To switch to 5 GHz Wi-Fi on Windows 11, open Manage Wi-Fi connections from the taskbar and connect to your router’s separate 5 GHz network. You need a wireless adapter that supports 5 GHz and a network configured to broadcast on that band. These steps use Windows 11 menus.
If your router combines its bands under one network name, a compatible adapter can prefer 5 GHz, or supported router controls can separate the bands. An adapter preference prioritizes 5 GHz without guaranteeing it. Connecting to a network configured exclusively for 5 GHz lets you select that band directly.
The short version
- Connect directly: Select your router’s separate 5 GHz network through Manage Wi-Fi connections.
- Confirm the result: Check Network band (channel) in your connected network’s properties.
- Shared network name: Use Preferred Band on a compatible adapter or separate the bands through supported router settings.
- Hardware requirement: Both your wireless adapter and the network must support 5 GHz.
| Option | When to use it | Main limit |
|---|---|---|
| Taskbar network chooser | Connect to a separate 5 GHz network | The name alone does not prove its band |
| Settings network chooser | Connect through Show available networks | Requires a separate 5 GHz network |
| Keyboard shortcut | Open Quick Settings with Windows + A | Opens controls without changing bands |
| Network properties | Confirm the connected band | Checks the connection without changing it |
| Adapter preference | Prioritize 5 GHz | Requires a suitable driver property |
| Adapter mode | Allow or restrict bands | Values depend on the driver |
| PowerShell | Change an exposed adapter property | Requires elevation and exact property values |
| TP-Link browser controls | Give bands separate names | Model and firmware determine the path |
| Tether controls | Separate bands through the app | Requires a compatible TP-Link router |
| Router radio controls | Enable 5 GHz or disable other bands | Changes affect other devices |
| Deco client preference | Choose a preferred band for your PC | Requires supported model and firmware |
| Deco main network | Make the network 5 GHz-only | Affects all clients |
| Deco guest network | Create a separate 5 GHz network | Guest isolation can affect local access |
| Manual network entry | Add a separate or hidden network | Cannot select a band within a shared name |
| Wi-Fi QR code | Join using Camera barcode scanning | Code must identify a 5 GHz-only network |
| ASUS WPS pairing | Pair compatible hardware on 5 GHz | Requires supported router and client controls |
| Forget a saved network | Remove a separate 2.4 GHz profile | Removes its saved connection profile |
| Profile connection and priority | Select a saved 5 GHz profile with netsh | Cannot select bands within a shared name |
| Manual connection or blocking | Prevent automatic use of a separate 2.4 GHz network | Blocking a shared name blocks both bands |
| Organizational policy | Provision a dedicated network for managed PCs | Access point must provide a 5 GHz-only network |
| Intel driver update | Repair missing adapter functionality | Does not itself force 5 GHz |
| Adapter reinstallation | Repair a broken installation | Obtain a backup driver first |
| Compatible USB adapter | Add 5 GHz-capable hardware | Still requires a 5 GHz router or access point |
Connect to your separate 5 GHz network
Select the taskbar’s Network, Sound, or Battery icons, then select Manage Wi-Fi connections. Choose your router’s separate 5 GHz network and select Connect. Enter its password, then select Next.
For keyboard access, press Windows + A to open Quick Settings, then select Manage Wi-Fi connections. Select the separate 5 GHz network, choose Connect, enter its password, and select Next. The shortcut opens the controls; it does not change the band by itself.
You can also open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Show available networks. Select the separate 5 GHz network, choose Connect, enter the password, and select Next. A network name containing “5 GHz” is not proof of its frequency, so check the connected band next.
Check which band Windows is using
Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi, then open your connected network’s properties. Find Network band (channel) and check that it shows 5 GHz.
If the connection still shows 2.4 GHz, use a supported adapter preference or router control below. Selecting a shared network name alone does not select 5 GHz. Check the same properties again after changing your connection settings.
Set your adapter to prefer 5 GHz
Right-click Start and select Device Manager. Expand Network adapters, right-click your wireless adapter, and open Properties. Select the Advanced tab.
Under Property, select Preferred Band. Under Value, choose Prefer 5 GHz or 5G First, whichever your driver supplies, then apply the change. This prioritizes 5 GHz without guaranteeing it.
If Preferred Band is missing, inspect Wireless Mode or Band for a setting that allows 5 GHz. Choose a 5 GHz-only value only when your driver supplies and documents it. Otherwise, connect to a separate 5 GHz network or use supported router controls.
On Windows 11 with the NetAdapter module, you can also change an exposed property through an elevated PowerShell session. Inspect the adapter’s properties with this command, replacing Wi-Fi with your adapter’s actual name:
Get-NetAdapterAdvancedProperty -Name "Wi-Fi"Replace the placeholders below with the exact property name and 5 GHz preference value your driver exposes. Applying this change may restart the adapter.
Set-NetAdapterAdvancedProperty -Name "Wi-Fi" -DisplayName "<actual property name>" -DisplayValue "<actual 5 GHz preference value>"Give your router’s bands separate names
On supported TP-Link routers, open the TP-Link router interface and sign in. Go to Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings, turn off Smart Connect, and enter a distinct Network Name (SSID) for 5 GHz. Select Save, then connect Windows to that network.
The newer interface for supported TP-Link Wi-Fi 8 routers uses Wi-Fi > Main Network instead. Apply these paths only to models and firmware with the described controls.
If the 5 GHz radio is disabled, locate its section and select Enable; some models label this control Enable Wireless Radio. Select Save after enabling it. Disabling other bands also affects household devices using them. If you want a 5 GHz-only network and your model exposes individual radio controls, clear Enable in the other band sections, then select Save.
For Tether-compatible TP-Link routers supporting Smart Connect, open Tether, select your router, and sign in. Open More > Wi-Fi Settings > 2.4GHz & 5GHz Network, turn off Smart Connect, and assign distinct network names. Some app versions shorten the network label. Save the settings and connect your PC to the 5 GHz name.
Choose a 5 GHz connection in Deco
On supported Deco models and firmware, open Deco > Online Clients, select your Windows PC, then open Specified Connection. Choose 5 GHz as the preferred Wi-Fi band, then select Save.
If your Deco exposes the main-network band selector, you can make the entire main network use 5 GHz. This changes the network for all clients. Open More > Wi-Fi Settings > Advanced > Band and select 5GHz only. Return to Wi-Fi Settings, select Save, and reconnect Windows if necessary.
For a separate guest network on a Deco with guest-band controls, open More > Guest Network. Enable Guest Network and configure its name, security, and password. Open Advanced > Band, select 5 GHz Only, then return and select Save. Connect Windows to the guest network.
In Router mode, guest isolation can prevent access to printers and other main-network devices. Deco features vary by model and firmware, with M5 as an example supporting these controls. If your model lacks the relevant control, use a supported adapter preference or another available 5 GHz-only network.
Join with network details or compatible pairing
To add a separate or hidden 5 GHz network manually, open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks > Add network. Enter the Network name, matching Security type, and credentials. Optionally select Connect automatically; for a hidden network, select Connect even if this network is not broadcasting. Select Save.
On current Windows 11 devices with a camera and Camera barcode functionality, you can also scan a Wi-Fi QR code. Open Camera, select the barcode mode icon, scan the code, and select the resulting link to open Settings. Confirm that you want to add and connect to the network, and choose whether Windows connects automatically when it is in range.
Manual entry and QR codes identify networks, so either must point to a network configured for 5 GHz only. Neither selects a band within a shared network name. Confirm the resulting band in your connected network’s properties.
For an ASUS dual-band router with frequency-selectable WPS and a Windows-compatible adapter supporting WPS pairing, open the router’s WPS page. Turn off WPS, select Switch Frequency beside Current Frequency to choose 5 GHz, then turn on WPS. Press the router’s physical WPS button or use its on-screen WPS button, then initiate WPS on the compatible client adapter. If your hardware lacks those controls, use the Windows network chooser instead.
Manage saved profiles for separate bands
Forgetting a network removes its saved connection profile. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, find the separate 2.4 GHz network, and select Forget. Then connect to the separate 5 GHz network through Manage Wi-Fi connections. Forgetting a shared network removes its profile for both bands and cannot select 5 GHz.
If you already have a saved profile for a separate 5 GHz network, you can connect to it through Terminal or Command Prompt. Start by listing saved profiles:
netsh wlan show profilesSubstitute your actual profile and interface names for Home-5GHz and Wi-Fi. Connect to that profile with this command:
netsh wlan connect name="Home-5GHz" interface="Wi-Fi"You can also give that saved profile priority. Use the same profile and interface names in this command:
netsh wlan set profileorder name="Home-5GHz" interface="Wi-Fi" priority=1To retain a separate 2.4 GHz profile without automatically connecting to it, change its connection mode to manual. Substitute its actual profile name below, then connect to your 5 GHz profile:
netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Home-2.4GHz" ConnectionMode=manualAlternatively, an administrator can block the separate 2.4 GHz network using its actual name in the command below, then connect to the 5 GHz profile. Blocking a shared network name also blocks its 5 GHz service.
netsh wlan add filter permission=block ssid="Home-2.4GHz" networktype=infrastructureConfigure a dedicated network for managed PCs
On managed Windows 11 editions supporting organizational Group Policy, an administrator can provision a dedicated wireless profile. The access point must configure that network name for 5 GHz only; the policy selects a network rather than directly selecting a frequency.
Open Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies. Right-click Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies and select Create A New Wireless Network Policy for Windows Vista and Later Releases. In the policy dialog, select Add > Infrastructure, then add the dedicated network name in New Profile properties. Configure authentication on its Security tab.
Fix missing 5 GHz functionality
If 5 GHz functionality is missing on a supported Intel adapter, obtain a matching driver from the official Intel Wi-Fi driver download page. Check that your exact adapter is listed and choose its Windows 11 driver, using your PC manufacturer’s customized driver when required. Updating can repair missing functionality, but it does not itself force a 5 GHz connection.
If 5 GHz stopped working because the adapter installation is broken, first obtain a backup driver for your exact PC or adapter. Uninstalling removes the adapter installation and can remove its driver, so keep that backup available if automatic installation fails. Open Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click the adapter, and select Uninstall device. Select Attempt to remove the driver for this device, then select Uninstall.
Open Start > Power > Restart. If automatic installation fails, restore the backup driver, then reconnect to 5 GHz. Reinstallation repairs the installation; it does not add 5 GHz capability to incompatible hardware.
If your existing adapter cannot use 5 GHz, add a compatible USB Wi-Fi adapter. Before buying, check architecture and hardware-version driver compatibility; the TP-Link Archer TXE70UH product page provides specifications and support access. For that adapter, plug it in and install its preloaded driver, then use the Windows network chooser to connect to your separate 5 GHz network.
A compatible adapter still needs a router or access point offering 5 GHz. After connecting, check Network band (channel) in your network’s properties to confirm the result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Windows show more than one network band?
Wi-Fi 7 Multi-Link Operation can use multiple bands, so a connection using 5 GHz is not necessarily using it exclusively. This requires compatible hardware and Windows 11 version 24H2 or later.
Why might your profile priority command not take precedence on a managed PC?
Group Policy profiles take precedence over profiles prioritized with netsh. On a managed PC, your administrator can configure a dedicated profile for a network that the access point broadcasts exclusively on 5 GHz.
Should you install Intel PROSet/Wireless to switch bands?
Intel’s legacy and DCH PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software packages reached end of life from version 21.50.X. Use current Wi-Fi drivers and Windows connection controls instead of installing the old connection utility.
Does Deco’s preference for an individual PC work in Access Point mode?
Yes, supported Deco models and firmware offer the individual client connection preference in both Router and Access Point modes. Availability still depends on your model and firmware.