TP-Link Deco M5

TP-Link Deco M5 Access Point, with 2 ethernet ports and wifi 2.4 and 5GHz.

WARNING: As of today (09/2026), openwrt does not officially support this device, however an another community project provides pre-built binary releases for Deco M5 v1, v2 and v3. Downloads are available on https://github.com/dutchmillbytes/openwrt/releases.

This page has been created waiting this device to be officially supported. Update: Official snapshot versions available in: https://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/targets/ipq40xx/generic/.

Supported Versions

None at this time.

Experimental Versions

None at this time.

Hardware Highlights

Installation

→ Install OpenWrt (generic explanation)

Please add the installation procedure here.

Flash Layout

Please check out the article Flash layout. It contains examples and explanations that describe how to document the flash layout.

# cat /proc/mtd
dev:    size   erasesize  name
mtd0: 00030000 00010000 "0:SBL1"
mtd1: 00010000 00010000 "0:BOOTCONFIG"
mtd2: 00010000 00010000 "0:MIBIB"
mtd3: 00010000 00010000 "0:BOOTCONFIG1"
mtd4: 00060000 00010000 "0:QSEE"
mtd5: 00010000 00010000 "0:CDT"
mtd6: 00010000 00010000 "0:DDRPARAMS"
mtd7: 00010000 00010000 "0:APPSBLENV"
mtd8: 00080000 00010000 "0:APPSBL"
mtd9: 00010000 00010000 "0:ART"
mtd10: 000c0000 00010000 "OPAQUE"
mtd11: 00300000 00010000 "0:HLOS"
mtd12: 007d0000 00010000 "0:rootfs"
mtd13: 00080000 00010000 "0:APPSBL_1"
mtd14: 01270000 00010000 "firmware"
mtd15: 00350000 00010000 "kernel"
mtd16: 00e70000 00010000 "rootfs"
mtd17: 009e0000 00010000 "rootfs_data"

OEM easy installation

For the first installation, download openwrt factory.bin version. Then:

Go onto router web admin ui
look for firmware upgrade page
upload factory.bin image
Wait until it reboot
Openwrt WebUI should be reachable on via right ethernet port on 192.168.1.1.

Later upgrades will require you to use sysupgrade images instead.

OEM installation using the TFTP method

→ generic.flashing.tftp

Specific values needed for tftp

Enter values for “FILL-IN” below

Bootloader tftp server IPv4 address	FILL-IN
Bootloader MAC address (special)	FILL-IN
Firmware tftp image	Latest OpenWrt release (`NOTE:` Name must contain “tftp”)
TFTP transfer window	FILL-IN seconds
TFTP window start	approximately FILL-IN seconds after power on
TFTP client required IP address	FILL-IN

Upgrading OpenWrt

→ generic.sysupgrade

Debricking

→ generic.debrick

Failsafe mode

→ failsafe_and_factory_reset

Basic configuration

→ Basic configuration After flashing, proceed with this.
Set up your Internet connection, configure wireless, configure USB port, etc.

Specific Configuration

Please fill in real values for this device, then remove the EXAMPLEs

Network interfaces

The default network configuration is:

Interface Name	Description	Default configuration
br-lan	EXAMPLE LAN & WiFi	EXAMPLE 192.168.1.1/24
vlan0 (eth0.0)	EXAMPLE LAN ports (1 to 4)	EXAMPLE None
vlan1 (eth0.1)	EXAMPLE WAN port	EXAMPLE DHCP
wl0	EXAMPLE WiFi	EXAMPLE Disabled

Switch Ports (for VLANs)

Left ethernet port is the port the closest to the reset button.

Port	Switch port
Internet (WAN)	LEFT PORT
LAN	RIGHT PORT

Buttons

→ hardware.button on howto use and configure the hardware button(s). Here, we merely name the buttons, so we can use them in the above Howto.

The TP-Link Deco M5 has the following buttons:

BUTTON	Event
Reset	reset

Hardware

Info

This table is automatically generated, once the correct filters for Brand and Model are set.
If you see “Nothing.” instead of a table, please edit this section and adjust the filters with the proper Brand and Model. Just try, it's easy.
If you still don't see a table here, or a table filled with '¿': Is there already a Techdata page available for TP-Link Deco M5 ? If not: Create one.
If you see a table with the desired device data, everything is OK and you can delete this text and the <WRAP> that encloses it.
If it still doesn't work: Don't panic, calm down, take a deep breath and contact a wiki admin (tmomas) for help.

---- datatemplatelist dttpllist ---- template: meta:template_datatemplatelist cols : Brand, Model, Versions, Device Type, Availability, Supported Since Commit_git, Supported since Rel, Supported current Rel, Unsupported, Bootloader, CPU, Target, CPU MHz, Flash MBs, RAM MB, Switch, Ethernet 100M ports_, Ethernet Gbit ports_, Comments network ports_, Modem, VLAN, WLAN 2.4GHz, WLAN 5.0GHz, WLAN Hardwares, WLAN Comments_, Detachable Antennas_, USB ports_, SATA ports_, Comments USB SATA ports_, Serial, JTAG, LED count, Button count, Power supply, Device Techdata_pageid, Forum topic URL_url, wikidevi URL_url, OEM Device Homepage URL_url, Firmware OEM Stock URL_url, Firmware OpenWrt Install URL_url, Firmware OpenWrt Upgrade URL_url, Comments_ filter : Brand=TP-Link filter : Model=Deco M5

Photos

Front:
Insert photo of front of the casing

Back:
Insert photo of back of the casing

Backside label:
Insert photo of backside label

Opening the case

→ Warranty

Describe what needs to be done to open the device, e.g. remove rubber feet, adhesive labels, screws, ...

To remove the cover and open the device, do a/b/c

Main PCB:
Insert photo of PCB

Serial

→ port.serial general information about the serial port, serial port cable, etc.

How to connect to the Serial Port of this specific device:

use pins under heatsink

Serial connection parameters for TP-Link Deco M5	115200, 8N1, 3.3V

JTAG

→ port.jtag general information about the JTAG port, JTAG cable, etc.

How to connect to the JTAG Port of this specific device:
Insert photo of PCB with markings for JTAG port

Bootloader mods

→ bootloader

Hardware mods

None so far.

Bootlogs

OEM bootlog

COPY HERE THE BOOTLOG WITH THE ORIGINAL FIRMWARE

OpenWrt bootlog

COPY HERE THE BOOTLOG ONCE OPENWRT IS INSTALLED AND RUNNING

Notes

Space for additional notes, links to forum threads or other resources.

Aborted support pull request: https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/20633
Alternative community build project: https://github.com/dutchmillbytes/openwrt/

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