How to change the Wi-Fi frequency on a Samsung smartphone: from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz and back

Have you noticed that the internet on your Samsung Galaxy Is your router constantly slowing down, even though it's providing a stable signal? Or is it the other way around—high speed, but the signal is lost in the next room? The reason could be... incorrectly selected Wi-Fi frequency. Modern Samsung smartphones (from Galaxy S20 to S24 Ultra, series A And Z Fold/Flip) support two main frequencies: 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz, each of which has its own pros and cons.

On frequency 2.4 GHz The signal passes through walls and ceilings better, but the speed is lower, and the channels are often overloaded (especially in apartment buildings). 5 GHz It offers greater bandwidth and less interference, but its range is limited—the connection can drop out in distant rooms. In this article, we'll look at how Manually switch Wi-Fi frequency on Samsung, if your phone is stuck on a non-optimal range, and what to do if the network you need isn't showing up in the list.

It's important to understand that the problem isn't always with the phone. Sometimes The router does not broadcast both frequencies simultaneously. or uses a common SSID (network name) for both bands—then the smartphone itself chooses which frequency to connect to. We'll look at both scenarios: setup directly to Samsung and checking the router parameters.

Why doesn't my Samsung smartphone see the 5 GHz (or 2.4 GHz) network?

If the list of available networks shows only one frequency (for example, only 2.4 GHz), the reasons may be the following:

• 📡 The router does not support 5 GHz. - valid for older models (before standard) 802.11ac).
• ⚙️ The 5 GHz band is disabled in the router settings. - Some providers broadcast only by default 2.4 GHz.
• 🔄 Common SSID for both bands — the network has the same name (for example, “MyWiFi”), and the phone itself selects the frequency.
• 📱 Samsung firmware limitations - It's rare, but it happens that after updating Android, some models (for example, Galaxy J or M-series) are losing support 5 GHz.
• 🌐 Regional restrictions - in some countries (for example, in Japan) the range 5 GHz partially blocked.

Before you dig into your phone settings, check your router model and its current settings. If the router is dual-band (for example, TP-Link Archer C6, ASUS RT-AX55 or Keenetic), but the network 5 GHz not visible - most likely the problem is in the router configuration, not in the smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: On some Samsung models (especially budget ones, like Galaxy A03 or M12) the Wi-Fi module can only support 2.4 GHzCheck the specifications of your model on the official website. Samsung or in the documents for the phone.

How to check what frequency your Samsung is connected to

To find out what frequency your current connection is operating on, do the following:

1. Open Settings on the phone.
2. Go to the section Connections → Wi-Fi.
3. Tap on the name of your network (there will be a “⚙️” icon next to it).
4. Scroll down to the block Frequency or Speed - it will be indicated there 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

If this item is not there, use a third-party application, for example, WiFi Analyzer (available in Google Play). It will show all available networks, indicating their frequency, signal strength, and channel congestion. This will help determine whether your router is broadcasting on both frequencies and which one is less congested.

Manually switching Wi-Fi frequencies on a Samsung device: a step-by-step guide

If your router broadcasts both frequencies under different names (for example, "MyWiFi_2G" and "MyWiFi_5G"), switching is easy:

• 📲 Log in Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
• 🔍 Find the network with the required frequency in the list (the name usually contains an indication of 5G or 5 GHz).
• 🔑 Enter your password (if required) and connect.

If the network is the same but supports both frequencies (common SSID), you will have to set priority manually:

Check your phone's specifications for 5 GHz support.

Make sure the router is broadcasting both frequencies

Remember your Wi-Fi password

Disable automatic network connection (optional)-->

1. Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on the current network and select Forget (this will disable automatic connection).
3. Return to the list of networks and search for your network again. If the router uses a shared SSID, your phone will prompt you to select a frequency the first time you connect.
4. If there is no choice, reboot the router and try again.

On some firmware (for example, One UI 5.0+) you can force the frequency to be specified via hidden developer menu:

1. Enable developer mode: go to Settings → About phone → Software information and tap 7 times Build number.
2. Return to Settings → System → Developer options.
3. Find the option Aggressive Wi-Fi switching and turn it off.
4. Reconnect to the network.

⚠️ Attention: On models Galaxy S22/S23 With One UI 6.0 forced frequency selection can only work after resetting the network settings (Settings → General Management → Reset → Reset Network Settings).

Configuring your router to work correctly with Samsung

If the smartphone does not see 5 GHz or constantly "jumping" between frequencies, the problem may be in the router configuration. Here are the key parameters to check:

To change these settings:

1. Open the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Log in (login/password are indicated on the router sticker).
3. Go to the section Wi-Fi or Wireless network.
4. Adjust the parameters for each range separately.
5. Save the changes and reboot the router.

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (for example, from Rostelecom or BeelineWi-Fi settings may be hidden behind additional tabs or require SMS confirmation. If you can't find the options you need, consult your provider's instructions.

What to do if your Samsung phone won't connect to 5GHz

It happens that the phone connects to 5 GHz, but after a few minutes it “falls” back to 2.4 GHzThis is due to the algorithm. Band Steering, which tries to optimize the connection. To disable automatic switching:

• 🛠️ On the router: Find the option Band Steering (or Smart Connect) and disable it. This will force the router to broadcast 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz as separate networks.
• 📱 On the phone: Disable the feature Adaptive Wi-Fi in the settings (Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Advanced → Adaptive Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Update firmware: On some Samsung models (eg. Galaxy A71) bugs with frequency switching were fixed in updates One UI.

If the problem persists, check router regional settingsFor example, in Russia for 5 GHz channels available 36-64 And 149-165, and in Europe - only 36-64If the router is configured for the wrong region, some channels will be blocked, leading to unstable operation.

How to check the regional settings of a router?

In the router's web interface, find the section Wireless or Country/Region. Make sure your country is selected (e.g. Russia or Europe). If this option is missing, the router may be locked to a specific region (this applies to devices purchased abroad).

Features for different Samsung models

The process of changing the Wi-Fi frequency may differ depending on the phone model and version. One UIBelow are key details for popular series:

On Samsung smartphones with an Exynos chip (for example, Galaxy S22 (for the European market) may experience more stable operation at 5 GHz compared to Snapdragon models due to optimization of Wi-Fi drivers.

Alternative methods: if nothing helps

If the standard methods don't work, try the following solutions:

• 🔧 Reset network settings: Go to Settings → General Management → Reset → Reset Network SettingsThis will delete all saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, but it often solves connection problems.
• 📥 Firmware update: Outdated version One UI may contain bugs. Check for updates in Settings → Software Update.
• 🛠️ Changing DNS: Sometimes there are problems connecting to 5 GHz related to your DNS provider. Try using 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
• 📡 Using a repeater: If the signal 5 GHz weak, install a repeater that supports both ranges.

If none of the methods helped, the problem may be in hardware failure Wi-Fi module. In this case, contact the service center SamsungThe diagnostics will cost 1000-1500 ₽, repairs - from 3000 ₽ (depending on the model).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing Wi-Fi frequencies on Samsung devices

My Samsung isn't seeing the 5 GHz network, even though the router is broadcasting it. What's wrong?

There are several reasons:

• The phone does not support 5 GHz (relevant for older models).
• It's enabled in the router settings. Band Steering (network aggregation), and the smartphone “doesn’t see” a separate network 5 GHz.
• Regional restrictions (for example, the router is configured to USA, and the phone was bought for Europe).

Solution: Check your phone's specifications, turn it off Band Steering on the router and set the correct region.

How to force Samsung to always use 5GHz even if the signal is weak?

If the router broadcasts both frequencies under the same name (SSID), the phone will automatically switch. To avoid this:

1. Separate the networks on the router (for example, MyWiFi_2G And MyWiFi_5G).
2. Connect manually to MyWiFi_5G.
3. Turn it off Adaptive Wi-Fi in the phone settings.

After updating to One UI, my phone stopped detecting the 5 GHz band. What should I do?

This is a known issue with some updates. Try:

• Reset network settings (Settings → General Management → Reset).
• Roll back to the previous firmware version (if available).
• Contact support Samsung — patches were released for some models.

Can you use 6GHz on Samsung?

Range 6 GHz (standard Wi-Fi 6E) only support flagship models starting from Galaxy S21 Ultra (2021) and newer. To connect:

• Make sure your router supports it. Wi-Fi 6E (For example, ASUS RT-AX89X or Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500).
• Turn on 6 GHz in the router settings.
• Connect to the network manually - the phone should show the frequency 6 GHz in the connection information.

Why is the speed on 5 GHz slower than on 2.4 GHz?

This is paradoxical, but possible for the following reasons:

• Weak signal 5 GHz (for example, you are far from the router).
• Congested channel (check in WiFi Analyzer and change the channel on the router).
• Limitation from the provider (some tariffs “cut” the speed on 5 GHz).
• Incompatibility of standards (for example, the router operates in 802.11ac, and the phone only supports 802.11n on 5 GHz).