Turning Off Bluetooth Rarely Fixes Slow Wi-Fi, Engadget Explains
A new Engadget explainer says disabling Bluetooth usually won't speed up Wi-Fi, as interference only occurs on the 2.4 GHz band and modern devices use other frequencies.
Most modern client devices, including smartphones, laptops and TVs, connect to dual-band or tri-band routers on the 5 GHz or 6 GHz bands. They typically switch to the slower 2.4 GHz band only when walls or other physical barriers block the faster signals. Newer devices also adopt Wi-Fi coexistence logic, so Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can operate simultaneously without slowing each other down, according to Engadget.
For people who do experience congestion, the report recommends trying other fixes before turning off Bluetooth. A Wi-Fi analyzer app can identify the least congested channels, with channels 1, 6 and 11 offering the least interference on the 2.4 GHz band. Using shielded cables around the router and workstation can lower electromagnetic interference, and spreading devices farther apart can free bandwidth for equipment closest to the router.
Environmental factors matter as well. In dense apartment buildings or offices, neighbors' devices can affect a network, and concrete walls can create dead zones. Engadget suggests Wi-Fi extenders or mesh systems to address those issues, noting that these measures are more likely to resolve congestion than disabling Bluetooth. In most cases, Bluetooth devices no longer pose a real risk to home Wi-Fi.