Setting up 5GHz Wi-Fi on the Honor 20: How to Enable and Troubleshoot Errors

Range 5 GHz In modern Wi-Fi networks, it provides higher data transfer rates and less interference compared to traditional 2.4 GHzHowever, many owners Honor 20 People are experiencing difficulties connecting to this band—the smartphone either doesn't detect the network or automatically switches to 2.4 GHz. The cause lies not only in the phone's settings, but also in the router configuration and the device's firmware.

In this article we will look at step-by-step instructions to enable 5 GHz support on Honor 20We'll check compatibility with your router and examine common issues that interfere with stable operation in this range. We'll pay special attention to hidden Android settings that the manufacturer doesn't always disclose in the standard interface.

If you've already tried connecting to 5 GHz without success, don't blame your smartphone. In 80% of cases, the problem can be resolved by adjusting your router settings or resetting your phone's network settings. Read on to learn how to do this correctly.

Why the Honor 20 doesn't see the 5 GHz network: the main reasons

Before we move on to the settings, it is important to understand why Honor 20 may ignore the 5 GHz band. Here are the key factors:

• 🔄 Automatic range selection In the router settings (Band Steering). Many modern routers combine 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under a single network name (SSID) and automatically decide which band to connect to. The algorithm often favors the more stable but slower 2.4 GHz.
• 📡 Incompatible Wi-Fi standards. Honor 20 supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, but if the router is operating in mode 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) With backward compatibility disabled, problems may arise.
• 🔒 Hidden region settingsIn some countries, the 5 GHz band is restricted by law (for example, channels 120–140 in Russia). If the router uses restricted channels, the smartphone won't see them.
• 🛠️ Software limitationsOlder versions of EMUI (below 9.1) may have had bugs with 5 GHz support. Also, some mobile operators block certain features in the firmware for their device versions.

One more nuance: Honor 20 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, but not all models work equally well with high 5 GHz channels (e.g., 149–165). If your router is configured for these channels, try changing them to lower ones (36–48).

⚠️ Attention: If you're using public Wi-Fi (at cafes or airports), the network administrator may have disabled 5 GHz broadcasting to save power or due to hardware limitations. In this case, there's no way to change this from your smartphone.

Honor 20 5GHz Support: Technical Specifications

Before setting up your smartphone, make sure it is capable of operating in the 5 GHz band. Honor 20 (model YAL-L21, YAL-L41) a chip is installed HiSilicon Kirin 980, which supports:

• 📶 Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
• 🔗 Standards: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (but not ax!)
• 📊 Maximum speed: up to 1.73 Gbps (in theory)
• 🔄 MIMO: 2×2 (two antennas for reception and transmission)

To confirm support on your device:

1. Open the app Settings → About the phone → Model details.
2. Check your device model (must start with YAL-).
3. Install the application WiFi Analyzer (or similar) and scan the airwaves. If networks marked with 5GHz, your smartphone sees them.

A critical point: if your Honor 20 was purchased from a carrier (e.g., MTS or Beeline), access to Wi-Fi settings may have been disabled in the firmware. In this case, the only solution is to flash the firmware to the official, "clean" version of EMUI.

Step-by-step instructions: how to enable 5 GHz on the Honor 20

If your smartphone supports 5 GHz but can't connect to the network, follow these instructions. We'll start with the simplest steps and gradually move on to more advanced settings.

Step 1: Separate SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz on the router

Most problems can be resolved on the router side. If your router broadcasts the same network name (SSID) for both bands, Honor 20 may automatically select 2.4 GHz. To avoid this:

1. Go to the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
2. Find the section Wi-Fi → Wireless network settings.
3. Disable the feature Smart Connect (or Band Steering).
4. Ask different names for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (for example, MyWiFi_2G And MyWiFi_5G).
5. Save the settings and reboot the router.

Step 2: Manually connect to the 5GHz network on the Honor 20

After splitting the SSID:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. In the list of available networks, find the one that ends in _5G (or similar).
3. Connect to it by entering the password.
4. After connecting, check the speed through Speedtest - If the indicators have increased, you have successfully connected to 5 GHz.

Step 3: Reset network settings on your smartphone

If your smartphone stubbornly doesn't detect the 5 GHz network, try resetting the network settings:

1. Go to Settings → System → Reset.
2. Select Reset network settings (do not confuse with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action and reboot the device.
4. After rebooting, reconnect to Wi-Fi.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting your network will delete all saved Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth settings, and VPN settings. Be sure to back up any important data beforehand.

Step 4: Checking Regional Settings (Advanced)

If your router uses 5 GHz channels that are prohibited in your region, Honor 20 won't see them. To fix this:

1. Install the application WiFi Analyzer and check what channel your 5 GHz network is broadcasting on.
2. If the channel is higher than 144 (for example, 149-165), go to your router settings and change it to 36-48 or 149-165 (if they are allowed in your country).
3. For Russia and Europe, secure channels are: 36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157, 161.

If your router doesn't allow you to select a channel manually, update its firmware or contact the manufacturer.

Configuring a router for stable operation with the Honor 20 at 5 GHz

Even if your smartphone connects to the 5 GHz band, the connection may be unstable. This is due to the router settings, which by default are optimized for universal compatibility rather than maximum performance. Here's what you can change:

1. Optimal Wi-Fi settings for the Honor 20

Recommended settings for your router (if your device supports them):

• 📡 Opening hours: 802.11a/n/ac (turn off 802.11ax, if it is enabled).
• 🔄 Channel width: 40 MHz (or 80 MHz, if the network is not overloaded).
• 🔒 Security type: WPA2-PSK (avoid WPA3, if there are problems with the connection).
• 📶 Transmission power: 100% (or High).

2. Disable Wi-Fi power saving on the Honor 20

By default, Android reduces Wi-Fi power consumption, which can lead to connection drops on the 5 GHz band. To fix this:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery settings.
2. Find the item Energy consumption optimization and disable it for apps that use Wi-Fi.
3. Turn on the mode High performance (if available).

3. Updating the router and smartphone firmware

Outdated software is a common cause of 5 GHz instability. Check your software versions:

• 📱 On Honor 20: Settings → System → Software update.
• 📡 On the router: chapter Administration → Firmware update.

⚠️ Attention: If the 5 GHz network is lost after updating your router's firmware, reset the router to factory settings and reconfigure it. New firmware versions may change the default settings.

How can I find out my router's current firmware?

The firmware version is usually indicated on a sticker on the bottom of the router or in the web interface under "System Status." If the firmware is older than 2022, it should be updated.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even after proper setup, problems may still arise. Let's look at common scenarios and how to resolve them.

1. Honor 20 sees the 5 GHz network, but doesn't connect.

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔑 Incorrect password: Make sure you enter the password specifically for the 5GHz network (if the SSIDs are separate).
• 🔄 IP conflict: Try manually setting the IP address in the connection settings (for example, 192.168.0.100).
• 📡 Channel congestion: Use WiFi Analyzerto find a less crowded 5 GHz channel.

2. Constant connection drops in 5 GHz

If the network connects and then disappears:

• 📶 Weak signal: 5 GHz has poorer penetration through walls. Try moving closer to the router or using a repeater.
• 🔋 Battery Saving: Disable Wi-Fi optimization in battery settings (see section above).
• 🔄 Interference from other devices: Microwaves, wireless mice, and Bluetooth devices can cause interference. Try changing the channel on your router.

3. After updating EMUI, the 5 GHz network disappeared.

If the problem appeared after the update:

• 🔄 Network reset: Perform a network settings reset (see instructions above).
• 📱 Firmware rollback: If the reset didn't help, try rolling back to the previous version of EMUI via HiSuite (official software from Huawei).
• 🛠️ Manual setup: Install the application WiFi Commander and manually specify the 5 GHz range.

Alternative ways to connect to 5 GHz

If standard methods don't work, try these options.

1. Using applications to force a connection

Some apps allow you to manually select a Wi-Fi band:

• 📱 WiFi Commander — allows you to specify the preferred range (2.4 or 5 GHz).
• 🔧 WiFi Analyzer — helps find free 5 GHz channels.
• 🛠️ NetMaster - Advanced network settings, including range priority.

Example of setting in WiFi Commander:

1. Open the app and select your network.
2. Click "Advanced" → "Band".
3. Select "5 GHz only".
4. Save and reconnect.

2. Changing settings through the engineering menu

For advanced users: in Honor 20 You can activate hidden Wi-Fi settings through the engineering menu. Be careful - Incorrect changes may disrupt the module's operation.

1. Open the app Telephone and enter the combination: ##2846579##.
2. Select ProjectMenu → Wi-Fi.
3. Find the parameter Country Code and install RU (for Russia) or US (for the maximum number of channels).
4. Save the settings and restart your phone.

⚠️ Attention: Change Country Code may violate your country's laws. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions.

3. Connecting via a 5 GHz access point

If your main router doesn't support 5 GHz, but you have a second router (or a smartphone that supports 5 GHz), you can set up a separate access point:

1. Configure the second router to use only the 5 GHz band (disable 2.4 GHz).
2. Connect Honor 20 to this network.
3. Use it for tasks that require high speed (such as 4K streaming).

2.4GHz vs. 5GHz: Which is Better for the Honor 20?

5 GHz isn't always the best choice. Here's a comparison chart to help you decide:

Optimal choice for Honor 20:

• 🎮 Gaming and Streaming: 5 GHz (less lag).
• 📱 Background work (messengers, mail): 2.4 GHz (saves battery).
• 🏠 Remote rooms: 2.4 GHz (best coverage).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about 5GHz on the Honor 20

My Honor 20 can't see the 5 GHz network, even though the router is broadcasting it. What's wrong?

Check:

1. Are the SSIDs for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz separated on the router?
2. Does your router use 5 GHz channels that are prohibited in your region (for example, 120–144 in Russia).
3. Is the firmware on your smartphone and router updated?
4. Is there any hardware damage to the Wi-Fi module (check if 2.4 GHz is working).

If nothing helps, try resetting the network settings on your phone.

How do I know what band my Honor 20 is connected to?

Install the application WiFi Analyzer or Network AnalyzerThe current connection information will indicate the range (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). You can also check the list of connected devices in your router settings—the range is usually indicated there.

Is it possible to use 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the same time on Honor 20?

No, a smartphone can only connect to one band at a time. However, some routers support Band Steering — Automatic switching between bands based on conditions. In this case, you'll be connected to the same network, but the router will automatically select the optimal band.

Why is 5GHz speed slower than 2.4GHz?

This can happen for several reasons:

• Weak 5 GHz signal (you are far from the router).
• Interference on the selected channel (check through WiFi Analyzer and change the channel).
• The router uses a narrow channel width (for example, 20 MHz instead of 40/80 MHz).
• Restrictions from the provider (for example, a tariff with a speed limit).

Try moving closer to the router or changing the channel to a less crowded one.

Will the Honor 20 support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)?

No, Honor 20 equipped with a chip Kirin 980, which only supports 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5). To work with Wi-Fi 6, you will need a smartphone with a chip Kirin 990 or newer (for example, Honor 30 or Honor V30).