Explore the guide library · Tenda configuration
Keep the existing gateway in charge while accounting for Nova features that become unavailable in bridge mode.
Nova bridge mode can fit a home where an existing router must remain the gateway. Before switching, list the Nova functions you use and decide where they will be enforced afterward. The mode change is not merely another way to name the Wi-Fi network.
Read the documented limitations
Tenda’s MW6 and Nova guidance describes bridge operation behind an internet-connected router and lists gateway-related features that become unavailable, including DHCP and several policy controls. Confirm the current behavior for your system and app version before relying on a feature after the change.
Make a before-and-after map
Draw the upstream router, the primary Nova unit and the household devices. Mark which device assigns client addresses. Then write the location of any parental rule, reservation, forwarding rule or guest-access requirement.
If a necessary function will disappear from Nova, verify that the upstream gateway can provide an appropriate replacement. Do this before changing modes, while the existing configuration can still be inspected.
Switch at a suitable time
- Save the current configuration information and app access details privately.
- Use the supported bridge-mode process in the Tenda app.
- Confirm the required wired connection to the upstream router.
- Reconnect a test client and inspect its new address and gateway.
- Verify internet and local-resource access.
Test policy, not just connectivity
A successful speed test does not verify a household restriction or guest boundary. Test the specific behavior you intended the upstream router to enforce. If the policy cannot be reproduced, reconsider the topology rather than assuming the feature remains active invisibly.
Keep recovery documented
Record how the Nova system is now managed and where its client addressing originates. Keep the previous mode and connection settings available until the household passes its normal tasks.
This guide covers the decision and validation around bridge mode. It does not claim that switching modes improves speed in every installation or that all Nova products expose identical features.
Sources and editorial notes
Sources checked 8 October 2026. Independent guidance and original illustrations; product comparisons use published specifications rather than hands-on benchmarks. Check the exact model, revision and regional documentation before changing settings.