How to Fix Devices Constantly Jumping Between Wi-Fi Bands

🔧Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Disable Band Steering and Use Separate Network Names

This is the most reliable fix. You'll manually choose which band each device uses instead of letting the router decide.

1. Access your router admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
2. Log in with your router credentials
3. Look for Band Steering, Smart Connect, or Automatic Band Selection
4. Disable this feature
5. Go to Wireless Settings
6. Set different names (SSIDs) for your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks
7. Example: "MyHome" for 2.4 GHz and "MyHome-5G" for 5 GHz
8. Save settings
9. On each device, manually connect to the band you want it to use
10. Devices near the router: connect to 5 GHz (faster)
11. Devices far from router: connect to 2.4 GHz (better range)

Fix 2: Adjust Band Steering Sensitivity (If You Want to Keep It)

Some routers let you fine-tune how aggressively they switch devices between bands.

1. Access your router admin page
2. Find Band Steering or Smart Connect settings
3. Look for advanced options like Steering Threshold or RSSI Threshold
4. Increase the threshold (this makes switching less frequent)
5. Typical values: try increasing by 5-10 dBm from default
6. Save and monitor device behavior for 24 hours
7. If still switching too much, increase further or disable band steering entirely

Note: Not all routers offer these advanced settings - consumer routers often have all-or-nothing band steering.

Fix 3: "Forget" One Band on Problem Devices

If you want to keep band steering enabled but have specific devices stay on one band, you can prevent them from seeing the other band.

1. First, temporarily disable band steering and create separate network names (see Fix 1)
2. On the problem device, connect to the band you want it to stay on (usually 5 GHz)
3. Go to Wi-Fi settings and "Forget" the other network
4. Re-enable band steering on the router
5. The device will remember to stay on its preferred band

Note: This doesn't work on all routers - some will force the device back onto both bands when you re-enable band steering.

Fix 4: Reduce Overlap Between Band Coverage Areas

If both bands have similar signal strength in your workspace, your device can't decide which to use and keeps switching.

1. Access your router admin page
2. Go to Wireless Settings > Advanced
3. Reduce 5 GHz Transmit Power to 75% or 50%
4. This creates clear zones: 5 GHz near router, 2.4 GHz farther away
5. Devices in the "clear 5 GHz zone" will stay on 5 GHz
6. Devices outside that zone will use 2.4 GHz without constantly trying to reconnect to 5 GHz
7. Save and test in different locations

Fix 5: Update Router Firmware

Older firmware versions often have buggy band steering algorithms that switch too frequently or at the wrong times.

1. Access your router admin page
2. Go to Administration or Advanced Settings
3. Click Firmware Update or Check for Updates
4. If an update is available, install it (don't interrupt the process)
5. Router will restart automatically
6. After update, check band steering settings as they may have reset to defaults
7. Test for band-hopping behavior over the next few days

Fix 6: Use Device-Specific Network Binding

Some modern routers let you permanently assign specific devices to specific bands, regardless of band steering settings.

1. Access your router admin page
2. Go to Device Management or Connected Devices
3. Find the problem device in the list
4. Look for Preferred Band, Band Preference, or Lock to Band
5. Set the device to stay on 5 GHz (or 2.4 GHz if it's far from the router)
6. Save settings
7. The router will prevent that device from switching bands

Note: This feature is only available on higher-end routers.