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Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss

Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss

Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss
Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss
2025-05-08 13:11:28
Tags: #Tether App Related
Model: Archer AX73  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.1.2 Build 20250210 rel.53421

Device Setup Overview:

 

Primary Router: Archer AX73 (Router Mode).

 

DHCP enabled.

 

Static IPs assigned to all network clients.

 

MAC whitelisting and IP binding configured via Access Control.

 

Range Extenders: 2 x RE700X configured in OneMesh with the AX73.

 

Secondary Router: Archer AX23 (connected via LAN to AX73) - Used for guest and IoT devices.

 

No Client list issue on AX23.

 

Firmware: All devices are updated to the latest firmware.

 

Cloud Binding: All devices are linked to my TP-Link ID and cloud-enabled.

 

App: TP-Link Tether (latest version on Android)

 

Issues Encountered:

 

1. Empty Client List in Tether App:

 

When viewing the client list via the Tether app (Android), the list appears empty despite numerous active connections.

 

The client list is fully populated when accessed through the router’s web interface.

 

This discrepancy persists across multiple sessions and app restarts.

 

2. Connection Loss When Editing Profiles:

 

While attempting to create/edit child profiles under Parental Controls, the app disconnects from the router whenever I try to upload or select a profile image from my phone’s gallery.

 

This triggers a “Unable to connect to the device, please check your Wi-Fi connection” message, even though the phone remains connected to the network.

This disrupts the setup process, especially for family profiles with Parental Controls.

 

In fact, this connection issue seems to occur even if I exited the app for a second.

 

Steps Already Taken:

 

Confirmed latest firmware installed on all TP-Link devices.

 

Cleared cache and reinstalled the Tether app.

 

Restarted all devices (routers and extenders).

 

Verified consistent behaviour across multiple mobile devices.

 

Ensured strong Wi-Fi signal and no AP isolation settings.

 

Request for Support:

 

Assistance in resolving the Tether app’s inability to display the client list correctly for AX73.

 

Assistance with the app's disconnection issue when interacting with local gallery resources during profile configuration or exiting the app briefly.

 

Please advise if any logs or diagnostics are needed.

 

 

 

 

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#1
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5 Reply
Re:Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss
2025-05-09 09:26:48

Hi@DaveyPeanuts,

Thank you for contacting our community.

Would you mind to change one client's static IP to dynamic IP?

For parental control uploading picture issue, could you check How big is the image capacity? 

If the uploaded image is smaller in size, will it be successful? Alternatively, please try different phone settings profiles.

Check Out the Latest Posts: △ Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX80 Supports EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH/DoT, ECO Mode, and More △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △ Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience
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#2
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Re:Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss
2025-05-09 11:49:10

Hi @Joseph-TP 

 

Thanks for the quick response.

 

I tried the troubleshooting steps provided and my findings are below.

 

1. Tether app showing no clients:

 

I tried your suggestion and changed a device from static IP to dynamic — no luck.

 

Also reinstalled the app and tried from other devices, same issue.

 

I dug into it a bit more and found the actual cause: the Access Control > Whitelist setting on the AX73.

 

When the whitelist is enabled, the Tether app shows an empty client list. Disabling it brings the client list back instantly.

 

 

2. App disconnects when uploading a picture for parental controls:

 

I tested with smaller image sizes as you suggested — still disconnected.

 

Turns out, it’s not the size that’s the issue.

 

If I select the image directly from the default “Gallery” view, it disconnects.

 

But if I select an image from a different folder (like Threema and other IM'S, Screenshots, etc.), it uploads fine.

 

The image from my gallery was less than 300kb and failed. A screenshot of the same image with a size of 1.18mb worked.

 

For selecting profile images I'm happy to use this as a workaround.  

 

But is there something we can do regarding the access control whitelist preventing clients being displayed on Tether? 

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#3
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Re:Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss
2025-05-12 02:54:50

Hi@DaveyPeanuts,

Thank you for your reply.

 

Have you added all the clients that need to connect to the whitelist? Please note that enabling the whitelist will cause all clients that are not in the whitelist to be disconnected, and the client list will become blank.

 

For abnormal upload of pictures, please connect your phone to the router's Wi-Fi, and then close the background process of the App first, that is, make sure that the App is not running.
Then log in to the App and upload the picture again, and check whether the problem still exists at this time?

Check Out the Latest Posts: △ Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX80 Supports EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH/DoT, ECO Mode, and More △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △ Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience
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#4
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Re:Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss
2025-05-14 08:31:57

Hi @Joseph-TP 

 

Yes, all clients that need to be connected are added to the whitelist. You can see from the provided picture of the web interface, that the client list is populated, this is with the whitelist enabled. But this does not reflect within the Tether app. And as I mentioned previously, disabling the whitelist will allow the client list on Tether to populate. 

 

Functionally, the router is doing what it's supposed to. All clients have access to the network. It's just more of an annoyance that I cannot see, from the Tether app, who is connected. This issue also extends to the child profiles as the Tether app does not recognise the devices are online. 

 

For the picture upload issue: I don't think we have to worry about this any longer, the workaround I mentioned will suffice. This doesn't bother me as much as the client list issue. 

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#5
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Re:Inconsistent Client List & App Connection Loss
2025-05-15 03:14:43

Hi@DaveyPeanuts,

We have reported the issue to the support engineers, they will likely reach out to you via email to continue to troubleshoot your issue. Please check your email box and confirm.
Please help collect the backup files and APP log as below and send via ticket, which will help engineer locate the issue faster:

 
Check Out the Latest Posts: △ Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX80 Supports EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH/DoT, ECO Mode, and More △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △ Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience
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#6
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