Why you might want to use 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz

Your router broadcasts on two frequencies: 5GHz and 2.4GHz. The 5GHz band is faster but has shorter range and struggles through walls. The 2.4GHz band travels farther and penetrates obstacles better, which is why older devices, smart home gadgets, and anything in a distant room often work more reliably on it. If your devices keep dropping connection or won't connect at all, switching to 2.4GHz often fixes the problem.

Most modern routers broadcast both bands at once, so your phone might connect to 5GHz while your smart speaker uses 2.4GHz. But some devices only understand 2.4GHz — older tablets, some printers, certain smart home devices — and they straightforward cannot see a 5GHz-only network. Changing to 2.4GHz gives those devices a way to connect.

Key Takeaways

  • You access your router's settings through a web browser by typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into the address bar.
  • Log in with the username and password printed on your router's label or in the manual that came with it — not your WiFi password.
  • Look for a wireless settings or WiFi settings page where you can choose which bands to broadcast, then disable 5GHz or enable 2.4GHz only.
  • After you save changes, your router will restart and all devices will need to reconnect to the network.
  • If you want both bands available, create separate network names (SSIDs) for each so devices can pick the one that works best.

Finding your router's settings page

Open any web browser on a computer or phone connected to your WiFi. In the address bar at the top, type 192.168.1.1 and press Enter. If that does not work, try 192.168.0.1. One of these is your router's address on almost all home networks.

A login page will appear. Look at the sticker on the back or bottom of your router — it shows a default username and password. Type those in. If you changed the password before and cannot remember it, you will need to reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 seconds, which erases all your settings.

Once you are logged in, you should see a dashboard or home page. Look for a link or tab labeled Wireless, WiFi, Wireless Settings, or Advanced. Different router brands use different names, but they all have a place to control which frequencies broadcast.

Disabling 5GHz or switching to 2.4GHz only

In the wireless settings section, find the option for Band, Frequency Band, or 802.11 Mode. This is where you choose which frequencies your router sends out. You will see options like "2.4GHz only", "5GHz only", "2.4GHz and 5GHz", or "Dual Band".

Select 2.4GHz only if you want to turn off 5GHz completely. This forces all devices to use the longer-range 2.4GHz band. If you have newer devices that work better on 5GHz, this is not ideal — but it solves connection problems for older or distant devices.

After you make the change, look for a Save or explore button. Click it. Your router will restart, which takes 30 seconds to two minutes. During this time, your WiFi will disappear and come back. All your devices will lose connection and need to reconnect.

Broadcasting both bands with separate network names

If you have a mix of old and new devices, you do not have to choose one band. Instead, you can broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz with different network names so each device picks the one that works best for it.

In the wireless settings, look for SSID (the network name your devices see). Some routers let you set a separate SSID for each band. Name the 2.4GHz network something like "YourName-2.4" and the 5GHz network "YourName-5". When your devices scan for networks, they will see both and can connect to whichever one has the strongest signal.

If your router does not let you name them separately, it probably broadcasts both bands under one name and lets devices choose automatically. In that case, look for a setting called Band Steering or Smart Connect and turn it off. This prevents the router from forcing newer devices onto 5GHz when they would work better on 2.4GHz.

What to do if you cannot find the wireless settings

Some routers hide advanced settings behind a separate login or a different web address. Check the manual or the sticker on your router for the correct address — it might be something like routerlogin.net or myrouter.local instead of an IP address.

If your router has a mobile app (like the Netgear app, TP-Link Tether, or Asus app), you can often change bands through the app instead of a web browser. Open the app, find wireless or WiFi settings, and look for the same band or frequency options.

If you still cannot find it, write down your router's exact model number from the sticker and search online for "[model number] how to change band" or "[model number] 2.4GHz settings". Router manufacturers publish guides for every model, and a search usually finds the exact page you need.

Reconnecting your devices after the change

Once your router restarts and the WiFi comes back, your devices will not automatically reconnect. You need to manually reconnect each one. Go to your WiFi settings on each device, find your network name, and enter your WiFi password (the one you use to connect, not the router login password).

Devices usually remember the old connection and try to use it first, which can cause them to fail. If a device will not connect, go into its WiFi settings, find your network, and choose "Forget" or "Remove", then reconnect from scratch.

If a device still will not connect after you switch to 2.4GHz, the device itself may not support that band — which is rare but happens with very old equipment. In that case, you would need to switch back to dual band or 5GHz only.

Checking which band your devices are actually using

After reconnecting, you can verify that devices are on 2.4GHz by checking your router's connected devices list. Log back into the router settings and look for a page called Connected Devices, DHCP Clients, or Device List. Some routers show which band each device is using next to its name.

On your phone or computer, you can also see which band you are on by checking your WiFi details. On Windows, open Settings, go to Network and Internet, then WiFi, and click your network name — it shows the frequency. On Mac, hold Option and click the WiFi icon in the menu bar. On iPhone, go to Settings, WiFi, and tap the network name to see its details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will switching to 2.4GHz make my internet slower?

2.4GHz has a lower maximum speed than 5GHz, but most home internet is not fast enough to notice the difference. If your internet plan is 100 Mbps or less, you will not see any slowdown. If you have gigabit internet, 5GHz is noticeably faster — which is why you might want to keep both bands and let devices choose.

Do I need to change my WiFi password when I switch bands?

No. Your password stays the same. When you reconnect devices, use the same password you always have. The only password that changes is the router login password, which is different and printed on the router label.

Can I switch back to 5GHz if 2.4GHz does not fix my connection problem?

Yes. Log back into the router settings, change the band back to 5GHz or dual band, save, and wait for the router to restart. If 2.4GHz did not solve the problem, the issue is something else — like distance from the router, interference, or a device that is straightforward too old to work reliably.

What if my router does not have a 2.4GHz option?

Very new routers sometimes broadcast only 5GHz or 6GHz. If yours does not have a 2.4GHz option in the settings, it does not support that band at all. You would need a different router to connect older devices, or those devices need to be replaced.