How to check which Wi-Fi frequency your phone supports: 2.4, 5 or 6 GHz?

Are you connecting to your home router, but your internet speed is slow? Or are you trying to set up a mesh system, but aren't sure if your smartphone can connect to the network? 5 GHz? The problem may lie in the incompatibility of Wi-Fi frequencies. Modern phones support the ranges 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and new models are also 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E), but how do you know which ones are available on your device?

In this article, we'll cover all the verification methods—from standard smartphone settings to specialized apps. You'll learn how to distinguish single-band phones (2.4 GHz only) versus dual-band (2.4 + 5 GHz), as well as what to do if your device doesn't see the 5 GHz network, even though it should support it according to its specifications. We'll pay special attention to the nuances for Android And iPhone, since the verification algorithms on these platforms are different.

Important: If you're planning on buying a new phone and want to check in advance about Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz) support, there's a table at the end of this article listing popular models and their capabilities. And for those who've already encountered connection issues, we've prepared a guide. FAQ block with answers to these questions.

1. Why is it important to know the supported Wi-Fi frequencies?

Ranges 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz They differ fundamentally in speed, range, and resistance to interference. Here are the key differences:

• 📶 2.4 GHz: long signal range, but low speed (up to 150–300 Mbps) and high channel congestion (interference from neighboring routers, microwaves, and Bluetooth devices).
• 🚀 5 GHz: speeds up to 1–2 Gbps (in Wi-Fi 5/6 standards), less interference, but signal penetration through walls is poorer. Ideal for online gaming and 4K streaming.
• ⚡ 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E): maximum speed (up to 5–10 Gbps) and minimal interference, but only supported by new flagships (since 2021) and routers.

If your phone does not support 5 GHz, you won't be able to connect to a network with this range, even if your router broadcasts it. This applies to:

• 🏠 Mesh system settings (e.g. Google Nest Wi-Fi or TP-Link Deco, where 5 GHz is often used for communication between nodes).
• 🎮 Online gaming on your phone (low ping is only possible on a 5 GHz network).
• 📺 Watching 4K/8K videos (2.4 GHz may not handle the bitrate).

Most budget smartphones (under 20,000 ₽) only support 2.4 GHz, even if the specifications indicate "Wi-Fi 802.11ac" - this is a standard that can work in both ranges, but the manufacturer sometimes limits the hardware.

2. Method 1: Check in your phone settings (Android)

On Android You can find out the supported frequencies without third-party apps. The instructions are valid for stock Android (for example, Google Pixel) and most shells (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS):

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on your network name (or click "More" / "⚙️").
3. Look at the line Frequency or Range. If it is indicated there 5 GHz - your phone supports this range.

If there is no such line, try another method:

1. Enable developer mode: go to Settings → About phone → Build number and tap on it 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → System → Developer Options.
3. Find the item Wi-Fi frequency band or Preferred Wi-Fi bandIf there is a possibility to choose 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz — the phone supports both.

Try connecting to the 5GHz network manually|

Install a Wi-Fi analyzer app|

Check the model specifications on the manufacturer's website|

Update your phone's firmware-->

⚠️ Attention: On some phones (eg. Xiaomi Redmi Note or Samsung Galaxy A-series) The band selection option may be hidden. This doesn't mean 5 GHz isn't supported—the manufacturer has simply blocked manual configuration.

3. Method 2: Checking via apps (Android)

If the default settings don't work, use specialized utilities. The best free options are:

• 🔍 WiFi Analyzer (from VREM Software) — shows all available networks and their frequencies. If your phone sees 5 GHz networks, it supports them.
• 📊 Network Analyzer — analyzes the signal and displays the ranges. Tab Access Points will show which networks are available.
• 🛠️ AIDA64 — in the section Network → Wi-Fi displays supported standards (eg 802.11a means 5 GHz support).

How to use WiFi Analyzer:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and go to the tab AP List (Access Points).
3. Look at the column FrequencyIf there are networks with channel numbers 36–165 - this is the 5 GHz range.

Example of display in AIDA64:

Wi-Fi standards:
- 802.11b (2.4 GHz)
- 802.11g (2.4 GHz)
- 802.11n (2.4/5 GHz)
- 802.11ac (5 GHz)

If there is one on the list 802.11ac or 802.11a - your phone supports 5 GHz.

What should I do if the app doesn't see 5 GHz networks?

This could mean:

1. Your phone does not support 5 GHz hardware.

2. The 5 GHz band is disabled in the router (check the router settings).

3. Some 5 GHz channels are restricted in your country (for example, 120-140 in Russia).

4. The phone firmware is out of date (update it).

4. Method 3: Checking on iPhone (iOS)

On iPhone There is no direct way to find out the supported frequencies in the settings, but there are workarounds:

• 📱 iPhone 6 and later models support 5 GHz (except iPhone SE 1st generation, which only works at 2.4 GHz).
• 🔄 If your iPhone won't connect to the 5GHz network, try forgetting the network (Settings → Wi-Fi → ⓘ → Forget this network) and reconnect.
• 🌐 Check it out official list of specifications from Apple (find your model).

How to force a 5GHz connection on iPhone:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Make sure your router is broadcasting two networks with different names (for example, MyWiFi_2G And MyWiFi_5G).
3. Select a network with 5G in the name (not to be confused with 5G mobile communications!).

⚠️ Attention: The iPhone doesn't have a dedicated switch for selecting a Wi-Fi band. The device automatically selects the optimal network, but sometimes it gets stuck on 2.4 GHz. In this case, restarting the phone or router will help.

5. Method 4: Check by phone model

If you don't want to dig into the settings, you can find the supported frequencies based on the model's specifications. To do this:

1. Find your exact phone model:
   • On Android: Settings → About phone → Model (For example, SM-A525F For Samsung Galaxy A52).
   • On iPhone: Settings → General → About → Model (For example, A2430 For iPhone 12).

Enter the model into the search engine with the query "[model] Wi-Fi bands" or check on the websites:

• 🌍 GSMArena (chapter Comms → WLAN).
• 📱 DeviceSpecifications.

Example of characteristics on GSMArena For Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G:

WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot

Here a And ac/6 indicate support for 5 GHz, and dual-band confirms two ranges.

Phone model	2.4 GHz support	5 GHz support	6 GHz support (Wi-Fi 6E)
iPhone 13 Pro	✅	✅	❌
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra	✅	✅	✅
Xiaomi Redmi 10	✅	✅	❌
Realme C30	✅	❌	❌
Google Pixel 7 Pro	✅	✅	✅

⚠️ Attention: Even if the specifications indicate "Wi-Fi 6", this does not guarantee support for 6 GHz. Standard 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) can operate in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. 6 GHz requires Wi-Fi 6E - it is only available in flagships from 2021.

6. Method 5: Practical connection check

The most reliable way is to try connecting to a 5 GHz network. To do this:

1. Make sure your router is broadcasting a 5 GHz network. Go to its settings (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and check:
   • 🔄 Is the mode enabled? Dual Band or 5 GHz.
   • 📡 The network name (SSID) for 5 GHz is different from 2.4 GHz (e.g. MyWiFi_5G).
• On your phone, find the network marked 5G (not to be confused with mobile 5G!) and connect to it.
• If the connection is successful, your phone supports 5 GHz.

If the 5 GHz network is not visible:

• 🔌 Restart your router and phone.
• 📶 Check if the 5 GHz network is hidden in your router settings.
• 🛠️ Update your router firmware (sometimes older versions of software do not broadcast 5 GHz correctly).

7. Common problems and solutions

Even if your phone supports 5 GHz, connection issues may still occur. Here are some examples:

• 🔄 The phone only connects to 2.4 GHz:
  • Check your router settings: sometimes 5 GHz is disabled by default.
  • In manual mode, select the 5 GHz network (if the router broadcasts two SSIDs).
  • Reset network settings on your phone (Settings → System → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi).
• 📵 The 5 GHz network drops out periodically.:
  • Change the 5 GHz channel in the router settings (recommended) 36, 40, 44, 48).
  • Reduce the channel width with 80 MHz to 40 MHz (will increase stability).
  • Update your router firmware.
• ⚡ Slow speed on 5 GHz:
  • Make sure your router supports it. 802.11ac or 802.11ax.
  • Check if power saving mode is enabled on your phone (it may limit Wi-Fi speed).
  • Move the router closer to the phone - 5 GHz does not penetrate walls well.

If all else fails, the problem may be a hardware issue with the phone's Wi-Fi module. In this case, only a service center can help.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

🔍 How do I know what Wi-Fi band my phone is using right now?

On Android install the application WiFi Analyzer and look at the current network - the frequency will be indicated there. iPhone This is impossible without jailbreaking, but you can guess based on the speed: if it is higher than 300 Mbps, it is most likely 5 GHz.

📱 Why can't my new phone detect the 5 GHz network?

Possible reasons:

• The 5 GHz band is disabled in the router (check the settings).
• Some 5 GHz channels are restricted in your country (for example, DFS channels 50–144 in Russia). Try setting the channel manually. 36–48.
• The phone firmware is out of date (please update it).
• Wi-Fi module hardware failure (contact service).

⚡ Is it possible to force the phone to always connect to 5 GHz?

On Android With root rights you can edit the file /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml, but this is risky. A safer option is to disable 2.4 GHz in your router settings or assign different names to the bands (for example, MyWiFi_2G And MyWiFi_5G). On iPhone forced range selection is not possible.

🌐 Which range is best for home use?

Depends on the tasks:

• 2.4 GHz — to cover a large area (for example, a country house) or connect smart devices (lamps, cameras).
• 5 GHz — for high-speed Internet (games, 4K streaming, file downloads).
• 6 GHz — if you have a flagship phone and a router with Wi-Fi 6E, as well as a lot of devices on the network (less interference).

The best option is - dualband router (2.4 + 5 GHz), which automatically switches devices between ranges.

🛠️ Is it possible to add 5GHz support to an old phone?

No, this is a hardware limitation. Wi-Fi bands are determined by the physical module in the phone. The only workaround is to use an external USB Wi-Fi adapter with 5 GHz support (for Android with OTG and root rights, which is inconvenient for everyday use).