How to Easily Switch Your Wi-Fi to 2.4GHz

As your personal Wi-Fi guru, let me start out by explaining the key differences between a 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi network. You may have heard these two frequencies before and wondered which one is better to use. This background will help illustrate why switching specifically to a 2.4GHz frequency can provide better wireless coverage in most homes.

2.4GHz vs 5GHz Wi-Fi – What‘s the Difference?

Wi-Fi networks operate on two major frequency bands – 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Just like with radio stations, these frequencies transmit data at different ranges and speeds. Let‘s break down how they compare:

2.4GHz

• Operates between 2.4 – 2.483GHz frequency range
• Supports older 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi devices
• Offers long range coverage indoors
• Can penetrate solid objects like walls
• Max speed of ~600Mbps

5GHz

• Operates between 5.15 – 5.825GHz frequency range
• Supports newest 802.11ac/ax Wi-Fi 6 devices
• Provides very short range coverage
• Struggles with walls and obstructions
• Max speed of ~1300Mbps

Now at first glance, you might think 5GHz is better – I mean, it‘s a higher number after all! But when it comes to Wi-Fi coverage inside your home, 2.4GHz has crucial advantages that make it the best choice for most people.

The 2.4GHz frequency band transmits much farther at longer ranges. This allows your router‘s wireless network to cover more ground, reaching all corners of your home without dead spots. That long range means it can also push through walls and obstacles far better than temperamental 5GHz signals.

Meanwhile, that 1300Mbps max speed on 5GHz looks great on paper. But in reality, peak speeds over 600Mbps only matter for large file transfers or connections to ultra-fast fiber optic internet. For normal web browsing, social media, and even 4K video streaming, 600Mbps over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi is more than enough.

Now that you understand the key differences between these two Wi-Fi frequencies, let‘s get you switched over to that reliable 2.4GHz wireless network.

Step-By-Step Guide to Changing Wi-Fi Frequency to 2.4GHz

Follow along below as I walk you through exactly how to change Wi-Fi frequency bands on any wireless router. I‘ll provide in-depth steps for all major router brands like Netgear, Linksys, and TP-Link with clear screenshots guiding you through the process.

Step 1 – Connect to Your Existing Wi-Fi Network

First, make sure you are connected to the current Wi-Fi network being broadcast by your wireless router at home. This wired or wireless connection allows you to access your router‘s settings to adjust the frequency band.

For example, if your router is currently using a 5GHz network, connect to that specific SSID it has assigned:

Connecting to existing 5GHz Wi-Fi on router

Or if you already have both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks running, just connect to whichever one your devices currently use for wireless access.

Step 2 – Access Your Router Interface

With your Wi-Fi connected, open any web browser and navigate to your router‘s IP address. This address allows you to access its administrative interface.

Most home routers use one of these default addresses:

• 192.168.0.1
• 192.168.1.1

Type that IP into the URL bar of your browser. For instance I would enter:

http://192.168.1.1

When prompted, enter your router‘s admin username and password to sign in. You can usually find these credentials printed on a sticker on your router itself.

If not, common default usernames are:

• admin
• root
• blank

While some of the most used default passwords are:

• admin
• password
• 1234
• blank

Admin login for router interface

Once logged into your router dashboard, you should see a variety of menus and wireless network settings to manage.

Step 3 – Navigate to Wireless Settings

On the router web interface, there will be different sections that allow you to configure various functions. Go ahead and click on the Wi-Fi or Wireless tab in the left-hand menu.

Here you can view and modify settings related specifically to your wireless LAN network. This includes your network names (SSIDs), Wi-Fi passwords, channels, and critically for our purposes – the wireless frequency bands.

Step 4 – Locate the Wireless Frequency Setting

Now it‘s time to zero in on the exact setting that controls the Wi-Fi frequency 2.4GHz vs 5GHz. But finding the specific menu or checkbox to do this depends a bit on your router‘s interface.

For example, some routers like the Netgear Nighthawk line have a very clear Wireless Settings page with a frequency band dropdown right at the top, making it easy:

Whereas more advanced interfaces like the Asus RT-AX86U bury it a bit deeper in the Professional category under Wireless Professional Settings:

And router tools like OpenWRT require navigating through several pages to modify interface-specific 2.4GHz settings:

So you may need to poke around a little bit before you find the exact menu. Fortunately most router brands try to make it reasonably easy to locate.

Step 5 – Switch Frequency to 2.4GHz

On the wireless configuration page from step 4, there will be a setting to actively select either 2.4GHz or 5GHz as the Wi-Fi frequency band.

As covered above, the specifics here might vary:

• A simple dropdown menu
• Separate network sections for 2.4GHz vs 5GHz
• Dedicated checkboxes or sliders to enable each one

However your router interface handles it, choose the option for 2.4GHz.

If there is a separate 5GHz option, go ahead and disable that network for now. Having both bands active at once can sometimes cause wireless interference issues. Stick to testing a single 2.4GHz network first.

Once you have 2.4GHz enabled and dialed in, feel free to enable 5GHz again as a secondary Wi-Fi network.

Finally, be sure to click Apply or Save at the bottom of the page after making your wireless changes! If you don‘t hit apply, your router won‘t actually update the settings.

Step 6 – Reboot Your Router

Changing such a core wireless setting like the frequency band often requires fully rebooting your router. This clears out previous config and restarts the Wi-Fi radio on the new 2.4GHz channels.

Some routers like the TP-Link Archer C5400X even display alerts about needing to reboot:

In any case, navigate to your router‘s interface and click the reboot, restart, or power cycle button after hitting apply.

This resets the device, and when it comes back up your new 2.4GHz wireless network will be broadcasting.

Now connect to that freshly configured 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and enjoy the strengthened signal as you roam around the house!

Comparing Wi-Fi Speeds Over 2.4GHz vs 5GHz Frequencies

As we discussed above, while 5GHz offers faster top theoretical throughput speeds, the 2.4GHz frequency is no slouch either on good routers that support modern standards.

Here is a comparison of max wireless speeds on paper over both frequency ranges:

However, real-world performance is often much lower than those maximum wireless connection speeds. Factors like signal strength, interference, and client device capabilities affect your download and upload rates.

During average web browsing and video streaming, most people find 200 – 500Mbps speeds more than adequate. And 2.4GHz networks can achieve those speeds these days, minimizing any performance gap next to 5GHz for basic functions.

Troubleshooting 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Issues

There are a few common things that can stop a smooth switchover to a 2.4GHz network. Try these troubleshooting steps if your new wireless frequency isn‘t working right:

• Double check that just the 2.4GHz band is enabled, with 5GHz disabled – having both simultaneously active can interfere.
• Confirm that you hit Apply/Save on the router interface menu after making changes.
• Attempt another full power cycle of unplugging the router for 10 seconds rather than a reboot.
• Try temporarily changing the 2.4GHz channel from Auto to a specific channel like 6 or 11 to avoid overlap from outside Wi-Fi networks.
• Perform a factory reset on the router software itself if settings are corrupted and preventing a band change.
• Scan nearby Wi-Fi networks with a tool like Wi-Fi Analyzer to check for congestion on the 2.4GHz channels. Pick the clearest one.

These steps should cover most scenarios when transitioning to 2.4GHz to resolve any wireless connectivity problems or speed issues that arise.

Answers to Your Frequently Asked 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Questions

Let‘s round up some of the questions I hear most often from friends setting up a 2.4GHz home network:

Why does my router have a 2.4GHz and 5GHz network?

This dual-band capability exists so the router can broadcast Wi-Fi on two frequencies at once. That way modern devices that only support 5GHz still have connectivity, while older 2.4GHz-only gadgets can join the 2.4GHz network automatically.

What channels should I use for 2.4GHz?

In most regions, available 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channels are limited to just 1 – 11 on non-overlapping frequencies. I recommend channels 1, 6 or 11 first as those are less crowded. Some routers offer a helpful auto channel selection mode as well.

My 2.4GHz signal won‘t reach across my house!

While 2.4GHz can penetrate objects better than 5GHz, its range isn‘t unlimited. Position the router centrally in your home, avoid interference from appliances, and use external antennas to provide complete house coverage. Consider mesh Wi-Fi systems or signal extenders for larger spaces.

I‘m happy to keep addressing any other wireless questions you think of when migrating over to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi!

Switch to Reliable 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Today

I hope this guide served as an easy-to-follow handbook for switching your home wireless frequency over to 2.4GHz bands in just a few quick steps.

Remember, while 2.4GHz may have slower maximum potential speeds on paper compared to fancy 5GHz networks, for real-world usage it delivers:

✅ Extended range and penetration through walls
✅ Support for both legacy and modern devices
✅ Reduced interference from household electronics
✅ No bottleneck for standard web browsing and video streaming

So take control of your existing router today by toggling the settings to run on a robust 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. Your devices will maintain connections anywhere in the home thanks to long range wireless coverage.

Let me know if you have any other Wi-Fi questions come up during your transition to 2.4GHz. I‘m always happy to help diagnose issues or provide optimization recommendations. Feel free to bookmark this guide as reference too for whenever you need to adjust those wireless settings again.