How to Switch From 5GHz to 2.4GHz for Better WiFi October 2025

Is your smart home device refusing to connect? Your gaming console lagging? The solution might be simpler than you think. Many modern routers automatically connect devices to 5GHz WiFi for faster speeds, but this can cause problems with older devices and smart home gadgets.

Switching from 5GHz to 2.4GHz can solve these connectivity issues and give you better range throughout your home. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to make the switch and get all your devices connected properly.

Key Takeaways

• 2.4GHz WiFi has better range but slower speeds; 5GHz is faster but has shorter range
• Smart home devices like bulbs, plugs, and cameras often only work on 2.4GHz
• You can switch bands through router settings or device preferences
• Creating separate network names (SSIDs) helps manage which devices connect to which band
• Most routers support both bands simultaneously, so you don’t have to choose just one
• Switching wifi frequency from 2.4ghz to 5GHz is usually reversible if needed

Why Would You Need to Switch from 5GHz to 2.4GHz?

Many people wonder why they would ever want to switch from the faster 5GHz to the slower 2.4GHz. The truth is, 2.4GHz isn’t always slower in real-world use. Here are the main reasons you might need to convert 5GHz WiFi to 2.4GHz:

Smart home device compatibility is the biggest reason. Most smart bulbs, plugs, cameras, and other IoT devices only work on 2.4GHz networks. They simply don’t have the hardware to connect to 5GHz. If you’ve ever bought a smart device that won’t connect to your WiFi, this is likely why.

Better range in larger homes is another key factor. 2.4GHz signals travel farther and go through walls better than 5GHz. If you have dead zones in your house, switching to 2.4GHz might fix them. This is especially true if you have thick walls or multiple floors.

Older devices that don’t support 5GHz will need 2.4GHz to connect. This includes some laptops, phones, and tablets from a few years ago. Even some newer devices like budget phones might not have 5GHz support.

Reducing interference in crowded areas can sometimes be better on 2.4GHz. While 2.4GHz has more interference from other networks, 5GHz can struggle with physical obstacles. In some cases, 2.4GHz actually provides a more stable connection.

Understanding 2.4GHz vs 5GHz WiFi

Before we dive into switching wifi frequency to 2.4, let’s understand what these terms really mean. Think of WiFi bands like different radio stations – they both carry music (data), but on different frequencies.

What is 2.4GHz WiFi?

2.4GHz WiFi is the older, more established WiFi band. It’s like AM radio – it travels far and can go through walls easily. Here are its key features:

• Better range: Signals travel farther, perfect for large homes
• Better penetration: Goes through walls, floors, and furniture more easily
• More compatible: Works with almost every WiFi device made in the last 15 years
• More interference: Shares the band with microwaves, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices
• Slower speeds: Maximum speeds are lower than 5GHz

What is 5GHz WiFi?

5GHz WiFi is the newer, faster band. It’s like FM radio – clearer sound but doesn’t travel as far. Here’s what makes it different:

• Faster speeds: Can handle much more data at once
• Less interference: Fewer devices use this band, so less competition
• Shorter range: Signals don’t travel as far from the router
• Worse penetration: Struggles more with walls and obstacles
• Newer technology: Requires newer devices to work properly

Feature	2.4GHz WiFi	5GHz WiFi
Speed	Up to 600 Mbps	Up to 3.5 Gbps
Range	Up to 150 feet	Up to 50 feet
Through Walls	Excellent	Poor
Device Compatibility	Almost universal	Newer devices only
Interference	High	Low

How to Tell If You’re Connected to 2.4GHz or 5GHz?

Before you start switching from 5ghz to 2.4ghz, you need to know which band you’re currently using. Here’s how to check on different devices:

On Windows:

1. Click the WiFi icon in your taskbar
2. Look at your network name – sometimes it shows “2.4GHz” or “5GHz” in the name
3. If not, press Windows key + X and select “Device Manager”
4. Expand “Network adapters” and right-click your WiFi adapter
5. Select “Properties” then “Advanced” tab
6. Look for “Preferred Band” or similar setting

On Mac:

1. Hold the Option key and click the WiFi icon in your menu bar
2. Look for “Channel” in the information that appears
3. Channels 1-11 are 2.4GHz; channels 36 and above are 5GHz
4. You can also use the Airport Utility app for more details

On Android:

1. Go to Settings > WiFi
2. Tap your connected network
3. Look for “Frequency” or “Band” information
4. Some Android phones show this in the WiFi settings menu
5. If you don’t see it, download a WiFi analyzer app from the app store

On iPhone:

1. iPhones don’t show this information directly in settings
2. You can download apps like “WiFi Analyzer” from the App Store
3. Or look at your router’s admin panel to see connected devices
4. Some routers show which band each device is using

Pro Tip: If your network name ends in “-5G” or similar, you’re probably on 5GHz. If it doesn’t have a suffix, you might be on 2.4GHz – but this depends on how your router is set up.

How to Switch from 5GHz to 2.4GHz on Your Router?

The most reliable way to switch to 2.4ghz from 5ghz is through your router settings. Here’s how to do it step by step:

Step 1: Access Your Router Admin Panel

1. Connect to your router (you can be on either band for this)
2. Open a web browser and type your router’s IP address
3. Common addresses are 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or 192.168.2.1
4. If those don’t work, check your router’s manual or look for a sticker on the router
5. Enter your admin username and password (often “admin” for both)

Step 2: Find the Wireless Settings

1. Look for “Wireless,” “WiFi,” or “Network” settings
2. This might be under “Advanced” or “Basic” settings
3. You’re looking for frequency band or channel selection
4. Different routers put this in different places, so you might need to look around

Step 3: Change the Frequency Band

You have a few options here:

Option A: Enable Both Bands (Recommended)

1. Look for “Dual Band” or “Smart Connect” settings
2. Enable both 2.4GHz and 5GHz
3. This creates two separate networks you can connect to

Option B: Set to 2.4GHz Only

1. Find the band selection dropdown
2. Change from “5GHz” or “Dual” to “2.4GHz only”
3. This disables 5GHz completely

Option C: Create Separate SSIDs

1. Find the SSID or network name settings
2. Create different names for 2.4GHz and 5GHz
3. For example: “MyWiFi” for 2.4GHz and “MyWiFi-5G” for 5GHz
4. This makes it easy to choose which band to connect to

Step 4: Save and Restart

1. Click “Save” or “Apply” to save your changes
2. Your router might need to restart
3. Wait a few minutes for the router to come back online
4. Reconnect your devices to the new network(s)

Real Example: When I set up my smart home, I had to switch from 5ghz to 2.4ghz because my smart bulbs wouldn’t connect. I went into my router settings, enabled both bands with separate names, and connected all my smart devices to the 2.4GHz network. Problem solved!

How to Switch WiFi Frequency on Different Devices?

Sometimes you want to switch bands on a specific device rather than changing the whole router. Here’s how to convert 5ghz 2.4ghz on different devices:

On Windows:

1. Press Windows key + X and select “Device Manager”
2. Expand “Network adapters”
3. Right-click your WiFi adapter and select “Properties”
4. Go to the “Advanced” tab
5. Look for “Preferred Band” or “Wireless Mode”
6. Change it to “2.4GHz” or “802.11b/g/n”
7. Click OK and reconnect to your network

On Mac:

1. Open the Airport Utility app (in Applications > Utilities)
2. Go to the Graphical Overview
3. Select your base station and click “Edit”
4. Click “Wireless” then “Wireless Options”
5. Select the 2.4GHz channel option
6. Click “Save” then “Update”

On Android:

1. Go to Settings > WiFi
2. Tap the three dots menu and select “Advanced”
3. Look for “WiFi frequency band” or similar
4. Select “2.4GHz only” if available
5. Note: Not all Android phones have this option

On iPhone/iPad:

1. iOS doesn’t let you choose bands directly
2. You need to connect to a network that’s already 2.4GHz
3. Or use the router method above to create separate networks

Actionable Tip: If your device keeps connecting to 5GHz when you want 2.4GHz, “forget” the 5GHz network in your WiFi settings. This forces your device to connect to the 2.4GHz version instead.

What About 5GHz to 2.4GHz Converters?

You might see products advertised as a “5ghz to 2.4ghz converter” and wonder if they work. Let’s clear this up.

Do converters really work? Yes and no. There’s no magic device that converts a 5GHz signal to 2.4GHz without some trade-offs. However, there are devices that can help:

Travel Routers: These small devices can connect to your 5GHz network and create a new 2.4GHz network. They work like a middleman – your devices connect to the travel router on 2.4GHz, and it connects to your main router on 5GHz.

WiFi Extenders: Some dual-band extenders can connect to your 5GHz network and extend it as 2.4GHz. This can help fill in dead zones while keeping compatibility with older devices.

Mesh Systems: Modern mesh systems often handle this automatically. They can use 5GHz for communication between nodes and provide both 2.4GHz and 5GHz to your devices.

When to consider a converter: Only if you can’t access your router settings or if you have a very specific need. Most of the time, adjusting your router settings is the better solution.

Verified Data Point: According to a study by the WiFi Alliance, 78% of smart home devices only support 2.4GHz WiFi. This explains why so many people need to switch bands for their smart home setups.

Common Problems When Switching WiFi Bands?

When switching from 5ghz to 2.4, you might run into some issues. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them:

Devices Not Seeing the 2.4GHz Network

If your devices can’t see your new 2.4GHz network:

1. Make sure 2.4GHz is enabled in your router settings
2. Check that you didn’t accidentally hide the SSID
3. Restart your devices to refresh their WiFi list
4. Move closer to the router to ensure you’re in range
5. Check if your device supports 2.4GHz (most do, but some newer routers are 5GHz-only)

Connection Dropping After Switching

If your connection keeps dropping:

1. You might be too far from the router – 2.4GHz has better range, but there are limits
2. Check for interference from other devices
3. Try changing the channel within the 2.4GHz band
4. Update your router’s firmware
5. Consider if you actually need to switch back to 5GHz

Speed Issues After Switching

If your internet seems slower after switching:

1. This is normal – 2.4GHz is generally slower than 5GHz
2. Run a speed test to confirm the difference
3. Make sure you’re not confusing WiFi speed with internet speed
4. Check if other devices are using too much bandwidth
5. Consider using 5GHz for devices that need speed and 2.4GHz for devices that need range

Smart Home Devices Still Not Connecting

If your smart devices still won’t connect:

1. Double-check they’re 2.4GHz compatible (most are)
2. Make sure you’re connecting to the 2.4GHz network, not 5GHz
3. Reset the smart device and try setting it up again
4. Check if the device needs a special app or setup process
5. Some devices need to be very close to the router during setup

Common Mistake: Many people forget that both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks can have the same name. This makes it impossible to know which band you’re connecting to. Always use different names for each band!

Pro Tips for Managing Dual-Band WiFi?

Once you’ve mastered switching from 5ghz to 2.4ghz, here are some pro tips for managing both bands effectively:

Create Separate Network Names

This is the most important tip. Give your 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks different names:

• 2.4GHz: “MyHomeWiFi”
• 5GHz: “MyHomeWiFi-5G” or “MyHomeWiFi-Fast”

This makes it easy to choose which band to use for each device.

Optimize Channel Selection

2.4GHz only has 3 non-overlapping channels (1, 6, 11). Choose the least crowded one:

1. Use a WiFi analyzer app to see which channels your neighbors are using
2. Pick the channel with the least interference
3. Avoid using channels that overlap with your neighbors

When to Use Band Steering

Band steering automatically moves devices between bands. It can be helpful but also problematic:

• Good for: Phones and tablets that move around the house
• Bad for: Smart home devices that need to stay on 2.4GHz
• If you have problems, turn it off and use separate SSIDs instead

Best Practices for Device Placement

Where you put your devices matters:

• Keep smart home devices close to the router
• Place high-bandwidth devices (streaming, gaming) closer to the router
• Put devices that don’t move much (smart TVs, desktops) on 5GHz
• Put mobile devices (phones, tablets) on 2.4GHz for better coverage

Security Considerations

Both bands need proper security:

• Use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption on both bands
• Keep both networks updated with the latest security patches
• Don’t use the same password for both networks (make them similar but different)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Switching from 5GHz to 2.4GHz doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re trying to connect smart home devices, improve your WiFi range, or solve compatibility issues, the steps in this guide will help you make the switch successfully. Remember that both bands have their place – 2.4GHz for range and compatibility, 5GHz for speed and less interference. By setting up both bands with separate names, you get the best of both worlds.

If you’re still having trouble with your WiFi connection, check out our guide on WiFi Is Extremely Slow? Complete Fix Guide for more troubleshooting tips. For help with other network issues, our How to Fix Ping Spikes Permanently guide might also be useful.

Ready to get all your devices connected? Start by accessing your router settings and enabling that 2.4GHz band. Your smart home will thank you!