How to Switch from 2.4GHz to 5GHz Wireless Network Adapter in Windows 10/8/7 [Tutorial]

Wireless adapters can operate in 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, also called bands in Windows. If you are having problems with your wireless connection, you can try specifying the preferred band.

Wi-Fi can operate on two different radio frequency bands: 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz.

With Microsoft's recent firmware update for the Surface Pro 3, among the new items was a new Marvell Wifi driver that lets you switch between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands on the fly. For those of us using a dual-band router, the updated driver should help resolve any associated issues.

The channels are a series of sub-bands operating in the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands. The 2.4 GHz band worked very well when the number of devices operating on this band was scarce, but with today's connected world, this band has become congested, degrading network performance.

The 5GHz band is much less congested, leading to less interference and higher data throughput speeds. If all your devices support it, you can force your router to only use the 5GHz band. To check your devices support for the 5 GHz band, you can consult your manual. You can also change the setting via the steps below on your router and check for devices that are no longer working. If all work after restarting your router, all your devices are compatible. However, the higher frequency band has a smaller range, so you need to make sure all your devices will be within range of the router, or you can invest in a repeater.

In an environment with other radiating devices nearby (such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, access points, or client devices), to reduce interference, you may prefer the 5 GHz band to the 2.4 GHz band, or vice versa.

This tutorial will apply to computers, laptops, desktops and tablets running Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7 operating systems. Works for all major computer manufacturers (Dell, HP, Acer, Asus , Toshiba, Lenovo, Samsung).

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