2-4 GHz Not Working 5GHz Working? – Here’s How to Fix

You recently discovered that your 2-4 GHz not working 5GHz working. Don’t worry if you get this error. You’ll find the complete solutions to fix it here!

Your router will normally have the 2.4 GHz enabled by default. If it doesn’t work, but its 5 GHz band is working, you’ll need to take a closer look at it.

Following the different steps, you can get it up and running in under 10 minutes.

Let’s find out how you can get it to work again!

To fix 2-4 GHz not working 5GHz working, you will need to go into your router’s settings. You want to change to a less congested channel than the default ones. You also want to check your router’s MAC address filters, as you may have blocked your devices.

Before attempting to fix this issue, I recommend we dive deeper into the causes of this error.

The better you understand it, the easier you can troubleshoot it by performing the right steps.

What Causes 2.4 GHz Not Working But 5 GHz Is

The 2.4GHz is your router’s default frequency band. Even if you have a dual-band router, it’s usually the 5GHz that’s not enabled.

If you can’t connect to the 2.4GHz band, it can be a problem if you have many smart devices that rely on this frequency.

Let’s find out the different causes of this issue so you can troubleshoot it more effectively.

✅ 2.4GHz radio is disabled – Glitches can occur on your router, which can cause changes in some of its configurations. The 2.4GHz band can be disabled, not allowing devices to connect to it.

✅ Router is blocking your device – Your router has a list of MAC addresses that can block network access. You want to check if your device is on the list and remove it.

✅ Congested network – Since the 2.4GHz band is the most common, it’s also shared between different WiFi networks. If you’re in an area with many wireless networks, it can get congested and cause your devices not to connect properly.

✅ Password encryption – WiFi passwords and encryption methods can cause you to not connect to the 2.4GHz band.

Let’s now proceed to the full solutions for resolving this error with your router’s 2.4GHz connection in no time.

Full Solutions to 2.4 G WiFi Not Working

If your devices suddenly stop connecting to the 2.4GHz band of your router, don’t panic.

Try connecting to the 5GHz frequency to ensure there’s nothing else wrong with your router.

After confirming that your router can still take in connections, you want to perform a soft reboot.

A more thorough alternative to this would be to perform a power cycle on your router by unplugging it from the wall socket. Leave it unplugged for a couple of minutes and switch it on again.

In most cases, these two quick steps should fix this issue immediately. However, you will need to perform more advanced solutions if it doesn’t.

Solution #1: Switch on the 2.4 GHz Radio on Your Router

You will need to access your router’s admin dashboard whenever the basic troubleshooting steps don’t work.

This is where you’ll be able to change your router’s configuration and fix any software issues it’s currently experiencing.

Once logged in, the first setting you need to check is if the 2.4GHz radio on your router is switched off.

Bugs and glitches on your router’s firmware can cause this, and you’ll have to switch it on to fix it manually.

Here’s how to turn on your router’s 2.4GHz radio:

Finding your router’s IP address:

1. Right-click on your computer’s Start Menu.
2. Select Command Prompt (Admin) to launch the terminal window.
3. On the window, type in ipconfig.
4. Look for the line that says Default Gateway.
5. List down the IP address opposite it.

Turning on your router’s 2.4GHz radio:

1. Open a web browser and type in your router’s IP address.
2. Enter your router’s login information.
3. Navigate to Wireless or Connections, then WiFi.
4. Find the 2.4GHz section.
5. Enable the option that says 2.4GHz WiFi.

Pro Tip: If you don’t know your router’s credentials, you can check on the sticker on the underside of your device, as it’s usually printed there.

Solution #2: Change the 802.11 Mode on Your Router

Your router’s 802.11 or wireless mode determines the type of connections it makes with your other devices.

You can choose several options, depending on your devices. You want to select one that’s compatible with all of them.

If there are compatibility problems, some devices cannot connect to your router.

Here’s how to change the wireless mode on your router:

1. Go to your router’s admin dashboard.
2. Select Setup, then Wireless Setting.
3. Scroll down and find 802.11 or Wireless Mode.
4. Change the mode to 802.11n.

Note: 802.11ac is the faster choice, but some smart home devices cannot connect to it.

Solution #3: Switch to a Non-Default Channel on the 2.4 GHz Band

WiFi channels are also a different setting that you want to change if you experience issues with connecting to your router’s 2.4GHz band.

You can consider channels as different lanes on a highway. Some lanes will be congested, while others won’t have much traffic running through them.

Here’s how to switch your router’s WiFi channels:

1. Log in to your router’s admin dashboard.
2. Go to Settings, then Wireless.
3. Scroll down to the 2.4GHz section.
4. Click the Channel drop-down menu.
5. Change the channel to 1, 6, or 11.

Note: You can also choose other channels to see which one works.

Solution #4: Change the Encryption Type of Your Network to WPA2

The encryption type on your router refers to security and how it can keep your network safe from hackers.

Your router uses different encryption protocols, each with different levels of security.

Not using the most secure one can cause issues with your connections. WPA2 is considered the gold standard, and you want to use it as much as possible.

Here’s how to change the encryption type of your router:

1. Log in to your router’s dashboard.
2. Go to Wireless Settings, then Security.
3. On the Encryption option drop-down menu, choose WPA2-PSK.
4. Create a new password for your network.

Note: It’s recommended to restart your router after changing the encryption type and password.

Solution #5: Reset the Network Settings on Your Device

It’s not all the time that your router is the culprit if your devices can’t connect to the 2.4GHz. You also want to take a closer look at your device and consider issues that relate to it.

One of the most common issues you will face with your phone or computer’s network connections is a glitch with its settings.

You can easily flush this by resetting the network settings on your device. Doing this will allow your device to request new connection configurations from your router to create a brand-new connection.

Here’s how to reset the network settings on your device:

On iPhone:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Go to General, then Reset.
3. Tap on Reset Network Settings on the pop-up menu.
4. Turn on your device’s WiFi.
5. Connect to your router.

On Android:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Select System, then Advanced.
3. Choose Reset options.
4. Tap on Reset network settings.
5. Confirm by selecting Reset Settings.

On Windows:

1. Click on the Start button, then Settings.
2. Go to Network and Internet.
3. Choose Advanced Network Settings.
4. Select Network Reset.

Tip: Your previous network configurations will be deleted, so you need to reconnect and enter your WiFi password.

Solution #6: Remove Your Router’s MAC Address Filters

Finally, if none of the solutions work out, you will want to consider that your router is blocking your devices.

To resolve this, you will need to check your router’s MAC address filters and remove devices from the blacklist.

Here’s how to remove your router’s MAC address filters:

1. Log in to your router’s admin dashboard.
2. Go to Wireless Settings, then MAC Filter.
3. Choose the 2.4GHz band.
4. Select the Disable option to turn it off.
5. Confirm by connecting your devices to your router’s 2.4 GHz band.

Note: If you can’t disable your router’s MAC filters, you can remove devices from the list to allow them to connect to your router.

These steps should help you resolve this problem in no time. There are instances when you still can’t figure out what’s wrong with your network.

If this is the case, you want to consider updating your router’s firmware to the latest version. Resetting it to factory settings will also help in resolving this issue.

Bottom Line

There you have it, the full solutions whenever your 2-4 GHz not working 5GHz working.

You can rely on 5G WiFi any time, but if you have a lot of smart home devices in your home, you want to be able to connect to 2.4GHz and use it.

Read Next: Why Does My WiFi Say Disabled?