- It’s worth noting that dual-band Wi-Fi routers can set different passwords for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. So, double-check the password you enter.
- Disabling and re-enabling the network adapter and running the built-in troubleshooter can also help fix this issue.
- Consider updating the network adapter driver or resetting the TCP/IP stack if the issue persists.
Fix 1: Check if Your PC Supports the 5GHz Frequency Band
The 5GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi networks may not show up on your Windows 11 PC if it doesn’t support them. You can run a quick command to check if your PC supports the 5GHz frequency band.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Terminal from the list.
Step 2: Paste the following command in the console and press Enter .
netsh wlan show drivers
If you see 5GHz in the Number of supported bands section, it means your PC supports 5GHz Wi-Fi connections.
Fix 2: Enable IPv6 on Your Computer
Another reason you might encounter issues while connecting to a Wi-Fi network on Windows is if “Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)” is disabled. Here’s how to enable it.
Step 1: Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type ncpa.cpl in the text box and hit Enter .
Step 2: In the Network Connections window, right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties .
Step 3: Tick the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) checkbox and hit OK .
Fix 3: Modify Network Adapter Preferences
Does your Windows 11 PC keep switching to a 2.4GHz frequency band? To avoid this, you can force Windows 11 to always connect to the 5GHz frequency band on any network that supports 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies. Here’s how.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the list.
Step 2: Double-click on Network adapters to expand it.
Step 3: Right-click on your network device and select Properties .
Step 4: Switch to the Advanced tab. Select Preferred Band , set the value to 5G first, and click OK .
Fix 4: Disable and Re-Enable Network Adapter
At times, temporary issues with the network adapter can also result in such anomalies. You can try disabling and re-enabling the network adapter on your PC to see if that solves the problem.
Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app and go to Network & internet > Advanced network settings .
Step 2: Click the Disable button next to your Wi-Fi adapter.
Step 3: Wait a few seconds and click Enable to re-enable the network adapter. After that, check if the issue persists.
Fix 5: Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter
If re-enabling the network adapter proves ineffective, run the dedicated network adapter troubleshooter. It will scan your system for all network-related issues and attempt to resolve them.
Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar, type troubleshoot settings , and press Enter .
Step 2: Click on Other troubleshooters .
Step 3: Scroll down to locate the Network Adapter troubleshooter and click on Run .
Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the troubleshooting process. After that, check if Windows can connect to the 5GHz frequency band of your Wi-Fi network.
Fix 6: Update the Network Adapter Driver
Outdated network adapter drivers can lead to all kinds of Wi-Fi problems on Windows , including this one. Hence, ensure that your PC is running the latest network adapter driver.
Step 1: Press the Windows + S keyboard shortcut to open the search menu, type device manager , and press Enter .
Step 2: Expand Network adapters , right-click on the relevant wireless network adapter from the list, and select Update driver .
From there, follow the on-screen instructions to update the wireless network driver.
Fix 7: Reset TCP/IP
The Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (or TCP/IP) help your Windows PC establish internet connectivity. If there is an issue with the TCP/IP stack, Windows may have trouble connecting to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. You can try resetting the TCP/IP stack to see if that restores normalcy.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the list.
Step 2: Run the following commands in the console and press Enter after each one:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip reset
Restart your PC after running the above commands. Following that, your Windows 11 PC should connect to the 5GHz frequency band of the Wi-Fi network.
