Most WiFi adapters support multiple frequency bands, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. If needed, you can change the preferred band setting to have Windows prioritize a specific frequency band. By default, Windows chooses the best WiFi band based on availability and network requirements.
While this automatic selection is useful, there might be times when you want to use a specific frequency band for better speed or wider coverage. For example, I prefer the 5 GHz band over the older 2.4 GHz band due to its faster speeds. In such cases, you can adjust your WiFi adapter settings to set a preferred band. This quick and simple tutorial will show you how. Let’s get started.
Before You Begin
- Administrator rights are required to change the preferred band on Windows.
- The steps below are tested to work on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Set Preferred WiFi Frequency Band on Windows
- Right-click the Start button on the taskbar.
- Select the “Device Manager” option.
- Expand the “Network adapters” section.
- Right-click the WiFi adapter.
- Select the “Properties” option.
- Go to the “Advanced” section.
- Select the “Preferred Band” option under “Property”
- Select your preferred band in the “Value” dropdown.
- Click “OK“.
- With that, you’ve changed the preferred WiFi frequency band on Windows.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
First, we need to open the network adapter settings. To do that, right-click the Start button on your taskbar or press the “Windows key + R” shortcut. Next, select the “Device Manager” option from the flyout menu.
Expand the “Network Adapters” option in the Device Manager window. Next, find and right-click on your WiFi network adapter, and select the “Properties” option.
Go to the “Advanced” tab in the “Properties” window. Next, select the “Preferred band” option under the “Property” section.
On the right side, select your preferred frequency band from the “Value” dropdown menu. For instance, I want Windows to prefer using the 5 GHz band. So, I selected it. Click the “OK” button to save the change.
With that, you’ve changed the preferred WiFi band settings on Windows. Close the Device Manager window and restart your computer for the changes to effect. After restarting, Windows will automatically prefer selecting the WiFi with the selected frequency band.
Wrapping Up — Changing Preferred WiFi Band on Windows
In summary, you can easily change the preferred WiFi frequency band using the network adapter setting. Keep in mind that Windows will prioritize the preferred band when possible, but several factors can override that choice. Even if you set a preferred band, Windows may switch to the other band when the preferred band is no longer available, has poor signal strength, based on router configuration, and other network conditions. In that case, you might have to manually switch using the network flyout menu on the taskbar.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to help.
