Wi‑Fi 5GHz doesn’t work in Windows 10 — this is often caused by hardware limits, driver or power settings, router configuration (channels, band steering), or simple range and interference issues. In this article you’ll learn the most common reasons this happens and step‑by‑step fixes to get your 5GHz band working again on Windows 10.
You’ll find quick remedies, detailed commands and menu paths to check adapter capabilities, router settings to change (including DFS channels), and advanced diagnostics so you can solve the problem whether it’s on your PC or the router.
Key Takeaway
If your Windows 10 PC won’t use 5GHz Wi‑Fi, first verify the adapter supports 5GHz with netsh wlan show drivers, then update or reinstall drivers and check adapter advanced settings; if the adapter is fine, check router 5GHz band settings (channel, SSID, band steering/DFS) and move closer to the router to rule out range and interference.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Adapter doesn’t support 5GHz | Check with netsh wlan show drivers and replace the adapter if it lacks 5GHz support. |
| Outdated or corrupted Wi‑Fi driver | Update or roll back the driver via Device Manager > Network adapters > Update driver. |
| Adapter configured to prefer 2.4GHz | Set Advanced > Preferred Band to Prefer 5GHz in Device Manager. |
| Router 5GHz disabled or SSID hidden | Log into your router and enable 5GHz or un-hide the SSID. |
| Router using DFS/unsupported channel | Change 5GHz channel to a non‑DFS channel (36–48) in the router settings. |
| 5GHz signal too weak (range) | Move the PC closer or remove obstacles; consider a repeater or mesh node. |
| Interference from other devices | Change channel, remove interfering devices, or use 5GHz-only SSID. |
| Windows power management turning off Wi‑Fi | Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power in Device Manager. |
| Saved network forcing 2.4GHz | Forget the network in Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks and reconnect to the 5GHz SSID. |
| VPN / security software blocking connections | Temporarily disable VPN/antivirus to test, and create an exception if needed. |
| Airplane mode or physical switch / Windows update bug | Turn off Airplane mode, enable adapter in Settings > Network & Internet, or uninstall recent updates if necessary. |
Detailed Fixes for “tu mets ici le problème du 11 reasons why Wi-Fi 5GHz doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)”
1) Adapter doesn’t support 5GHz
Why it causes the problem:
Many older or low-cost Wi‑Fi adapters only support 2.4GHz (802.11b/g/n) and cannot detect or connect to 5GHz networks.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt (right‑click Start > Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
- Run netsh wlan show drivers.
- Look for Radio types supported. If you only see 802.11b or 802.11g or 802.11n (without 802.11a/ac/ax), the adapter likely lacks 5GHz support.
- If it lacks 5GHz, purchase a USB or PCIe dual‑band adapter (look for dual‑band, 802.11ac/ax), install per vendor instructions, and connect.
Notes: Many USB adapters are inexpensive and provide immediate 5GHz support without replacing the whole laptop.
2) Outdated or corrupted Wi‑Fi driver
Why it causes the problem:
Drivers provide radio controls and band support; outdated or corrupted drivers can disable 5GHz functionality or misreport capabilities.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager (right‑click Start > Device Manager).
- Expand Network adapters, right‑click your Wi‑Fi adapter, choose Properties.
- On the Driver tab, try Roll Back Driver if available; otherwise click Update Driver > Search automatically for drivers.
- If Windows can’t find a driver, visit the adapter or laptop manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your model.
- Install the vendor driver, reboot, and test.
- If problems persist, in Device Manager right‑click adapter > Uninstall device (check Delete the driver software for this device if present), then reboot — Windows will reinstall the driver.
Tip: Keep a copy of the downloaded driver on a USB drive before uninstalling.
3) Adapter advanced settings forcing 2.4GHz (Preferred Band)
Why it causes the problem:
Some drivers expose a Preferred Band or Band advanced setting that can force the adapter to prefer 2.4GHz.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager > Network adapters > right‑click adapter > Properties.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Find Preferred Band, Band, or similar entries like Wireless Mode.
- Set Preferred Band to Prefer 5GHz or set Wireless Mode to 802.11a/n/ac (not 802.11b/g).
- Click OK, disable/re‑enable the adapter by right‑clicking it and selecting Disable device then Enable device, and reconnect.
Note: Option names vary by vendor (Intel, Realtek, Broadcom).
Why it causes the problem:
If the router’s 5GHz radio is disabled, the SSID is hidden, or band steering forces devices onto 2.4GHz, Windows won’t see or prefer 5GHz.
Step-by-step solution:
- Log into your router’s admin page (common addresses: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, or check the router sticker).
- Check Wireless > 5GHz settings — ensure Enable is checked and SSID is visible (not hidden).
- If your router uses Smart Connect/Band Steering, try temporarily turning it off and create separate SSIDs like Home_2.4 and Home_5G.
- Save and reboot the router, then in Windows, connect to the 5GHz SSID.
Tip: Separate SSIDs help you manually force a device to one band.
5) Router using DFS/unsupported channel or regulatory mismatch
Why it causes the problem:
Routers sometimes choose DFS channels (100–140) which may be blocked by adapters or drivers until they detect radar; or the adapter’s regulatory domain may prevent certain channels.
Step-by-step solution:
- Log into your router and navigate to the 5GHz channel settings.
- Change the channel from Auto or a DFS channel (100–140) to a lower non‑DFS channel like 36, 40, 44, or 48.
- Save settings and reboot the router.
- On Windows run netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid to see the channel used.
Note: Some countries restrict certain channels — choose a channel appropriate to your region.
6) 5GHz signal too weak (range limitation)
Why it causes the problem:
5GHz has shorter range and worse wall penetration than 2.4GHz; even if everything else is correct, the device may only see 2.4GHz at a distance.
Step-by-step solution:
- Move the PC closer to the router and test connectivity.
- If that fixes it, consider repositioning the router to a central location, removing physical obstructions, or investing in a mesh system or 5GHz repeater.
- Check antenna orientation and firmware updates for router to improve performance.
Tip: Use a phone to check signal strength near the PC; a weak 5GHz signal often means range, not configuration, is the issue.
7) Interference from other devices or crowded channels
Why it causes the problem:
Although 5GHz is less crowded, overlapping networks, microwaves, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices can still cause issues on specific channels.
Step-by-step solution:
- Run netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid to list neighbor networks and channels.
- In your router settings, pick a 5GHz channel with the fewest neighbors (prefer non‑DFS channels).
- Move or turn off interfering devices, or switch to a different physical location or channel width (use 20/40/80 MHz settings appropriately).
Note: 80 MHz gives more speed but is more susceptible to interference; use 40 MHz if interference persists.
8) Windows power management turning off Wi‑Fi
Why it causes the problem:
Windows may power down the Wi‑Fi adapter to save battery, which can cause the adapter to fall back to 2.4GHz or disconnect from 5GHz.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager > Network adapters > [Wi‑Fi adapter] > Properties.
- Select the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Also go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings > Wireless Adapter Settings and set Maximum Performance.
- Reboot and retest.
9) Saved network forcing 2.4GHz (profile issues)
Why it causes the problem:
A saved profile might prefer or pin a device to a 2.4GHz network; when SSIDs are identical for both bands, Windows chooses one based on previous connections.
Step-by-step solution:
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
- Select the network and click Forget.
- If your router uses a single SSID for both bands, consider separating the SSIDs in the router or name the 5GHz SSID differently and reconnect to the desired SSID.
Tip: Forgetting and reconnecting forces a fresh association and can prefer the stronger band.
10) VPN, firewall, or security software interference
Why it causes the problem:
Some security suites or VPN drivers install network filters that disrupt wireless connections or selectively block certain network properties.
Step-by-step solution:
- Temporarily disable VPN and third‑party antivirus/firewall and test the 5GHz connection.
- If that fixes it, add the Wi‑Fi adapter or network to the software’s exception list, or update the security software.
- As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the security application or contact vendor support.
Warning: Do not leave security disabled — test quickly and re-enable after diagnosis.
11) Airplane mode, physical switch, or recent Windows update bug
Why it causes the problem:
Airplane mode or a hardware Wi‑Fi switch can disable radios; occasionally Windows updates introduce wireless issues.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check Action Center (Win+A) and ensure Airplane mode is off.
- Confirm the Wi‑Fi physical switch (if present) is on.
- Check Settings > Update & Security > View update history and uninstall any recent Quality updates linked to network problems if needed.
- Use Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network troubleshooter for automated fixes.
Note: Rolling back updates should be temporary; consult Microsoft support for persistent OS bugs.
Advanced diagnostics and when to get help
- Generate a WLAN report: open elevated Command Prompt and run netsh wlan show wlanreport — Windows creates an HTML report (usually at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WlanReport\wlan-report-latest.html) that helps diagnose connection failures.
- Check adapter logs in Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > WLAN‑AutoConfig.
- Use Wi‑Fi analyzer apps on a phone to view channel congestion and signal strength around your PC.
- If after all these steps 5GHz still fails, test with another device: if other devices connect to 5GHz fine, the problem is local to the PC (adapter/driver); if no device can, the router is at fault — contact your ISP or router vendor support.
FAQ
Q: Will switching to 5GHz always make my internet faster?
A: 5GHz often offers higher throughput and less interference, but real-world speed depends on signal strength, channel width, and internet plan; if you’re far from the router, 2.4GHz may be more stable.
Q: Can I force Windows 10 to use only 5GHz?
A: You can prefer 5GHz via the adapter’s Advanced > Preferred Band setting or by connecting to a separate 5GHz‑only SSID; Windows doesn’t have a global single‑click “force 5GHz” setting.
Q: Is a USB Wi‑Fi adapter a reliable fix?
A: Yes — a quality dual‑band USB adapter is a low‑cost, simple solution to add 5GHz support to desktops and older laptops.
Q: How do I know if the router’s firmware is causing problems?
A: Routers with buggy firmware often have multiple devices affected; check the vendor’s release notes, update firmware, or revert to a previous firmware if a recent update coincides with the issue.
Q: Do mesh Wi‑Fi systems behave differently with 5GHz?
A: Yes — mesh nodes may use the 5GHz backhaul or band steering which can influence which band clients use; consult your mesh system settings and separate SSIDs for troubleshooting.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting why Wi‑Fi 5GHz doesn’t work in Windows 10 is a process of elimination: confirm adapter capability, update drivers and power settings, inspect router 5GHz/channel/SSID settings, and rule out range or interference. Follow the step‑by‑step checks above, and use the WLAN report and router settings to pinpoint whether the issue is the PC or the network.
