How to Change Wi-Fi to 2.4GHz in 6 Steps (with Photos)

Key Points

• The two most common router frequencies are 2.4GHz and 5GHz, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
• The 2.4GHz frequency has a slower speed but can travel much further, making it a better choice for larger indoor areas and providing a better signal through walls.
• Changing the Wi-Fi frequency from 2.4GHz to 5GHz or vice versa can be done in 6 simple steps, including connecting to the Wi-Fi network, accessing the router’s interface, and changing the frequency settings.
• Knowing which frequency your Wi-Fi router is using can be found in the router’s interface or in the name of the router under available Wi-Fi networks.
• Switching to the 2.4GHz frequency can easily improve the range of your Wi-Fi without a noticeable difference in speed for regular use.

The two most common router frequencies are 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Just because 5 is a higher frequency doesn’t mean it’s better. Both frequencies have advantages and disadvantages and it depends on your needs which frequency is better for your Wi-Fi usage.

Changing the Wi-Fi from 2.4GHz to 5GHz can be tricky because every router has a different interface. Down below, we’ll break down the whole process into 6 simple steps so you can manage it easily in only a couple of minutes!

What is the Wi-Fi Frequency and Why Does it Matter?

The Wi-Fi frequency determines the quality of the transmitted Wi-Fi signal. The 2.4GHz frequency is slightly slower than the 5GHz frequency because the signal travels at a slower speed, but it can travel much further than the 5GHz frequency.

The 5GHz frequency is the exact opposite of the 2.4GHz frequency. The 5GHz frequency transmits internet speed much faster, but its range is much smaller compared to the 2.4GHz frequency.

There is no right or wrong frequency for your Wi-Fi and it only depends on your preferences. For many, the 2.4GHz frequency is a better choice because it can cover a much larger indoor area. It can even provide a better signal through walls, unlike the 5GHz frequency.

Whether you’re using the 5GHz frequency and want to switch to 2.4GHz, or you have no idea what frequency your router is on, read on to learn how to change your router’s frequency to the one you prefer more.

How to Change the Wi-Fi to 2.4GHz in 6 Steps

Changing the frequency of the router isn’t harmful and it’s a fairly simple process when you know what to do. You’re in luck because down below, we’ll break down the process in 6 simple steps with photos.

Step 1: Connect to Your Wi-Fi Network

First and foremost, you need to connect to your Wi-Fi network. Only when you’re connected to the router you can perform the other steps and change the frequency of your router.

You can connect to your Wi-Fi with a desktop or a laptop, and. you can even use a smartphone to follow the steps. We should also mention that it doesn’t matter if you’re connected to your router wirelessly or via Ethernet.

Step 2: Open the Router’s Address in Your Browser

No matter what device you use, open your browser and type in your router’s address. The address of the router is often 192.168.1.1, but it can vary depending on the router.

If you’re unsure about your router’s address, you can try some of the most common addresses:

• ​​192.168.1.2
• 192.168.0.1
• 192.168.2.1
• 192.168.11

Since the IP address of the router depends on the make and model, they’re often very similar. If you can’t guess your router’s IP address, you can find it printed on the back or the bottom of your router.

When you enter the correct IP address of your router, a page will load. This page is called the interface of the router, and when you see it, you can proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Log into the Router’s Interface

When you enter the address of the router into your browser and the router’s interface loads, you’ll see the login field. In this field, you’ll have to enter the username and password to access your router’s settings.

This is done for security reasons so no one but you can manage your router. The username and password are almost always different since it depends on the router’s make and model.

The best place to find your router’s username and password is on the back or the bottom of your router. Once you find the credentials, enter them into the router interface you visited in the previous step.

Step 4: Visit the Wireless Settings

The interface of each router varies depending on the brand and model. However, you should look for wireless settings or the Wi-Fi settings section.

You’ll know you found it because you will see settings and information about your Wi-Fi, such as the name, password, frequency, and even a list of connected devices.

Once you’re on the right page, head to the next step where you can change the frequency.

Step 5: Find the Frequency and Switch it to the 2.4GHz

On the page you opened earlier, you should see all settings you can manage for your Wi-Fi. Among these settings, you should see the frequency section and the frequency your router is currently set to.

This section should also be clickable and in the available dropdown menu, you should be able to select the frequency. However, keep in mind that some router interfaces will have a different section for each frequency.

Click on the dropdown menu and select the 2.4GHz frequency. After the selection, you should click the apply button, which is often located at the bottom of the settings page. If you forget to click the apply button, the frequency won’t be changed.

Step 6: Let the Router Restart

If you change the frequency and apply the setting, the router should reboot itself. On some router interfaces, you may even get a notification that the router is rebooting and whether or not you want to continue.

However, if your router doesn’t restart, you can restart it manually from the router interface.

How to Know Which Frequency Your Wi-Fi Router is Using

When you log into the router’s interface and go to wireless settings, you’ll see the current frequency. The frequency you see next to the setting is the one your router is currently set to. For some routers, the frequency is also displayed in the name of the router under the available Wi-Fi networks.

Wrapping Up

Changing the frequency of your router isn’t difficult. It’s recommended to check your router physically before you start the process because you’ll need the IP address and login credentials.

Once you have the information you need, you can log in and go directly to the Wi-Fi settings to make the change. This should take less than ten minutes and you can easily improve the range of your Wi-Fi by switching to 2.4GHz.

At most modern internet speeds, you shouldn’t even notice the speed difference between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency with regular use, but you’ll notice a much better range within your household.

Summary Table

The image featured at the top of this post is ©ANDRANIK HAKOBYAN/Shutterstock.com.