Most routers made in the past several years broadcast on two frequency bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. They show up as separate Wi-Fi networks (unless your router combines them under one name). Knowing which to use for each device makes your network work better.
The Key Difference
- 2.4GHz: Longer range, better at penetrating walls, but slower maximum speed and more congested (microwaves, baby monitors, and neighbours’ Wi-Fi all share this band).
- 5GHz: Shorter range, does not penetrate walls as well, but significantly faster and much less congested.
Which Should You Use?
Use 5GHz when you are close to the router and need speed — streaming 4K video, video calls, gaming, or transferring large files.
Use 2.4GHz when you are far from the router, on a different floor, or using a device that only needs basic connectivity — smart home sensors, older tablets, printers.
How to Switch on Windows
- Click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar.
- You will see two networks from your router — one ending in 2.4G or nothing (the slower one), and one ending in 5G (the faster one). Your router’s sticker or admin page will show you the exact names.
- Click the 5GHz network, enter the password, and connect.
How to Switch on iPhone or Android
Go to Settings → Wi-Fi and look for both network names. Tap the 5GHz one. If they share the same name (band steering), your phone will pick automatically — but you can force a band by temporarily disabling one in the router admin page.
What About 6GHz (Wi-Fi 6E)?
Newer routers support a third band — 6GHz. This offers even higher speeds and almost no congestion, but only works within relatively close range of the router and requires a Wi-Fi 6E device to take advantage of it.
Naming the Bands Separately
Log into your router admin page and give the two bands different names (for example, “HomeNetwork” and “HomeNetwork-5G”). This makes it easy to deliberately choose which one each device connects to. Need help doing that? Ask us.