Can 2.4GHz Devices Connect to 5GHz?

Wondering can 2.4GHz devices connect to 5GHz WiFi? Let’s find out!

Typically, the 2.4Ghz devices will not be able to discover nor connect to the 5Ghz broadband of your router.

However, there are ways to connect your 2.4Ghz device to the 5Ghz WiFi, by merging both WiFi’s into one, using an option on your router called “Smart Connect”.

In order to connect your 2.4Ghz device to the 5Ghz WiFi, you need to combine your WiFi broadband into one singular network via “Smart Connect”.

This will allow your device to connect and this way you’ll reach the device’s limits in regard to internet speed.

Let’s learn more about how the router’s WiFi work and how devices translate this!

Can You Force Connect a 2.4Ghz Device to 5Ghz WiFi?

Unfortunately, the straightforward answer is No. You can directly connect your 2.4 GHz device to the 5 GHz broadband of your router.

However, there is a workaround that will work since if your router supports 5Ghz WiFi, then surely it also supports the 2.4Ghz frequency!

2.4Ghz Frequency Vs 5Ghz Frequency?

The main difference between both WiFi frequencies is that the 2.4Ghz WiFi can only reach a maximum of 200Mbs internet speed.

If your internet is faster, hence your contractor supplies up to gigabit, you won’t be able to reach that speed on your 2.4Ghz WiFi.

In contrast, 5Ghz WiFi does support an even faster connection than a gigabit, but the WiFi range and connection stability are worse than the 2.4Ghz WiFi.

The faster broadband has a hard time traveling through more than one wall in our home so it’s based on the user’s circumstances.

The Solution?

In case you’ve got only one WiFi broadband, thus the 5Ghz network, you can still connect your devices to this WiFi.

However, we’re going to need to enter the router’s settings and find the “Smart Connect” feature, which will make our 5Ghz WiFi, eligible for 2.4Ghz devices!

The Benefit?

When you merge both your WiFi frequencies you will only have to remember 1 password for the WiFi of all your devices.

In addition, devices that support higher speeds will be able to withdraw more data packets from this combined WiFi, while 2.4 GHz devices will be capped at 200Mbps.

How To Connect 2.4 GHz Devices to 5GHz Network?

As we’ve already mentioned the only way to connect a 2.4Ghz device to the 5Ghz network is by enabling the “Smart Connect” feature on your router.

However, different router brands have this feature under a different name so we’ll review the most-popular router brands.

Enable TP-Link Router Smart Connect

On a TP-Link router, we can either enable the Smart Connect feature by reaching into the control panel or simply, use the Tether Application.

If you want to do this quickly you only need to download the Tether app which is available in both Google Play and App Store.

Can 2.4GHz Devices Connect to 5GHz?

1. Connect your smartphone to any WiFi frequency of your router.
2. Open the Tether application on your mobile device.
3. Tap on Device’s List and find your TP-Link router.
4. Then navigate to Wireless Settings.
5. Locate and toggle ON the Smart Connect feature.
6. Set an SSID and Password for your new WiFi.

In case both WiFi frequencies of your router are not merged, perform a restart by pressing the Power button on the back of your router.

When you’re ready you should be able to connect your 2.4Ghz device to the now-only WiFi frequency of your TP-Link router.

Enable Asus Router Smart Connect 

On an Asus router, enabling the Smart Connect is super easy because reaching into the control panel of the device does not require any technical steps.

The only thing that you’ll need is a computer connected to the router via WiFi or Ethernet cable.

Here’s how to enable Smart Connect on your Asus router:

1. On your computer, open any Online Browser.
2. Into the search field type “router.asus.com”.
3. Log in using the administrator account (“admin” for both).
4. When you’re logged in, from the menu on the left tap “Wireless”.
5. From there make sure that you’re on the General Tab.
6. Finally, toggle on the Enable Smart Connect feature!
7. Configure the Name and Password of your now merged WiFi.

If you’re unable to sign into your Asus router control panel by using “admin” for username and “admin” for the password, call your ISP.

Feel free to explain the feature you would like enabled and if your supplier policy does not allow users to enter the router’s control panel they’ll do it for you!

Note: If the Smart Connect is now enabled, you should be able to connect a 2.4 GHz device to the newly created WiFi.

Enable Huawei Router Smart Connect

In order to enable Smart Connect on our Huawei router, we’re going to need to enter the router’s control panel. It’s super easy so let’s jump straight in!

1. On a computer, laptop, or any device connected to the router.
2. Open an Online Browser of your choice.
3. Go to www.routerlogin.net.
4. Use admin/admin to sign into the control panel.
5. Once you see the Dashboard, tap on Wireless.
6. (On some models) Settings > Setup > Wireless Setup.
7. Then check the box next to Smary Connect.
8. Choose an SSID and Password for the new WiFi.
9. Tap on Apply to save the changes!

Don’t forget that if the settings were not applied, you might need to reboot your network router by pressing the power button or unplugging it from the power.

Once you can only see the new WiFi on your 2.4 GHz device, attempt to connect.

Enable Netgear Router Smart Connect

Can 2.4GHz devices connect to 5GHz on a Netgear router?

Yes, they can, by enabling Smart Connect which might take some additional steps since you’ll need a computer in order to discover the IP Address.

We’re going to explain everything in a step-by-step manner:

1. On your computer, open the Command Prompt (as Administrator).
2. When the prompt appears, type “ipconfig” and press Enter.
3. Copy the Default Gateway IP address from the list.
4. Open your favorite Online Browser and insert the copied IP.
5. Sign in by using – Username: admin & Password: password.
6. Once inside the Netgear control panel go to Advanced Settings.
7. From there tap on the Wireless Setup tab.
8. Lastly, find and enable the Smart Connect feature.

When you’re ready you can leave the Netgear control panel and attempt to connect your 2.4Ghz device to the now-merged network.

Your device would be able to reach its maximum speeds when connected to this network and if you’ve got 5Ghz devices, you can still hook them up!

Note: The steps above only apply to a Windows-operated machine!

Enable Linksys Router Smart Connect

On a Linksys router, we can easily reach the control panel and toggle on the Smart Connet feature but you’ll need a computer to do so.

One more thing to know before we start is that this computer has to be connected to your Linksys router via an Ethernet cable or WiFi adapter!

Here’s how to enable Smart Connect on a Linksys router:

1. On your computer open an Online Browser!
2. Insert the default Linksys router IP into the search field (192.168.1.1).
3. Tap Enter and insert admin/admin for the username and password.
4. Once you’re into the settings tap on Smart WiFi Tools.
5. From there select Wireless and tap on the circle next to Smart Connect.

When this feature is enabled you should be able to connect your 2.4Ghz device to the new WiFi, hence you no longer need to deal with 2 networks.

Also, if you were unable to enter the control panel of Linksys router ask for the login credentials by contacting your ISP.

Does My Router Have The “Smart Connect” Feature?

If you weren’t able to find your router in this guide, you can tell whether Smart Connect is there if your router supports both 2.4 GHz WiFi and 5 GHz WiFi.

While a router that only supports the slower 2.4Ghz WiFi frequency does not have Smart Connect since there is nothing to merge!

Quick Recap:

Now that we know can 2.4GHz devices connect to 5GHz, we’ve learned that the only way to activate this is by enabling the “Smart Connect” on our routers.

The feature is usually located in the router’s settings, which are accessed differently on each model.

We hope that this guide was helpful and for more relevant content, check out the blog!

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