Wi-Fi 7's Multi-Link Operation remains a promise, not a plug-and-play upgrade

MLO is new to the Wi-Fi 7 standard and is meant to let routers connect to multiple frequency bands at the same time and split internet traffic between them. In theory, that means faster speeds and more stable connections. In practice, according to Engadget, MLO remains a promise yet to be fulfilled.

The feature builds in some ways on band steering, which lets earlier routers switch between frequency bands automatically to offer the fastest connection. That switching is not always flawless: a router can get stuck on a crowded band and slow speeds, or move between bands and cause instability. Implemented properly, MLO would address both problems by sending a portion of data across all three bands at once, but several hurdles remain.

One problem is that MLO refers to two different implementations. Simultaneous Transit and Receive mode is the version frequently advertised, using multiple radios in the router to connect to several bands simultaneously. Enhanced Multi-Link Single Radio mode uses a single radio that constantly monitors all available bands and switches to the best available option without the signal interruptions sometimes caused by traditional band steering. In a February 2026 report, hardware testing site Rtings found that not a single Wi-Fi 7 router actually supported the full multi-radio version of MLO, Engadget reported.

Device compatibility raises further issues. Because Wi-Fi 7 is a new standard, anyone upgrading an existing network may be tempted to mix new routers with those still running Wi-Fi 6 or older versions. Only Wi-Fi 7 supports any form of MLO, so a device connected to a Wi-Fi 6 access point will not get any of the new standard's benefits. Not every device is set up to receive Wi-Fi 7 benefits even on a perfectly configured network. If a phone, laptop or network card is not Wi-Fi 7 compatible, it cannot use MLO features at all, and turning the feature on could introduce network instability.

Engadget said the ambiguity makes a blanket recommendation difficult. If a Wi-Fi 7 router is being added as just part of a network, or if there is no Wi-Fi 7 compatible device to receive the signal, which Engadget said applies to most people, it is safer to turn off MLO for now. If a user can commit to a full Wi-Fi 7 setup and has a top-of-the-line laptop ready to use it, it is worth testing the network with MLO turned on and off to see which option gives better performance.

How to enable or disable MLO depends on the router. UniFi and eero routers have MLO options in their router apps, while Linksys puts the MLO options in its routers' web interface. Most routers have MLO disabled by default because of incompatibility with older hardware, but at least some ASUS routers have MLO turned on by default, according to Engadget. The settings are worth checking to ensure the right option is selected.