Here’s how to use Most WiFi routers these days broadcast data using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Ideally, you should change the default password to prevent anyone else accessing the settings. Make sure you save the settings - your router may reboot to apply the change. You can find the WiFi channel drop-down menu under Settings > Wi-Fi Settings. The situation is a lot better in the 5 GHz band because there’s much more space. how you can change your WiFi channel on a router. frequency bands like two highways, and the WiFi channels are like lanes on those Even the most basic routers allow you to change WiFi channel. Hopefully this will fix your problem, but in places, such as a block of flats where there are lots of networks in close proximity, you might struggle to find a better channel. For more help see our guide on how to connect to your router. In North America, for example, only 11 of the 14 channels can be used. Change WiFi Router Channel To change your WiFi channel, log into your router using any web browser. Once you apply the setting, your router may reboot. Here’s how to change the channel on your router to speed up your WiFi signal. Note: Every router is different, so these steps might not be exactly the same for your router. In the address bar, you need to type the IP Address for your router. Once you know how to change your WiFi channel, NetSpot is a versatile WiFi site survey, WiFi analysis, and troubleshooting tool for macOS and Windows that can also be used as a WiFi channel analyzer to show WiFi channel overlap. If you want to stop your phone or other devices (such as your laptop) automatically connecting to your router's 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and only use 5GHz, you'll need to figure out how to 'Forget this network' on your particular device. All you need to do is download NetSpot, launch it, and click the Discover button located in the top toolbar. There might also be an auto-connect feature that you have to turn off as well. If you want to switch networks, that's simple. In the image above, To do so, you first need to log into your router’s admin interface. Each router is slightly different, but most routers hide the option to change WiFi channel somewhere in the advanced settings menu. download the NetSpot app for Windows 10 or Mac. should use, check out our article here. Each channel in the 2.4 GHz band is 22 MHz wide, and there are 5 MHz gaps between the centers of adjacent channels. We then selected Wireless setup from the options on the let-hand menu and then chose Manual Wireless Network Setup. If there are too many other networks broadcasting on the same channel as your network or overlapping with the channel you have currently selected, it’s time for you to change WiFi channel. Note: Make sure to choose the frequency band you want to change the channel for (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). Look for “Default Gateway” and copy & paste the address next to it into your browser’s URL bar. On the other hand, if you’re using the 5 GHz NetSpot can also help you decide whether the time has come to replace your current router with a newer model, one that supports the latest WiFi standard. You need to discover which channels nearby networks are using, and you can do this with a free app. There isn't a direct equivalent for iOS, and apps in Apple's App Store aren't allowed to report signal strength either, so it's best to use Android or Windows apps. You can think of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz This is your router's IP address, and will be similar to 192.168.1.1. To enjoy the fastest WiFi speeds achievable with your internet connection, you need to be sure that you’re on the best WiFi channel you can be. Jim Martin, Editor Once you change your network to a less crowded WiFi channel, you should notice that your bar gets taller, meaning your network speed has increased. © Copyright 2020 IDG Communications Ltd. All Rights Reserved. between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and which one you Learn more. the highlighted network is using channel 36 on the 5 GHz band. From the web page that is displayed, look for the Wi-Fi settings. The problem could lie elsewhere. If your WiFi signal is still weak, check out our guide on how to boost your WiFi signal here. if you don’t change your WiFi channel, your router will probably use the same If you don’t know what your router’s IP address is, open a Command Prompt in Windows and type “ipconfig” without the quotes. Now look through the resulting text for the default gateway address. When multiple networks broadcast on overlapping channels, interference may occur and make what would otherwise be a stable and reliable network unusable. All the information you gather with NetSpot can be exported in PDF or CSV and used in other applications. Besides helping you understand WiFi channel overlap, you can also use NetSpot to create a comprehensive WiFi coverage heat map with Survey mode. The Mate 40 Pro won’t sell in the UK or Europe with these issues. To find out more about the difference Now, switch to the Channels 2.4 GHz tab and, if you want, tick the “Show average value for inactive networks” option to see even currently inactive networks and their average values. You’ll need to have a device connected to the network. For most popular router brands you’ll find guides on their official websites and all you have to do is Google. Note: Once you save your settings, it might cause your router to reboot, which could mean that you lose your WiFi connection briefly.