Smart home device won't connect because your WiFi is 5GHz only
Smart home devices don't work on 5GHz WiFi. They need 2.4GHz. Your router is broadcasting only 5GHz. You have two options: turn on the 2.4GHz band in your router settings or buy a dual-band router that broadcasts both frequencies.
Modern routers have two WiFi frequencies: 2.4GHz (slower but longer range) and 5GHz (faster but shorter range). Most smart home devices only work on 2.4GHz because it goes through walls better. If your router is set to 5GHz only, your smart devices can't see or join the network. You need to turn on 2.4GHz in the router settings.
- ✓Check your router's model and manual. Does it support 2.4GHz or 5GHz only?
- ✓Log into your router's settings and look for WiFi band settings. 5GHz only means the 2.4GHz band is turned off
- ✓Check the smart device's manual. Does it say it supports 2.4GHz or only 5GHz?
Fix-IT-Bot will walk you through each step, just tap, no typing needed.
Skip, I just want a technicianCommon mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the smart device is broken when it just doesn't support 5GHz. Check your device's manual first
- Disabling 5GHz entirely because they think smart devices need 2.4GHz exclusive. You can run both bands at the same time
- Trying to convert the entire home to 2.4GHz when they should just enable both bands and let each device use what it needs
Signs you need professional help
- If you can't access your router settings page after trying the IP address, you've enabled 2.4GHz but the smart device still won't connect, or your router doesn't show an option to enable 2.4GHz and cannot support it.
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