, or if the devices don't broadcast their presence properly, UniFi may not "see" the switch.
4. Network Loop or Redundant Links
If you have multiple network paths (like plugging a switch into the router and a second cable into another device), the network topology map might glitch. UniFi sees "two paths" and can mistake which path is the real one.
5. Device Adoption Errors
If a UniFi device wasn’t properly adopted into the UniFi Controller, the system might default to showing it connected to the router. This can happen after a factory reset or if the device was adopted by a different controller.
How to Fix It
Here’s a step-by-step plan to get your devices showing correctly in the UniFi topology.
1. Check the Switch Type
If you’re using a UniFi switch, you’re in luck. If not, double-check if your switch is "managed" or "unmanaged."
Solution:
- If it’s unmanaged, consider upgrading to a managed switch (preferably a UniFi switch) to give the UniFi Controller the ability to recognize the device.
- If it’s a managed third-party switch, make sure LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) is enabled. This lets UniFi map devices properly.
2. Verify VLAN Settings
VLANs are essential for segregating traffic. But if they’re misconfigured, your devices may appear as if they’re connected directly to the router.
Solution:
- Log into your UniFi Controller.
- Go to Settings > Networks and check the VLANs on your router.
- Then, check the switch’s VLAN settings to ensure they match.
- Ensure that the management VLAN (often VLAN 1) is set consistently across your devices, as UniFi might need this for topology mapping.
3. Enable LLDP on Switches
If your switch isn’t broadcasting its presence on the network, UniFi can’t "see" it. Many switches have LLDP turned off by default.
Solution:
- If using a UniFi switch, log into the UniFi Controller, go to Devices > Switch > Settings, and look for the LLDP setting.
- Make sure LLDP is enabled.
- If you have a third-party switch, log into its web interface and enable LLDP (or CDP if supported).
4. Check for Loops and Redundant Links
If you have multiple network paths (like two cables running from one switch to another), you can create a "loop," confusing UniFi.
Solution:
- Make sure you’re not connecting the switch to the router and also to another switch.
- If you have multiple switches linked to each other, make sure you’re using spanning tree protocol (STP) to prevent loops.
- Check for "loop detect" errors in the UniFi Controller logs. If found, disconnect the redundant path.
5. Re-Adopt the Device
If you’ve recently reset or reconfigured a device, it may show as connected to the router by default. This is common with new UniFi Access Points (APs) or switches that weren’t properly adopted.
Solution:
- Forget the device from UniFi (Settings > Devices > Forget).
- Factory reset the device using the reset button.
- Reconnect the device to the switch.
- Re-adopt it into the UniFi Controller.
Sometimes, you may need to run the "set-inform" command on the device itself:
set-inform http://<controller-ip>:8080/inform
This forces the device to recheck its controller connection and may fix the topology map.
6. Update UniFi Firmware and Controller
Outdated firmware or controller software might have bugs causing the topology map to misread device connections.
Solution:
- Log into your UniFi Controller.
- Check for updates under Settings > System and update the UniFi OS.
- Update device firmware for switches, access points, and controllers.
7. Check the Switch Management IP
If your switch is running a dynamic IP address from DHCP, the IP may change, confusing the UniFi topology.
Solution:
- Log into your UniFi Controller.
- Go to Settings > Networks > DHCP and reserve an IP for your switch.
- If it’s a third-party switch, set a static IP in the switch’s web interface.
8. Wait it Out (Seriously)
Sometimes, the topology map takes time to refresh. Changes aren’t always immediate.
Solution:
- Wait at least 30 minutes after making changes.
- Force-refresh the UniFi Controller by clearing the browser cache or restarting the UniFi Controller.
Quick Troubleshooting Checklist
- Is the switch managed? (Use a UniFi switch or enable LLDP on 3rd-party switch)
- Are VLANs properly configured on the router, switch, and devices?
- Is LLDP enabled on your UniFi or third-party switch?
- Are any loops present (redundant cable paths)?
- Did you re-adopt the device in UniFi?
- Are your firmware and controller up to date?
- Is the switch's IP set to static in DHCP?
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever seen a UniFi device "connected to the router" when it should be connected to the switch, you’re not alone. It’s usually a simple mix-up with LLDP, VLANs, or device adoption. By following the steps in this guide, you can get your network map back to normal.
Sometimes, the fastest way to solve these issues is to adopt UniHosted’s UniFi hosting services. It ensures you have automated backups, firmware updates, and support for troubleshooting. If you’re tired of managing the whole setup yourself, check out UniHosted for cloud hosting of your UniFi Controller. If you would like me to personally walk you through UniHosted, you can schedule a call with me here.
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