Top 8 Ways to Fix Can’t Connect to 5GHz Frequency Band of Wi-Fi on Windows 11

Connecting your Windows 11 computer to a 5GHz frequency band on Wi-Fi network has several benefits, including faster data transfer speeds, reduced interference, and better network efficiency. However, you may not be able to reap these benefits if your Windows 11 PC won’t connect to 5GHz frequency band on Wi-Fi networks despite being in range.

This can happen for several reasons, ranging from compatibility issues to outdated network drivers. Instead of settling for lower speeds by connecting to a 2.4GHz frequency, try the following troubleshooting tips to fix the underlying problem.

1. Check if Your PC Supports the 5GHz Frequency Band

5GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi networks may not show up on your Windows 11 PC if it doesn’t support them. You can run a quick command to check if your PC supports the 5GHz frequency band.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Terminal from the list.

Step 2: Paste the following command in the console and press Enter.

netsh wlan show drivers

If you see 5GHz in the ‘Number of supported bands’ section, it means your PC supports 5GHz Wi-Fi connections.

2. Double Check the Credentials

This may seem like common knowledge, but entering an incorrect password could prevent you from connecting to a Wi-Fi network. It’s worth noting that dual-band Wi-Fi routers can set different passwords for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Hence, it’s a good idea to double-check the password you are entering before moving on to more advanced fixes.

3. Enable IPv6 on Your Computer

Another reason why you might encounter issues while connecting to a Wi-Fi network on Windows is if Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) is disabled. Here’s how to enable it.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type ncpa.cpl in the text box and hit Enter.

Step 2: In the Network Connections window, right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.

Step 3: Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Step 4: Tick the ‘Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)’ checkbox and hit OK.

4. Modify Network Adapter Preferences

Does your Windows 11 PC keep switching to a 2.4GHz frequency band? To avoid this, you can force Windows 11 to always connect to the 5GHz frequency band on any network that supports 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies. Here’s how.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the list.

Step 2: Double-click on Network adapters to expand it.

Step 3: Right-click on your network device and select Properties.

Step 4: Switch to the Advanced tab. Select Preferred Band, set the value to 5G first, and click OK.

5. Disable and Re-Enable Network Adapter

At times, temporary issues with the network adapter can also result in such anomalies. You can try disabling and re-enabling the network adapter on your PC to see if that solves the problem.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app. Choose the Network & internet tab from the left sidebar, click on Advanced network settings from the right pane.

Step 2: Click the Disable button next to your Wi-Fi adapter.

Step 3: Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Wait a few seconds and click the Enable option to re-enable the network adapter. After that, check if the issue is still there.

6. Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter

If re-enabling the network adapter proves ineffective, you can run the dedicated network adapter troubleshooter. It will scan your system for all network-related issues and attempt to resolve them.

Step 1: Click the Search icon on the taskbar, type in troubleshoot settings, and press Enter.

Step 2: Click on Other troubleshooters.

Step 3: Scroll down to locate the Network Adapter troubleshooter and click the Run button.

Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the troubleshooting process. After that, check if Windows can connect to 5GHz frequency band of your Wi-Fi network.

7. Update the Network Adapter Driver

Outdated network adapter drivers can lead to all kinds of Wi-Fi problems on Windows, including this one. Hence, it’s a good idea to ensure that your PC is running the latest network adapter driver.

Step 1: Press the Windows + S keyboard shortcut to open the search menu, type in device manager, and press Enter.

Step 2: Expand Network adapters, right-click on the relevant wireless network adapter from the list, and select Update driver.

From there, follow the on-screen instructions to update the wireless network driver.

8. Reset TCP/IP

The Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (or TCP/IP) help your Windows PC establish internet connectivity. If there is an issue with the TCP/IP stack, Windows may have trouble connecting to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. You can try resetting the TCP/IP stack to see if that restores normalcy.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the list.

Step 2: Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Step 3: Run the following commands in the console and press Enter after each one:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

Restart your PC after running the above commands. Following that, your Windows 11 PC should connect to 5GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi network.

Seize the Fast Lane

5GHz Wi-Fi frequency is ideal for high bandwidth activities like video streaming and online multiplayer gaming. Hence, it can be annoying when your Windows 11 PC won’t connect to 5GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi network. Hopefully, one of the above tips has proven useful, and Windows 11 can connect to 5GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi network without any problems.