Netgear Router 2.4 and 5GHz Not Working? – Fix Guide!

Is your Netgear router 2.4 and 5GHz not working? Let me share the proven solutions we used to resolve this issue.

When it comes to high-end networking devices, Netgear certainly ranks at the top.

Issues and errors can happen, and you can fix your router without 100% of the headaches by doing these troubleshooting steps.

Find out how you can do this!

To fix your Netgear’s WiFi bands not working properly, you want to turn it on by pressing the physical button on your device. You can also turn them on by accessing your router’s dashboard. Changing the WiFi channels you’re broadcasting helps ease the congestion and interference making your router work again.

Let’s examine why you’re experiencing this issue on your Netgear router. We can then move to the complete fixes so you can start enjoying your WiFi.

Why is My Netgear Router 2.4 and 5GHz Not Working

There are several factors you want to consider if you’re facing Netgear 2.4 GHz not working.

Setup issues are a primary concern, and using the wrong configuration can cause your router to stop broadcasting its WiFi signal.

It’s also possible that your WiFi is turned off, so you’ll need to activate it.

1. Not Set Up Properly

Certain configurations can stop your router from broadcasting its WiFi signal. You want to make sure you’re using the right settings.

2. WiFi is Turned Off

It’s possible to switch your Netgear router’s WiFi off. If it’s deactivated, you won’t be able to detect the network with your devices.

3. Signal Interference

Other devices in your home can mess up your WiFi signal. You want to minimize interference-inducing gadgets near your router.

4. Network Congestion

All WiFi networks use the same frequency to transmit their signals. If you live in an area with many wireless networks, congestion is a problem.

5. System Glitches Or Bugs

Temporary issues with your Netgear router can cause it to stop working and broadcasting its WiFi signal.

Now that you know the different problems you’re going to face with your Netgear router, we can get on with the complete fix guide.

Troubleshooting My Netgear WiFi Not Working

Before you attempt any more complicated solutions, let’s go for the simplest one first.

We recommend that you reboot your Netgear router first, which should eliminate any temporary error causes, saving you time and effort.

In case a reboot does not work out for you and your router does not broadcast its WiFi, here are the other solutions you can try out:

Solution #1: Press the WiFi Button on Your Netgear Router

Is your Netgear 2.4 GHz not working? Well, you may have disabled the WiFi on your router.

Most routers, including Netgear, have a physical WiFi button that you can use to turn it on or off.

It’s not the ideal setup where you can push a button to activate or deactivate it.

However, it sure does beat the alternative of logging into your router’s dashboard to turn it on or off.

Here’s how to toggle your WiFi by pushing the button on your router:

1. Look for the WiFi button found at the top of your router.
2. Press the WiFi button and hold for 2 seconds.
3. Wait for the WiFi LED light to switch off.
4. Press the WiFi button again and hold it.
5. The WiFi notification lights should turn on.

Tip: If you switch your WiFi off using the buttons, you will not be able to turn it on from your router’s interface.

Solution #2: Activate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Frequency Bands

Your router is set to broadcast WiFi by default. Also, both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands are also activated, so you can connect to them as soon as you power up your router.

However, there are instances when you can switch these off, and none of your devices can connect to your Netgear router.

If this happens, you will need to go into your router’s web interface and activate both WiFi bands. Doing this also allows you to turn on a specific band if you only want to activate one of them.

In our case, we want to make sure that both are switched on so our devices can connect to the router.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Open your web browser to log in to your router’s admin interface.
2. Go to the Advanced settings tab.
3. Select Advanced Setup.
4. Choose Wireless settings.
5. Scroll down and turn both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands on.

Note: Your router’s username is admin, and the password is the one you entered the first time you logged into your router’s admin interface.

Solution #3: Change Your Router’s WiFi Channels

If you’re having a hard time connecting to any of your router’s WiFi bands, you’re looking at a network congestion issue with your network.

The best way to deal with this and get your router working again would be to change the WiFi channels you are using.

You can choose which channel to use depending on your active WiFi band.

There are also default channels that these bands use, so we recommend that you manually select one that’s not a default option.

Here’s how to change the WiFi channel on your Netgear router:

1. Log in to your router’s admin interface.
2. Go to Wireless.
3. Scroll down to the band you want to change the channel.
4. For 2.4 GHz, we recommend selecting channels 1, 6, and 11.
5. For 5 GHz, use 36, 40, 48, 149, 153, or 161.

Note: You can check the interference levels using the WiFi Analytics tool on the Netgear router apps that you can get on your phone.

Solution #4: Reinstall Your Netgear Router

If your Netgear 5 GHz is not working, you’ll want to ensure that your router is installed properly.

Your router can be physically connected to your modem and other devices, but you’ll still need to configure it to switch on your WiFi and get it to work.

Netgear offers a user-friendly experience with their equipment, which shows with their Setup Wizard.

If you’re having issues connecting to your router’s WiFi, reinstall your router, allowing it to set up the network from scratch.

Here’s how you reinstall your Netgear router into your network:

1. Connect your modem to the WAN port on your Netgear router.
2. Log in to your router’s web interface via a web browser.
3. Go to the Advanced settings tab.
4. Select Setup Wizard.
5. Choose Yes to allow your router to connect to the internet.

Note: The Setup Wizard will do the rest of the work. You just need to set it up and let it go to work to configure your router automatically.

Solution #5: Update Your Router’s Firmware

Outdated firmware is one of the primary causes of your WiFi not working on your Netgear router.

The firmware controls all of your router’s functions, and if it’s not updated to the latest version, your router can suffer from different bugs and glitches.

The good news is that a firmware upgrade can fix all of that for you. Check if you’re running old firmware to get your 2.4 and 5 GHz WiFi working again.

If you find out you do, it’s time to update it.

Here’s how to update your router’s firmware:

1. Log in to your router’s web interface.
2. Select the Advanced settings tab.
3. Go to Administration or Settings.
4. Choose Firmware Update.
5. Click on Check to search for the latest firmware version.

Tip: If your router finds the latest update, you can click Yes to install it.

Solution #6: Reset Your Router to Factory Defaults

A router reset is one of the solutions that you want to keep in your back pocket.

Whenever you’re experiencing an issue that you can’t seem to resolve, it’s a handy solution to whip out.

It’s not the most elegant of solutions, but it sure can finish the job. Certain issues are incredibly stubborn that only a reset can fix.

Here’s how to reset your Netgear router:

1. Make sure that your router is switched on.
2. Find the Restore or Reset button at the back of your router.
3. Get a paperclip or a similar tool.
4. Press and hold the button for at least 7 seconds.
5. Release the button once the notification lights on your router start flashing.

Note: After the reset process is completed, you will need to log in to the web interface. The admin username is admin, and the password is password.

That’s it!

If your router’s 2.4 and 5 GHz suddenly stops working, you want to check the different router settings.

You can also contact Netgear’s customer support so they can help you out if there’s something wrong with your router.

Read Next: Why Is Netgear WiFi Extender Not Showing Up?

Bottom Line

Now that you know the various causes and fixes to your Netgear router 2.4 and 5GHz not working, you can get to work to resolve it in no time.

Follow these solutions, and you’ll be able to use your Netgear router for streaming, gaming, and a lot more.