How to change the Wi-Fi standard on a laptop: from 802.11b to Wi-Fi 6 (ax)

Wireless networks are evolving faster than we can update our devices. Your laptop may support the latest standard. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), but by default run on legacy 802.11n, limiting the speed to 300 Mbps instead of the possible 2.4 Gbps. Or vice versa: new routers sometimes refuse to connect to older adapters due to standard incompatibility.

In this article, we will look at how to manually change the Wi-Fi standard on laptops with Windows 10/11, macOS And Linux, why this might be necessary, and what pitfalls users face. You'll learn how to check your current connection standard, force a switch to a faster (or, conversely, compatible) one, and what to do if the desired mode simply isn't displayed in the settings.

Spoiler alert: in 90% of cases, the problem lies not with the laptop, but with the adapter drivers or router settings. But first things first.

Why change the Wi-Fi standard on a laptop?

The main reasons for changing the standard:

• 🚀 Increase speedTransition from 802.11n (max 300-450 Mbps) on 802.11ac (up to 1.3 Gbps) or Wi-Fi 6 (ax) (up to 2.4 Gbps) can double the throughput.
• 🔄 Compatibility with router. Old devices (eg. TP-Link TL-WR740N) do not support Wi-Fi 6, and new routers sometimes refuse to work with outdated standards due to security settings.
• 📶 Connection stabilityIn conditions of interference, the standard 802.11ax copes better with congested channels than 802.11n.
• ⚡ Energy efficiency. Wi-Fi 6 optimizes battery consumption on laptops using technology TWT (Target Wake Time).

However, a new standard isn't always the best choice. For example, in apartment buildings with a large number of networks 802.11n on frequency 2.4 GHz may prove more stable than 802.11ac on 5 GHz, due to better signal transmission through walls.

⚠️ Note: If your laptop was released before 2015, it most likely does not support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)Check the model specifications on the manufacturer's website - for example, Intel Wireless-AC 9560 supports ax, A Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 - only 802.11n.

How to check the current Wi-Fi standard on a laptop

Before changing anything, you need to understand which standard is currently in use. Verification methods vary depending on the operating system.

Windows 10/11

The fastest way is through Task Manager:

1. Click Ctrl + Shift + Escto open Task Manager.
2. Go to the tab Performance → Wi-Fi.
3. In the section Connection information look at the line Standard (For example, 802.11ac).

An alternative method is through Command line:

netsh wlan show interfaces

Look for the line Radio type (Radio type). The standard will be indicated there (for example, 802.11n) and frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

macOS

On MacBook Connection information can be obtained as follows:

1. Hold down the key Option (⌥) and click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
2. Find the line in the drop-down list PHY Mode - this is the current standard (for example, 802.11ac).

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

In the terminal, run:

iwconfig

Or for more detailed information:

iwlist wlan0 scanning | grep "Protocol"

Pay attention to the line Protocol:IEEE 802.11b/g/n - it will show the supported standards.

How to change the Wi-Fi standard in Windows 10/11

In Windows, the Wi-Fi standard setting is hidden in the adapter settings. Important: Not all drivers support manual switching. If the required option is not available, update your driver (more on that below).

Method 1: Via Device Manager

1. Click Win + X → select device Manager.
2. Expand the branch Network adapters → find your Wi-Fi adapter (for example, Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX200 or Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377).
3. Right click → Properties → tab Additionally.
4. On the list Property find one of the parameters:
   • Wireless Mode (or 802.11n/ac Wireless Mode)
   • Preferred Band (preferred frequency)
   • HT Mode (For 802.11n)

Example for adapter Intel:

Method 2: Via the manufacturer's software

Some adapters (eg from Killer Networking or Broadcom) require installation of proprietary software for advanced settings:

• 🖥️ Intel PROSet/Wireless Software — for adapters Intel.
• 🖥️ Killer Control Center — for adapters Killer (found in gaming laptops MSI, Alienware).
• 🖥️ Qualcomm Atheros Client Installation Program — for adapters Atheros.

These programs usually have a tab Advanced or Wireless Settings, where you can select the standard manually.

⚠️ Attention: If your Wi-Fi connection stops working after changing the standard, please reset the settings to their original state. Some adapters (e.g., Realtek RTL8188EE) may "freeze" when forced to switch to incompatible modes.

Download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website | Create a system restore point | Remember current adapter settings | Disable antivirus software (may block changes)

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Setting up the Wi-Fi standard on macOS

On MacBook Manual standard switching options are limited. Apple prefers to automatically select the optimal mode, but there are workarounds.

Method 1: Forced frequency selection (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)

Although the standard does not change directly, it can be forced MacBook connect to the required frequency:

1. Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal).
2. Enter the command to display current networks:

   /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport -s

3. Find your network in the list and pay attention to the column CHANNEL:
   • Channels 1–14 → 2.4 GHz (standards b/g/n).
   • Channels 36–165 → 5 GHz (standards a/n/ac/ax).

Method 2: Reset network settings

If MacBook stubbornly clings to the old standard, try resetting the settings:

1. Go to System Preferences → Network.
2. Select Wi-Fi → click Additionally.
3. Remove your network from the list Featured Networks.
4. Click OK → Apply.
5. Try reconnecting to the network—macOS may select a more modern standard.

On MacBooks with M1/M2 chips (2020 and newer), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is enabled automatically if the router supports it. Manual switching is not possible.

Changing the Wi-Fi Standard in Linux

In Linux, the standard setting depends on the driver and network manager (NetworkManager, wpa_supplicant). Let's consider the universal method through iwconfig And iw.

Method 1: Forced mode via iw

1. Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
2. Check the name of your Wi-Fi interface:

   ip a

   Usually it is wlan0, wlp3s0 or something similar.

3. Find out the supported standards:

   iw list | grep -A 10 "Supported interface modes"

4. Force a standard (eg. 802.11ac):

   sudo iw dev wlan0 set type managed

   sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode 802.11a

   Replace 802.11a to the required standard:

   • 802.11b - only b (obsolete).
   • 802.11g - only g.
   • 802.11n — n (recommended for compatibility).
   • 802.11ac — ac (for 5 GHz).

sudo nmcli con down "NetworkName" && sudo nmcli con up "NetworkName"

Method 2: Configuration via wpa_supplicant config

If you use wpa_supplicant, add to the config (/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf) line:

disable_80211r=1
ieee80211w=1
Forced mode (example for 802.11n):
hw_mode=a

After saving, restart the service:

sudo systemctl restart wpa_supplicant

⚠️ Note: On some distributions (e.g. Ubuntu 22.04+) manual change of the standard may conflict with NetworkManagerIn this case, use the graphical interface. nmtui or disable automatic control:

sudo nmcli radio wifi off

If the required standard is not available in the settings

Common problem: there are no available standards in the list 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 6, even though the adapter supports them. Causes and solutions:

How to update your Wi-Fi adapter driver

For Windows:

1. Download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website:
   • 🔗 Intel: downloadcenter.intel.com
   • 🔗 Realtek: realtek.com
   • 🔗 Qualcomm Atheros: qualcomm.com

For Linux:

# Updating drivers for Intel adapters
sudo apt update
sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifi

For Broadcom
sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer

Optimizing your router for the new standard

Changing the standard on your laptop is only half the battle. To get maximum speed, your router also needs to be configured.

Router settings for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

1. Log into your router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
2. Go to the section Wireless Settings (or Wireless network).
3. Set the following parameters:
   • 📶 Wireless Mode: 802.11ax (or 802.11ac/ax mixed).
   • 🔒 Security: WPA2/WPA3-Personal (do not use WEP or WPA).
   • 📊 Channel Width: 80 MHz (For 5 GHz) or 20/40 MHz (For 2.4 GHz).
   • 🎯 Beamforming And MU-MIMO: Turn on (improves coverage and speed for multiple devices).

How to check if your router supports Wi-Fi 6

If there is no option in the router settings 802.11ax, check its specifications. Here is a list of popular models that support Wi-Fi 6:

• 📡 ASUS RT-AX88U
• 📡 TP-Link Archer AX6000
• 📡 Netgear Nighthawk RAX80
• 📡 Xiaomi AIoT Router AX3600
• 📡 Keenetic Ultra (KN-1810)

If your router does not support Wi-Fi 6, but you want to take advantage of its benefits, consider buying a new router or Mesh systems (For example, TP-Link Deco X60).

Common mistakes and their solutions

When switching Wi-Fi standards, users encounter typical problems. Let's look at the most common ones.

Error 1: No network connection after changing the standard

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Incompatibility with the router: Reset the adapter settings to their original state and check which standard the router supports (see its instructions).
• 🔄 Reset network settings: In Windows, run:

  netsh winsock reset
  netsh int ip reset

  Then restart your laptop.

• 🛠️ Driver conflict: Uninstall the current driver and install the version from the manufacturer's website (not via Windows Update!).

Error 2: Low speed despite 802.11ac/ax configuration

If the speed has not increased after switching to 802.11ac or ax, check:

• 📡 Router channel: Use a Wi-Fi analyzer (eg. Wi-Fi Analyzer for Android or NetSpot for Windows) to select the least congested channel.
• 📶 Channel width: In the router settings, set 80 MHz For 5 GHz (if supported).
• 🔗 Connection type: Make sure your laptop is connected to 5 GHz, and not to 2.4 GHz (even if the standard 802.11ac included, on 2.4 GHz it won't work).
• 🛡️ Firewall/antivirus: Temporarily disable them and check the speed again.

Error 3: The adapter does not see 5 GHz networks

If the list of available networks only shows 2.4 GHz:

1. Check if your adapter supports it 5 GHz (see model specifications).
2. In Windows, open device Manager → adapter properties → tab Additionally → find the parameter Preferred Band and install 5 GHz first or Auto.
3. On your router, make sure that 5 GHz enabled (sometimes it is disabled by default).

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions