How to Change Your Router Channel

Learn how to change router channels to improve your wifi speed.

Wifi frequencies and channels

Wifi routers broadcast signals in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. A 2.4 GHz connection travels further at a lower speed. A 5 GHz frequency provides faster speeds at a shorter range.

Both of these frequencies are divided into numerically labeled channels. Having a lot of other wifi signals around you, such as from neighbors where the houses are close together, sometimes slows down a wifi channel. This can cause everyone’s wifi signal speed to slow down.

Most routers have the ability to change channels. This means you can manually choose a less crowded frequency and potentially increase your wifi speed.

How to change the channel on your router

This is easiest on a PC or a Mac but can also be done on a tablet or mobile device.

1. Open a Web browser (Chrome, Firefox or Safari)
2. Type your router’s IP address in to the browser’s address bar.
   • Most routers have a sticker on them that shows information such as the router’s IP address (shown as Router login details:) and the username and password you need to log in to the router.
   • The most popular brands of routers usually have a username of Admin and a password of Admin.
   • The IP address always starts with http:// followed by four number sequences separated by dots. For example: http://123.456.1.1. Your router will have its own unique number.
   • Different routers may use different terminology to describe the IP address, but the numeric codes will look like the one mentioned above.
   • If your router does not have such a sticker, check the documentation that came with the router for the information or contact the router manufacturer.
3. Hit

   Enter

   after you type in the IP address (example: http://123.456.1.1)
   • Your browser may display a warning screen at this point.
   • Click

     Proceed

     .
4. Enter the router’s username.
   • Enter the username and password exactly as they appear. They are case sensitive.
   • The username and password can usually be found on a sticker on the router.
   • If you’re having trouble finding the username and password, check the documentation that came with your router or contact the router manufacturer.
5. Open

   Wireless Settings.
   • The exact name and location of this option may differ for different brands of routers. Many of the most popular brands show

     Wireless Settings

     under

     Advanced Settings.

     Consult your router’s manual if you need assistance or ask a tech-savvy friend or family-member to assist..
   • Depending upon your particular wifi service, you may have a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz band available.
   • If you have two bands, you can change the channel on both bands following the instructions below.
   • If there is an

     Auto-Connect

     setting, turn it to

     OFF

     because you are trying to manually set a different wifi channel.
   • Auto-Connect

     is usually a

     Wireless Settings

     option.
6. Click

   Channels

   .
7. Change your wifi channel to 1, 6, or 11. These are usually the least crowded channels.
   • If your router is already broadcasting on channel 1, 6, or 11, change the channel to one of the others.
8. Click

   Save

   or

   Apply

   .
   • Once you save your settings, your router may reboot. Be sure to let it restart and reconnect to your Ring device.

If you can’t change the router channel manually

Certain router models lack the ability to manually change channels. If you’re having difficulty accessing the channel controls on your router, contact the router manufacturer for assistance. Find the name of the router manufacturer, look for a customer service number and ask them to help you change the wifi channel to 1, 6 or 11. If it is already on one of those channels, have them switch to another.