If you’ve spent any time setting up smart home devices, you’ve probably run into the dreaded “this device only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi” message.
It’s one of those annoyances that leaves you staring at your router settings, wondering why your modern dual-band network is suddenly a problem.
And the worst thing is you’ll sometimes not even get this message, and instead just grow increasingly frustrated that your shiny new smart home gadget fails to connect… even if you’re standing right next to your router.
While this guide won’t make that situation any less annoying – as it’s up to brands to make it clearer their devices are 2.4GHz only – it will help you to understand exactly what’s going on.
Understanding 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi

We’re not going to get too deep into the science here, but it’s important to understand the main differences between 2.4 and 5GHz when it comes to Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi operates on different frequency bands, with 2.4GHz and 5GHz, for the past few years at least, being the most common.
2.4GHz has been around the longest (since 1997, in fact) and remains the default for most smart home devices, while 5GHz is a more modern addition that enables faster speeds.
The main differences between the two, in terms of everyday use in your house at least, comes down to range, speed, and congestion.
2.4GHz, which was part of the original WiFi 1 standard (IEEE 802.11, in case you were wondering) is capable of traveling longer distances and penetrating walls and floors more effectively.
This makes it ideal for devices spread out around your home, particularly those located far from the router; think plugs, bulbs, sensors and more.
However, the downside of 2.4GHz is that it operates on a frequency that is much more susceptible to congestion.
Not only does it share its frequency with many everyday ‘dumb’ household devices like microwaves and cordless phones, but 2.4GHz is also the frequency used by Bluetooth and Zigbee devices. Therefore, interference is common
Additionally, because so many smart home gadgets still rely on 2.4GHz, your network can quickly become overcrowded, leading to lag, dropped connections, and slower performance overall.
Think of 2.4GHz as a busy road with cars, buses, and bikes all trying to share a couple of lanes. And the traffic is only getting heavier as more devices join the network
5GHz Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is much faster and less congested.
While its shorter wavelength means it doesn’t travel as far or penetrate solid objects as effectively as 2.4GHz, the trade-off for 5GHz is significantly higher speeds and reduced interference
This makes 5GHz the better option for bandwidth-heavy devices like streaming media players, gaming consoles, and laptops that benefit from faster connections.
However, it’s not always ideal for smart home gadgets that may be located in remote areas of your home, although the boom in whole home Wi-Fi mesh systems has made that less of an issue in the past few years.
It is also possible, with some routers such as those from Netgear and Eero, to disable the 5GHz Wi-Fi network temporarily.
Many modern dual-band routers often feature ‘band steering’ too, which intelligently directs devices to the optimal frequency, which should – in theory a least – eliminate the need to do this.
Why smart home devices still prefer 2.4GHz

Most smart home gadgets, such as security cameras, smart plugs, bulbs, and sensors, continue to rely on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.
The main reason is its range and reliability. A door sensor in your basement or a smart bulb in your backyard may struggle to maintain a strong 5GHz connection, whereas 2.4GHz ensures consistent connectivity over greater distances.
Another crucial factor is power consumption. Many smart home devices are battery-powered, and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi consumes less energy than 5GHz, making it the preferred choice for devices that need to operate efficiently without frequent recharging.
It’s also cheaper for brands to slap a 2.4GHz radio in a device than it is a 5GHz one.
However, the congestion issue remains a challenge. Since 2.4GHz is often overloaded with multiple smart devices, older routers may struggle to manage all the connections effectively.
This is why some modern smart home gadgets, particularly security cameras that need high-bandwidth for streaming 4K video, now offer dual-band support.
These devices can connect to 5GHz when they need faster speeds, while still maintaining compatibility with 2.4GHz when range is a problem.
The evolution of Wi-Fi and multi-band solutions

As smart home ecosystems grow, Wi-Fi technology is evolving to keep up. The introduction of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E a few years back has brought significant improvements in efficiency, even for 2.4GHz networks.
Wi-Fi 6, which operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, enhances performance by reducing congestion, improving speed, and increasing the number of devices a router can handle simultaneously.
Guide: What is Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7…. and what the heck is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E introduced an entirely new 6GHz frequency, offering even faster speeds with minimal interference.
While most smart home devices don’t yet take advantage of 6GHz, this technology is paving the way for future smart home advancements where congestion is less of an issue – and there are plenty of affordable Wi-Fi 6 routers and mesh systems now, such as the Amazon Eero 6+.
These modern Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems have also revolutionized home networks. Unlike older single-router setups, mesh Wi-Fi systems use multiple access points to create a seamless network that optimizes device connections automatically.
Many of these systems support tri-band or even quad-band configurations, ensuring that devices are connected to the best available frequency without manual intervention. This means that your smart home gadgets, streaming devices, and work-from-home essentials can coexist without overwhelming your network.
Streaming sticks and boxes such as the latest Apple TV 4K and Fire TV also all feature Wi-Fi 6 credentials, as do the latest Sonos Speakers such as the Era 300 and Era 100 and we’re even seeing Wi-Fi 6 on security cameras like the Reolink Argus Pro.
Wi-Fi 7 is also on the horizon, promising even more speed, reduced latency, and better handling of multiple devices, which could be a game-changer for smart homes. Wi-Fi 7 also boasts “MLO” tech, which offers the ability to combine frequency bands in a single connection.
We’ve tested the likes of the Eero Max 7 and the Netgear Orbi 970 Series, both of which are massive overkill for smart home devices at the moment (and are both ridiculously expensive) but they signal a move towards a more streamlined frequency arrangement in your smart home.
As Wi-Fi technology continues to improve, we’ll be seeing more smart devices offering dual or even tri-band support to take advantage of not only 2.4GHz or 5GHz, but also 6GHz, when needed.
The good news is that Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 are all backwards compatible and older 2.4GHz devices will still work with these newer routers.
Troubleshooting
If you’ve read everything above but you’re still having trouble pairing your smart home device to your home network, it may be worth doing some manual tweaks on your router or mesh system.
Most modern routers combine the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands under a single network name; the technical term for this name is the SSID and these are what you see listed when you search for a new Wi-Fi network on your phone or laptop.
This is part of the “band steering” we mentioned before and is designed to automatically direct your devices to the best frequency. However, it doesn’t work as expected, and you might find that you need to connect your smart device manually to a 2.4GHz network.
Some Wi-Fi systems actually broadcast a dedicated SSID on the 2.4GHz frequency for your smart home devices to live on but, in practice, this usually causes issues as you’ll end up with your phone and the controller app on one network, and your smart home device on another. That’s not always an issue, but it can be.
You can, should you wish, usually fiddle around with the router settings to separate the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands into two different SSIDs but again that gives you the same problem as the dedicated smart home network.
But some people do swear by this method, so here’s a quick overview of how to do that if you want to try it out.
Every router manufacturer has a different interface, and the exact steps will vary (search for your router’s model number online to find the manual) but generally, you can access your router’s settings by typing an address into your web browser’s address bar.
Common addresses include 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, or 10.0.0.1. Once you know that address you’ll need your router’s username and password to log in.
Once you’re in your router’s settings, look for a section related to Wi-Fi, Wireless, or Network.
Some routers allow you to create separate network names (SSIDs) for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. If this is an option, you’ll often see settings like “Enable 2.4GHz SSID” and “Enable 5GHz SSID.”
You can then give each network a unique name, for example: “MyNetwork_2.4GHz” and “MyNetwork_5GHz”.
Some routers also have a “guest network” option that often operates only on 2.4GHz. You could try connecting your smart device to the guest network.
Alternatively, as mentioned, you could try temporarily disabling the 5GHz band in your router settings (but remember to turn it back on afterwards).
FAQs
Your router likely uses “band steering,” combining 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Try moving your device closer to the router during setup. If that doesn’t work, check your router’s manual for instructions on separating the networks or using a guest network.
2.4GHz has better range and wall penetration, crucial for devices far from the router. It also consumes less power, important for battery-powered smart devices.
Probably. Newer Wi-Fi standards improve efficiency and reduce congestion on 2.4GHz. While many devices aren’t Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 yet, upgrading your router can still benefit your existing 2.4GHz devices.
While separating networks can sometimes help with initial setup, it often leads to devices “roaming” and losing connection. Unless absolutely necessary for a specific device, it’s often best to let your router manage the band selection automatically.
It could be. Try restarting your router and the device. Check for interference from other devices. If the problem persists, consult your router’s documentation or contact the device manufacturer for support.