How to change the Wi-Fi frequency on Android: 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz – which to choose and how to set it up

Have you noticed that the Wi-Fi on your Android smartphone is slower than it could be? Or maybe some devices in your home connect to the network without any problems, but your phone stubbornly refuses to detect the router? The reason could be... Wi-Fi broadcast frequency — modern routers support two ranges: 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz, and each has its pros and cons. In this article, we'll explore how to manually switch between frequencies on Android, which router settings are responsible for this, and why sometimes a smartphone "doesn't want" to see the 5 GHz network.

Let's clarify right away: not all Android devices support range 5 GHzFor example, budget models or smartphones older than 5–7 years can only work on 2.4 GHz. The problem may also be in the router firmware - some older models (for example, TP-Link TL-WR740N or D-Link DIR-300) can't distribute Wi-Fi on two frequencies simultaneously. This is easy to check: if you only see one network in the list of available networks (without any add-ons like _5G or -5GHz), which means the router is not configured for dual-band.

In this article we will consider:

• 🔍 How to find out what Wi-Fi band your Android smartphone supports
• ⚙️ Step-by-step instructions for changing the frequency on your phone and in your router settings
• ⚡ Why 5 GHz can be slower than 2.4 GHz (and when it's normal)
• 🛠️ What to do if Android doesn't see the 5 GHz network or keeps disconnecting

How to check if your Android supports the 5GHz band

Before you try to change the frequency, make sure that your smartphone is capable of working on it. 5 GHzThere are several ways to check this:

1. View model specifications. Go to the manufacturer's website (for example, Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme) and find the technical specifications of your model. Look for lines like Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac or Dual-band Wi-Fi. If only specified 802.11 b/g/n - no 5 GHz support.
2. Check the list of available networks. If you see networks marked with _5G, 5GHz or simply second networks with the same name - the router distributes both ranges, and the phone “sees” them.
3. Use diagnostic apps. Utilities like WiFi Analyzer (available in Google Play) show all available networks and their frequencies. If there are no networks in the list, 5 GHz, the problem is either in the phone or in the router.

Please note: even if the smartphone supports 5 GHz, some firmware (especially on Chinese devices like Redmi or POCO) may limit this functionality in certain regions. In this case, changing the region in the phone settings or updating the firmware will help.

Which Android models DO NOT support 5GHz?

Popular models without 5 GHz support include:

- Samsung Galaxy J2 (2016) And J3 (2016)

- Xiaomi Redmi 4A/5A

- Huawei Y5 (2017) And Y6 (2018)

- Most smartphones are on a chip MediaTek MT6580 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 410

If your device is older than 2018, the chance of not having 5GHz is ~70%.

How to manually select Wi-Fi frequency on Android (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)

If the router distributes both networks (for example, MyWiFi And MyWiFi_5G), you can switch between them in two clicks:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Find the network marked in the list 5G or 5GHz (if not, see the next section).
3. Connect to it by entering the password (it is the same as for the main network 2.4 GHz, unless manually changed).

If there is only one network in the list without any marks, then the router is using aggregated SSID name (function Smart Connect or Band Steering). In this case, the phone automatically selects the frequency, and it cannot be changed manually. To separate the networks, you need to:

Open the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1)

Find a section Wi-Fi or Wireless network

Disable option Smart Connect or Band Steering

Save settings and reboot the router-->

Important: Once you separate the networks, you will have to connect to each of them separately. Some devices (e.g. smart light bulbs or printers) work only on 2.4 GHz, so keep this network turned on.

Configuring a router for proper 5 GHz operation on Android

If your Android smartphone doesn't see the network 5 GHz, the problem may be in your router settings. Here are the key parameters to check:

To change these settings:

1. Open the router's web interface (the address is usually indicated on the device's sticker).
2. Go to the section Wi-Fi → 5 GHz (or Additional settings).
3. Set the recommended values ​​from the table above.
4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

Why Android May Not See the 5GHz Network (and How to Fix It)

If the smartphone does not display networks on 5 GHz, although the router distributes them, the reasons may be the following:

• 📵 Hardware incompatibility. As mentioned earlier, older or budget models simply do not support this range.
• 🔒 Firmware limitations. Some manufacturers (eg Xiaomi (for the Chinese market) block 5 GHz software. The solution is to change the phone's region Europe or Global in the settings.
• 📡 Incorrect router settings. For example, you selected a channel that is prohibited in your country (see the table in the previous section).
• 🔄 Conflict with other networks. If there are many routers on the channels nearby 36–48, try switching to 149–165.

Critical feature: On some smartphones (eg. Samsung Galaxy A50 or Huawei P Smart) The 5 GHz option is disabled when the battery level is low (less than 15%) to save power. If you are testing the connection on a dead phone, charge it first.

2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz: Which Band is Better for Android?

The frequency you choose depends on your needs. Here's a comparison table:

When to choose 2.4 GHz:

• 🏠 You are far from the router (for example, in another room).
• 🔋 It is important for you to save battery power (laptops, tablets).
• 💡 Connect smart devices (most of them only work on 2.4 GHz).

When to choose 5 GHz:

• 🎮 You need maximum speed (online gaming, 4K streaming).
• 📱 You are close to the router (in the same room).
• 🚀 There are many devices in your home, and 2.4 GHz is overloaded.

Common problems when changing Wi-Fi frequencies and their solutions

Even after proper setup, difficulties may arise. Let's consider typical scenarios:

⚠️ Attention: If after connecting to 5 GHz the internet is slower than on 2.4 GHz, check if it is enabled on the router QoS (traffic prioritization). Sometimes it distributes speed incorrectly between ranges.

Problem 1: Android connects to 5GHz but speed is slow.

• 🔌 Check if it is turned on on your phone power saving mode - It can limit Wi-Fi speed.
• 📶 Try manually selecting a different channel on your router (for example, with 36 on 48).
• 🔄 Restart your router and phone—sometimes resetting the network settings cache helps.

Problem 2: 5GHz network keeps disconnecting.

• 📡 Reduce channel width with 80 MHz to 40 MHz or 20 MHz in the router settings.
• 🔋 Turn off the option on your phone Adaptive Wi-Fi (if any) - it can force switching to 2.4 GHz.
• 🛠️ Update your router firmware (especially relevant for TP-Link And Asus).

Problem 3: The phone sees 5 GHz, but does not connect.

• 🔒 Check if there is a problem in your router settings WPA3 - Some Android devices do not support this standard. Switch to WPA2-PSK.
• 📱 Reset network settings on your phone: Settings → Wi-Fi → [your network] → Remove, then reconnect.
• 🔄 Turn on and off Airplane mode for 10 seconds - this will reset the network modules.

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (for example, Zyxel Keenetic) function Quick switching between ranges may cause delays when changing frequencies. If you notice lag, disable it.

Additional ways to optimize Wi-Fi on Android

If you've already changed the frequency but the speed is still unsatisfactory, try these methods:

• 📶 Use Wi-Fi analysis apps. WiFi Analyzer or NetSpot will show which channels are the least loaded and help you choose the optimal one.
• 🔄 Enable the option Wi-Fi+ (on Samsung) or Dual Band Acceleration (on Xiaomi). It combines both ranges to increase speed.
• 🛡️ Disable VPN or proxy. They can artificially limit speed, especially at 5 GHz.
• 📱 Update your phone's firmware. New versions of Android often fix bugs with Wi-Fi modules.

For advanced users: If your Android supports ADB, you can manually set the priority for ranges. To do this:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and turn it on USB debugging.
2. Run the command:

   adb shell settings put global wifi_frequency_band 5

   (Where 5 — priority for 5 GHz, 2 — for 2.4 GHz).

3. Restart your phone.

This method does not work on all devices, but it can help if Android stubbornly refuses to connect to the required frequency.

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

My phone can't see the 5 GHz network, but the router is broadcasting it. What's wrong?

Your smartphone likely doesn't support this band. Check the model specifications or try connecting to 5 GHz from another device (laptop, tablet). If the second network is visible, the problem is with your phone. If not, configure your router (see the section above).

How do I know what frequency my Android is connected to right now?

Install the application WiFi Analyzer or Network Analyzer. In the section Connected networks the frequency will be indicated (for example, Channel: 6 (2.4 GHz) or Channel: 36 (5 GHz)). This information can also be seen in the phone's engineering menu (dial ##4636## and select Wi-Fi information).

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

This can happen for several reasons:

• 📶 Weak signal (5 GHz is worse at passing through walls).
• 🔌 The router automatically reduces speed due to interference.
• 📱 The power saving mode is enabled on the phone.

Try moving closer to the router or changing the channel to a less busy one (for example, with 36 on 149).

Is it possible to connect to 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the same time?

No, an Android device can only be connected to one Wi-Fi network at a time. However, some routers (e.g., Asus RT-AX88U) support technology Band Steering, which automatically switches devices between ranges depending on the load.

Will 5GHz work faster if I buy a new router?

Yes, but only if the new router supports modern standards (Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E) and your phone supports them too. For example, a router TP-Link Archer AX6000 at 5 GHz it can deliver speeds of up to 2400 Mbps, but only if the phone is equipped with a chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ or newer.