Connecting to the 5 GHz WiFi of your Linksys Dual-Band or Tri-Band Wireless-AC router

The Linksys Dual-Band and Tri-Band Wireless-AC routers support two types of frequencies which are the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz radio bands. The less crowded 5 GHz band offers significantly improved performance over the more common 2.4 GHz band for video streaming or gaming. By connecting to the 5 GHz band of your router, you can maximize the full potential of your Linksys Wireless-AC adapter and benefit from higher data rates. This article will guide you on how to connect to the 5 GHz band of your router.
 
Before you begin make sure you have the following:

 
  • Latest driver installed on your Linksys Wireless-AC adapter
  • Wireless network name (SSID) – the name of your WiFi
  • Wireless security type – the mode and encryption used by the router
  • Network security key or passphrase – the password used to connect wirelessly

Once the above items are checked, you can now start connecting to the WiFi network. Select the operating system applicable to you:

Windows® 11
Windows 10
 
Windows® 11

1. On your system tray, click on the WiFi icon.
 
sf194737-001_en_v5.png
 
2. Click on the > icon to manage WiFi profiles.
 
sf194737-002_en_v5.png
 
3. Select the 5 GHz WiFi and click on the Connect button.
 
sf194737-003_en_v5.png

4. Enter your network security key or passphrase then click Next. Your WiFi password is case-sensitive.
 
sf194737-004_en_v5.png

You will be asked if you want to enable network discovery between the devices in your network. It is recommended to select Yes if you are setting up a home or work network. 
 
Once connected, your WiFi name will be displayed under the WiFi icon.

sf194737-005_en_v5.png
 

Windows 10

The following steps are ONLY applicable to the Linksys Wireless-AC adapters that support Windows 10. If your computer or laptop has a built-in adapter,
you need to DISABLE it before using the Linksys Wireless-AC adapter.

1. On your system tray, click on the WiFi sf194737-006_en_v5.png icon and select your 5 GHz WiFi name.
 
sf194737-007_en_v5.png
 
2. Click on the Connect button. If you wish to connect to the network automatically upon start-up, check Connect automatically.
 
sf194737-008_en_v5.png
 
3. Enter your network security key or passphrase then click Next. Your WiFi password is case-sensitive.
 
sf194737-009_en_v5.png

4. You will be asked if you want to enable network discovery between the devices in your network. It is recommended to select Yes if you are setting up a home or work network. 
 
sf194737-010_en_v5.png
 
The WiFi icon on the system tray will change to sf194737-011_en_v5.png, indicating it is now connected to your network with the internet. If there is no internet connection, the icon displayed will be sf194737-012_en_v5.png.

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