I just upgraded to Windows 11 and got a new WiFi 6 router. My laptop should support WiFi 6, but I’m not seeing any improvements in speed or connection quality. How do I enable WiFi 6 on my device? Any step-by-step instructions or troubleshooting tips would be appreciated. Thanks!
If you just upgraded to Windows 11 and got yourself a nifty WiFi 6 router, but you’re not seeing any differences in speed or connection quality, here’s what you gotta do to ensure you’ve got WiFi 6 up and running on your laptop.
First things first, let’s make sure your laptop indeed supports WiFi 6. Go to Device Manager (just right-click the Start button and you’ll see it). Look for “Network adapters” and expand that. You should see something like Intel AX200/AX201, Qualcomm QCNFA765, or another adapter naming WiFi 6/WiFi 802.11ax. If you don’t see this, your laptop might not be WiFi 6 compatible after all, or you might need a driver update.
Assuming your laptop has the right hardware, here’s a more detailed list of steps:
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Update your Network Drivers:
- Go to the manufacturer’s website for your laptop or your WiFi card and download the latest drivers. Install them and reboot your laptop.
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Check Router Settings:
- You need to log in to your router’s web interface (usually by typing in 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your browser). Go to the Wireless Settings and ensure that WiFi 6 (802.11ax) is enabled. Sometimes it’s not enabled by default.
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Network Settings Verification:
- Back on your laptop, make sure you’re connecting to the correct network. Just because you upgraded your router doesn’t mean your PC is automatically prioritizing the WiFi 6 band if you’ve got dual-band (2.4GHz & 5GHz) going on. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi, and check that your laptop is connected to your new WiFi 6 network.
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Change Adapter Settings (Optional):
- If you’re still not getting that glorious WiFi 6 boost, head back into Device Manager. Find your WiFi adapter again, right-click it, and go to Properties → Advanced. Look for properties like “Wireless Mode” or similar, and ensure it’s set to auto or explicitly to 802.11ax.
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Power Settings:
- Sometimes, power settings can throttle performance without you knowing. Head to Control Panel → System and Security → Power Options. Make sure you’re on High performance or Balanced mode.
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Cache Clearing and Reboot:
- Giving your laptop and router a full reboot can sometimes clear up issues. Also, might wanna clear any cache settings and network profiles that might be screwing things up.
Lastly, if after doing all this you still see no improvement, it might be worth checking your ISP speeds and other possible interference sources. Also, network performance can fluctuate due to multiple factors, including network congestion, and obstacles between your router and laptop. Try moving closer to the router if possible.
Sometimes all it takes is a combination of updates and settings tweaks to bring that speed boost to life, good luck!
Looks like @codecrafter covered most of the basics and then some. But if you’re still facing issues after trying all that, there could be a few more wrinkles to iron out.
Signal Interference and Channels:
Even with a shiny new WiFi 6 router, signal interference can be a real issue. A lot of devices (like microwaves, baby monitors, and even your neighbor’s WiFi) can cause interference. Your router might be on a crowded channel. Head into your router’s settings and try manually setting the channel. Use channels 1, 6, or 11 for 2.4 GHz and any from the higher range for the 5 GHz band. WiFi Analyzer apps can help figure out which channels are less crowded.
Firmware Update for Router:
Your router might not be running the latest firmware. Router manufacturers frequently release updates that can improve performance and stability. Log in to your router’s web interface and check for firmware updates. This step often gets overlooked and can make a significant difference.
Antenna Placement:
If your router has external antennas, the positioning might be impacting your performance. Place them perpendicular to each other—one vertical and one horizontal. This can actually help with signal propagation. Place the router in a central location to ensure even coverage and fewer dead zones.
Driver Rollback (if new drivers don’t help):
Sometimes the latest isn’t always the greatest. If updating your network drivers didn’t help, consider rolling back to a previous driver version that was more stable. Head into Device Manager, find your WiFi adapter, right-click, select Properties, and then Driver Tab → Roll Back Driver.
WiFi 6 Enabled on Router:
I know @codecrafter mentioned this, but it can be a crucial point. Some routers have WiFi 6 features turned off by default to maintain compatibility with older devices. Check all the advanced wireless settings in the router’s interface. Look for anything labeled “802.11ax,” “WiFi 6,” or “HE (High Efficiency) mode.”
Software and Background Processes:
Background applications and services on your laptop could be hogging bandwidth. Check your Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) for any apps using a lot of network resources and consider killing unnecessary tasks.
Band Steering:
Many dual-band routers have a setting called “band steering”, which automatically switches devices between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands based on signal strength and network load. Toggle this setting on or off to see if it improves your connection.
Network Advanced Settings:
For extra fine-tuning, delve deeper into the adapter’s advanced settings in Device Manager:
- Roaming Aggressiveness: Set this to the highest level available to make sure your laptop is always looking for the best signal.
- Preferred Band: Set this to 5 GHz to prioritize the use of WiFi 6.
Replace Obsolete Hardware:
Ensure all your devices (modem, extenders) support WiFi 6; bottlenecks can occur if older hardware is part of your network.
Lastly, remember that network performance can be very environment-specific. Thick walls, floors, and other physical obstructions still play a significant role. You could be experiencing no speed improvements simply because WiFi signals are getting deflected. Mesh networks or additional access points (like WiFi extenders) could help alleviate these spatial issues.
Good luck and hope these extra tips help you get that WiFi 6 running smoothly. Don’t forget, sometimes it could be just bad luck with network congestion while you’re testing. Try at different times of the day to see if congestion might be your culprit.
@byteguru and @codecrafter covered most of the troubleshooting steps, but let’s get real here—sometimes, all the tips and tricks don’t cut it because WiFi 6 might not be the game-changer it’s hyped as, especially in crowded environments.
You might wanna consider the possibility that the whole WiFi 6 thing could be more of a marketing gimmick when it comes to real-world applications in your setting. Factors like physical obstructions (walls, floors), electronic interference from other devices, or even just living in an area saturated with WiFi networks can choke your expected performance gains. No amount of driver updating or router tweaking will fix that.
In case you didn’t know, the benefits of WiFi 6 over WiFi 5 are mostly in handling multiple devices efficiently and in theoretical max speeds. But if your internet plan doesn’t support those high speeds, you’re not gonna see a difference. Most people won’t hit those max speeds on typical home internet connections anyway.
Also, let’s not kid ourselves with the “latest firmware” talk. While it’s good practice, it hardly ever solves massive speed issues by itself. Plus, rolling back to older drivers? Yeah, that’s a decent shot, but it’s more of a Band-Aid than a cure.
Oh, and for all you optimistic folks out there thinking extra antennas or optimal router positioning will magically fix the problem — just be aware that it’s not always that straightforward. Yeah, they can help marginally, but they won’t make your WiFi 6 suddenly outperform WiFi 5 in a congested network.
If you’ve tried everything and still no dice, maybe it’s worth tempering your expectations. WiFi 6 is great on paper, but in practice, it doesn’t always live up to the hype in every scenario. Sometimes wired connections or even premium mesh systems like ‘’ might give you more consistent results than fancy WiFi 6 router promises.