Router band steering can leave devices on slower Wi-Fi, Engadget reports

The report said a strong Wi-Fi signal does not necessarily reveal the problem. Most routers support the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, and newer models also broadcast a 6GHz band. Depending on how a network is configured, devices may switch automatically between frequencies, which can produce slower real-world speeds or poor connection reliability.

Each band has different strengths. The 2.4GHz band dates to the original Wi-Fi standard released in 1997 and remains common among smart home devices that can only use it. It penetrates walls and other obstacles better, making it the best choice for range, but it offers lower speed and more interference. The 5GHz band, available for nearly as long but mainstream only in the 2010s, can carry much more data, including gigabit speeds and potentially higher, but its higher frequency does not pass through obstacles as well, so devices cannot be too far from the router. Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 added the 6GHz band, continuing the trend of faster speeds with even more limited range.

Band steering combines two or more Wi-Fi frequencies under one network name, or SSID. In theory, routers and devices use it to pick the most appropriate frequency automatically. In practice, the report said, devices may stay on the 2.4GHz band instead of moving to 5GHz even when the latter is available and strong. Disabling band steering lets users choose which frequencies their devices use.

The report said disabling the feature is straightforward for users familiar with a router’s administration panel. The access URL and credentials are often printed on a label on the back or underside of the router, such as tplinkwifi.net or 192.168.0.1, and a companion smartphone app can be used instead. In the administration page, users should go to the Wi-Fi Settings or Wireless Settings section and look for a setting labeled Band Steering, Auto-Band Selection or Dynamic/Smart Connect, then disable it and save. The router may ask for a reboot to apply the change.

On many routers, disabling band steering automatically creates a second Wi-Fi network name, often with a suffix such as _5G to denote the 5GHz network. Routers that support 6GHz may create three networks in total. Users can go into the router’s Advanced wireless settings to change the SSID and password for each network, then reconnect each device to the preferred network.

The report’s author said a weak 5GHz signal from several rooms away delivered faster real-world speeds than a 2.4GHz network for a smartphone and laptop. Smart home devices benefit more from 2.4GHz range because they do not need fast speeds.

Some routers provided by internet service providers may not allow users to disable band steering. The report said users can usually bring their own Wi-Fi router or access point to avoid that limitation.

Most devices cannot communicate over the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at the same time, according to the report. That is starting to change with Multi-Link Operation, a feature introduced with Wi-Fi 7 that combines multiple frequency bands to improve bandwidth or reduce latency, depending on the use case.