To connect your PC to the WiFi network, usually, you just have to choose the router and then enter the respective password for it and get connected to the Wi-Fi.
But in the case of switching on 5 GHz WiFi on your computer, the process is a little more complicated.
To begin with, first, you should be aware of your router will support 5GHz.
There are several cases where one might be breaking one’s head as to why the Wi-Fi is not getting enabled after trying out all the steps.
The reason might be simple, that the router might not support it.
So, check with the instruction manuals that come with the router, or try logging in to the router and check in the settings tab.
Go to my Devices page and select your 5G Home Router, do the performance test, and select Measure Signal Strength to know if your router is compatible.
Start the test and once it’s completed, you’d see the signal strength for each device connected to the 5ghz Router.
Do your Wi-Fi standards go with 5 GHz?
After that, the next important step is to check your Wi-Fi standards as there are specific standards that will work on 5GHz.
Usually, all the 802.11ac, 802.11a, and 802.11n will support them.
In some 802.11n models, the preferred one is 2.4GHz. So if you have 802.11n, then you need to check if 5GHz will go with it.
There are routers that will not support both the frequencies at one given point in time.
Due to this fact, you might not be able to use the 5GHz. To avoid this, make sure all the devices in your Wi-Fi will support the 5GHz.
But in the case of dual-band routers, this will not be a problem. This is because the dual-band routers have the ability to run both radios at the same point in time.
There is a chance that the difference in frequencies might still affect the communication as at times, different frequencies will not be supported properly.
This problem is consistent when different devices of variable frequencies are connected to the same router.
In order to enable the 5GHz on your Wi-Fi after checking the requirements, you will have to follow the given procedure.
5GHz with Router and wireless adapter
As mentioned earlier, you will have to first check out if the model of your router will go with the 5GHz.
You can identify it by looking at the model itself. By going through the specific manufacturer’s site of the router you will be able to find out all about the router and the frequencies it will support.
Usually, if the router will support the 5GHz then it will be mentioned in the box.
In case you are not able to find it in the box, check for the terms under the ‘support’ option.
If it is mentioned that the adaptor will support 802.11a 5GHz then there is no research needed here.
Some adapters will have the terms given as ‘supports 802.11g 2.4GHz’. There are others that will support 802.11b 2.4GHz.
Then there are adaptors that will support both the 802.11n 2.4GHz as well as the 5GHz, but it might not be true for all cases.
There are other sets of adaptors that support 802.11c 5GHz.
Which Home Routers Will Support 5GHz
Routers that have the 802.11a/g/n and the 802.11ac will support the 5GHz.
Looking into the router with 802.11b/g/n there are chances that it might not work in which case the router will have to be updated.
Once you confirm that the router falls under this category and will support the 5GHz connection then the adapter has to be checked.
This can be done by checking the device manager. Device Manager can be opened by simply searching it in the search tab in the system.
The result will be a list of drivers. Now the Network Adapters under the device manager should be opened where your wireless adapter can be spotted.
Now check for the details regarding the radio band which is supported.
If there are no details regarding it, then try searching for this detail online on the manufacturer’s site.
In case the details about the radio band are mentioned then the issue might be with the hardware.
In this case, the adapter on the computer will have to be replaced with one that supports the 5GHz.
How to Enable 5GHz in the Device Manager’s Settings
Once you confirm that the hardware or the router is compatible with the 5GHz frequency, then there are chances that it might be disabled in the settings.
This can be changed easily. The first thing to do is to go to the device manager.
Then search for the wireless adapter under it.
Next, you will have to go to the properties bar which can be done by just right-clicking the wireless adapter option.
In the Advanced tab under the properties, go to the 802.11n mode. Click on the enable option and click ok.
Once you successfully complete this step then restart your computer in order to apply the changed settings.
This will show the 5GHz network in the Wi-Fi.
To avoid difficulties in this, apply some thought before buying your Wi-Fi adapter to make sure it runs at the said frequency.
Since, if the hardware is not compatible then the only option will be to change it.