How to Easily See Your WiFi GHz: A Comprehensive Guide for All Devices

Understanding your WiFi network’s frequency, specifically whether it’s operating on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, is crucial for optimizing your connection’s speed and stability. These two bands offer distinct advantages and disadvantages, and knowing which one you’re connected to can help you troubleshoot issues, choose the right network for your needs, or even make informed decisions when purchasing new devices. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to check your WiFi frequency on various operating systems and devices, ensuring you’re always in the know.

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s quickly recap what these frequencies mean:

• 2.4 GHz WiFi: This band has a longer range and better penetration through walls and other obstacles. However, it’s also more prone to interference from other devices like microwaves, Bluetooth devices, and other WiFi networks. It’s generally slower than 5 GHz.
• 5 GHz WiFi: This band offers much faster speeds and less interference, making it ideal for bandwidth-intensive tasks like streaming videos, online gaming, and large file transfers. However, its range is shorter than 2.4 GHz, and its signal is more easily blocked by solid objects.

Many modern routers support dual-band or tri-band WiFi, meaning they can broadcast both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks simultaneously. Your devices will then choose the best option based on their capabilities and the signal strength at their location. This is why understanding how to identify which frequency you’re using is so important.

Checking WiFi Frequency on Windows 10 and 11

Windows offers several methods to check your current WiFi frequency. Here are the most straightforward approaches:

Method 1: Using the Network and Sharing Center

1. Open the Control Panel: You can find this by searching for “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar (usually located at the bottom-left of your screen).
2. Go to Network and Internet: Click on “Network and Internet” (if you’re in Category view) or “Network and Sharing Center” (if you’re in icon view).
3. Click on ‘Network and Sharing Center’: If you haven’t already, click on “Network and Sharing Center”.
4. Click on your WiFi Network Name: In the “View your active networks” section, find your WiFi connection. Click on the blue name of your connected network.
5. Check the Connection Details: A window will pop up with your WiFi status. Click on the “Wireless Properties” button, then select the “Details” tab. In this list look for the line that says “Network Band”. This will display either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt: Search for “cmd” or “Command Prompt” in the Windows search bar. Right-click on the result and select “Run as administrator.”
2. Enter the Command: Type the following command and press Enter: netsh wlan show interfaces
3. Locate the Radio Type: Look for the line that says “Radio type”. This will show you the current Wi-Fi frequency used by your PC. It might say “802.11b” (2.4GHz) , “802.11g” (2.4GHz), “802.11n” (2.4GHz and 5GHz), “802.11ac” (5GHz) or “802.11ax” (2.4GHz and 5GHz). While this does not explicitly say 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, it can be a good indicator as the older standards, like 802.11b, g, and n primarily worked on the 2.4 GHz, while ac and ax primarily work on 5 GHz. Keep in mind that ‘n’ and ‘ax’ do have both capabilities.

Method 3: Using Settings app (Windows 10 and 11)

1. Open the Settings App: Click on the Start Menu, and then click on the “Settings” icon (gear icon).
2. Navigate to Network and Internet: Click on “Network and Internet”.
3. Click on WiFi: In the left sidebar, click on “WiFi”.
4. Click on your network: Under “WiFi” click on the name of the network that you are connected to.
5. Check the properties: Under the “Properties” section, find “Protocol”. In this section it will show the frequency that is being used.

Checking WiFi Frequency on macOS

macOS makes it relatively easy to identify your WiFi frequency.

1. Click on the WiFi Icon: Locate the WiFi icon in the menu bar (usually at the top-right of your screen).
2. Hold the Option Key: While holding the Option (or Alt) key on your keyboard, click on the WiFi icon again.
3. Look for the Band: A detailed dropdown menu will appear. Look for the line labeled “Channel”. This entry will display the WiFi frequency, and may be noted as “2.4 Ghz”, or “5 Ghz”.

If instead of showing 2.4 or 5 Ghz, it is showing a channel number, you can use a simple guideline to determine the band. Channel numbers from 1 to 11 usually indicate the 2.4 GHz band, while channel numbers in the 36 and above usually indicate the 5 GHz band. You can find many websites that help you identify what channel number corresponds to what frequency if this method is not obvious to you.

Checking WiFi Frequency on Android

The process for checking WiFi frequency on Android can vary slightly depending on the device manufacturer and Android version. Here are the general steps:

Method 1: Checking WiFi Details in Settings

1. Open Settings: Find and open the Settings app on your Android device (usually represented by a gear icon).
2. Go to Network & Internet or Connections: The name of this section may vary (e.g. “Network & Internet,” “Connections,” or similar).
3. Go to WiFi: Tap on “WiFi.”
4. Tap on the gear icon or the network name: Find the name of the WiFi network you are connected to. Depending on your phone’s manufacturer, you will have to either tap on the settings icon, or tap directly on the name of the network.
5. Check the frequency: Look for an entry that says “Frequency”, “Band”, or something similar. The field will display if the device is connected to the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band.

Method 2: Using a Third-Party App

If you cannot find the information within your phone settings, you may need to rely on a third-party app from the Google Play Store. There are many WiFi Analyzer apps available that will provide a wealth of details about your network. Here are some of the popular apps that you can download from the Google Play Store:

• WiFi Analyzer (open-source) : This is a free app that visualizes your network, and identifies the band, signal strength, and much more.
• NetSpot WiFi Analyzer: Another very popular app that does a complete network analysis, and provides all the important information.
• Network Analyzer: This app can scan your network, ping devices, and show you network information such as frequency, bandwidth, and other technical data.

Checking WiFi Frequency on iOS (iPhone and iPad)

Unfortunately, iOS doesn’t directly display the WiFi frequency in the Settings app. However, there are third-party apps available that can provide this information, but not from the official Apple App Store. Because of this, we can only rely on indirect methods to identify the WiFi frequency of the connected network.

One such method is by knowing the specific name of each band that your router is broadcasting. For example, many routers will broadcast two networks, one with a name that ends in “_2.4G” and another that ends in “_5G”.
Using this information, you can manually choose what network your phone connects to. If you have separate names and do not see the 5 GHz network listed when you are close to your router, that may be an indicator that your phone does not support 5 GHz networks, or that your router has a limited 5 GHz broadcasting range.

Checking WiFi Frequency on Smart TVs, Gaming Consoles, and Other Devices

The method for checking WiFi frequency on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other smart devices can vary significantly depending on the manufacturer and operating system. Many devices do not directly display the WiFi frequency, so you may have to rely on other methods or refer to the device’s manual.

General Approaches:

• Check the Network Settings: Most devices have a network settings menu where you can view information about your connected network. Look for options like “Connection Status,” “Network Details,” or “Advanced Settings.” The frequency band might be displayed here.
• Consult the User Manual: Your device’s user manual might contain information on how to view network details, including the frequency.
• Use Router Admin Page: Alternatively, you can often see a list of all connected devices and the frequency that they are connected to from within the admin page of your router.

Specific Notes:

• Smart TVs: Many smart TVs show connection details, though this is not always universal.
• Gaming Consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch): You can often see connection details in the network settings, but again, frequency display is not always an option. Check your console’s manual.
• Smart Speakers (Amazon Echo, Google Home): Typically, these devices don’t directly display network frequencies. You usually need to rely on the companion app for the speaker to view network details or access your router settings.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble connecting to the internet or achieving good speeds, verifying your WiFi band can help to resolve these issues:

• Slow Speeds: If you’re experiencing slow speeds on a 2.4 GHz network, try connecting to the 5 GHz network if it’s available and your device supports it.
• Interference: If you notice a lot of drops and latency while connected to a 2.4 GHz network, switch to 5 GHz if available and if the range is acceptable.
• Connection Issues: If your device is struggling to connect to a network, make sure the router settings (band selection, encryption, etc.) are compatible with the device and that the network name and password that you are entering are correct.

Conclusion

Knowing how to check your WiFi GHz frequency is essential for understanding your network and optimizing its performance. By following the steps outlined above for your specific operating system and devices, you can ensure that you are using the most efficient WiFi band available. Whether you are on Windows, macOS, Android, or other devices, the process is fairly simple. This information can help with troubleshooting issues, and make sure you are always having the best and fastest connection possible. If you are having trouble connecting to your network after all of the methods outlined above, you should consult your router’s manual or contact your internet service provider for additional help.