Let me share with you the exact steps you need to do if your TP-Link extender 5GHz not working.
We’ve recently had some issues with our TP-Link extender that it’s unable to use and broadcast the 5GHz signal.
We searched for every inch of our network’s configuration and figured out the most effective method to fix this in under 10 minutes.
Here’s how we did it!
To fix your TP-Link extender’s 5GHz not working, you want to move it closer to your router. You also want to make sure that 5G WiFi is enabled on your router and the extender. Additionally, you can also use channels that are not congested, so your devices will be able to use 5GHz WiFi.
Now that you have an idea of how to resolve this issue let’s first look at some of the reasons why this can happen in the first place.
This should give you a better insight into how your network and 5G WiFi work.
Why TP-Link Extender Can’t Find 5GHz
There are several reasons why your TP-Link extender can’t find the 5GHz signal from your router. The primary culprit is that the radio module is disabled on your router.
It can also be caused by network congestion and signal interference, making it hard to connect to it.
If your extender is not set up properly, it won’t detect your router’s 5GHz WiFi network.
Let’s take a look at the exact causes of this issue so you’ll be able to prepare for the fixes.
1. 5GHz Disabled on Your Router
You might not have noticed it, but you were not using 5G WiFi all along. If you put in an extender with your 5GHz not broadcasting, it won’t be able to find and connect to it.
2. Network Congestion
WiFi uses the same frequencies and channels for all networks in your area.
If you live in a densely populated area, you might experience network congestion in the form of malfunctioning WiFi.
3. Signal Interference
There are a lot of interference sources that can affect WiFi signals. Microwaves, baby monitors, and even your TV can cause interruptions.
4. Compatibility Issues
It’s possible that you got a 5G WiFi-enabled extender, but your router isn’t dual-band. You want to make sure that your devices are compatible to avoid duplicates.
5. Outdated Firmware
Firmware can affect how your hardware performs. If you have not updated your device’s firmware for a while, it can experience issues and even disconnections.
Knowing the causes can give you a better understanding of this particular issue.
This will allow you to perform the troubleshooting steps effectively, so you’ll be able to resolve this as soon as possible.
How to Fix TP-Link Extender 5GHz Not Working
Before you go about going deep into your router and extender’s configuration, we recommend rebooting both your router and extender.
If these are already connected, a quick reboot should do the trick.
This will allow your router to reconnect to the internet and your extender to request a new IP address and connection.
This quick and effective fix will only take a couple of minutes. If this works, you’re going to be saving quite a lot of time and effort.
In case your TP-Link extender not detecting 5GHz still, here are the other steps you can try:
Solution #1: Power Cycle Your Router and Extender
If rebooting your TP-Link extender and router does not work, attempt to perform a power cycle.
This is a more thorough reboot process that discharges your device.
It is capable of removing bugs and glitches in your device’s software. You want to ensure that you do it to both devices simultaneously to flush out any issues.
Here’s how to power cycle your devices:
- Turn off your router and extender.
- Unplug them from your wall outlet.
- Wait for at least 5 minutes.
- Plug your router back in and turn it on.
- Once your router connects, turn on your extender.
Solution #2: Change the Password of Your WiFi Network
Another reason your TP-Link extender’s 5GHz is not working is its inability to authenticate the network.
You can reconnect your extender to your main WiFi network, but software issues can cause your devices to not connect properly.
Instead of reconnecting, a more effective method of restoring the connection would be to change the password of your primary WiFi. To do this, you’re going to go into your router’s settings and edit the password there.
Here’s how to change the password of your WiFi network:
- Using a web browser, log in to your router’s web interface.
- Go to Settings, then WiFi.
- Look for the WiFi password input box.
- Edit the password.
- Click on Apply.
Note: You’ll now need to reconnect your extender using the new WiFi password.
Solution #3: Enable 5GHz WiFi on Your Router
Before moving on with this solution, you’ll need to verify that your particular TP-Link extender model supports 5GHz.
If it doesn’t, you can skip this solution. However, if it does and it’s unable to detect the main WiFi’s 5G band, you will need to go into your router’s settings.
5G WiFi is fast, and connecting your extender to it should give it a boost.
If both your router and extender support 5G WiFi, it’s recommended that you utilize it.
You want to look at your primary network and make sure that it’s enabled on your router.
Here’s how to enable 5GHz WiFi on your router:
- Log in to your router’s web interface.
- Go to Settings, then Wireless.
- Enable the 5G radio.
- If there’s an option that enables both 2.4G and 5G, turn it on.
- Click on Apply to save your settings.
Tip: You can now check your TP-Link extender and see if your router’s 5G WiFi appears on the wireless network list.
Solution #4: Change the 5G WiFi Channels for Your Router
WiFi networks, even though they can be segregated per SSID, all run on the same frequency.
Now, enabling 5G WiFi splits that in half, but you can further spread out your connections to different channels. You can think of channels as different lanes on a highway.
Specifying channels on your router will make sure that your devices will use it for data transmission. Routers come with default channels that it uses.
If most of the WiFi networks opt to leave their settings to their defaults, these channels are going to be pretty congested.
Here’s how to set the 5G channels on your router:
- Log in to your router’s web interface.
- Go to Settings, then Wireless.
- Scroll down to the 5GHz section.
- Don’t select the Auto or Default channel option.
- Choose a channel between 36-48.
Tip: You can also change the 5G WiFi channels on your TP-Link extender for better connections.
Solution #5: Set Up the Extender Closer to Your Router
If your TP-Link extender does not connect to your primary 5GHz WiFi connection, it’s possible that it was set up wrong.
Remember that 5GHz WiFi has a limited range compared to 2.4GHz. If you set up your extender too far from the router, it’s only going to detect 2.4G WiFi.
To make sure that your extender can detect both bands, you want to set it up as close to your router as possible.
You can always move it later after the setup process is complete.
Here’s how to set up your TP-Link extender properly:
- Plug your TP-Link extender as close to your router as possible.
- Push the WPS button on your router first.
- Then, do the same for the WPS button on your extender.
- Wait for your extender’s LED lights to blink.
- Once the LED turns solid green, your extender is connected.
Tip: The WPS remains active for 2 minutes, so make sure that you press the button on your extender immediately after pressing the one on your router.
That’s it! That’s how easy it is to make sure that your TP-Link extender connects to your router’s 5GHz band. This will ensure faster connections for all your devices at home.
If you’re still experiencing the problem, you can check your extender’s firmware and make sure that it runs in the latest version.
You can also contact TP-Link customer support for additional assistance.
Read Next: How to Fix D Link Router 5ghz Not Working?
Bottom Line
Now that you know the causes and fixes to your TP-Link extender 5GHz not working, you can work on resolving the issue.
Follow these proven solutions closely, and you’ll be able to enjoy fast WiFi anywhere in your home with the help of the extender.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.