How To Check Your Wi-Fi GHz On iPhone

How To Check Your Wi-Fi GHz On iPhone

It’s not usually stated the type of Wi-Fi band your Router operates on, but the knowledge of it is as important as connecting to the Wi-Fi network. As you may already know, your Wi-Fi GHz will determine how much internet you get per second as well as define a range above which you get a poor network. 

This information as little as it looks can help you begin to make better-informed decisions on the type of Wi-Fi suitable to connect your iPhone at home or at work. In this article, you’ll find out how to quickly tell what Wi-Fi GHz your iPhone is connected to.

How To Check Your Wi-Fi GHz On iPhone

It’s either you’re connected to a 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi, it doesn’t go more than that. The 2.4GHz will not impress you with faster speed but will cover a wider area, while the 5GHz will only be the most effective in a smaller radius, but will leave you enjoying a faster connection.

However, you won’t find anywhere on the iPhone that shows your current Wi-Fi GHz, but there are workarounds you could use to easily identify regardless of whether you use a single or double band Router. Follow the guide below to check your Wi-Fi GHz on iPhone

Check The SSID

Some modern day Wi-Fi Routers now add as a suffix the name frequency of the network. Although it’s not uncommon to find it on a single band router, it’s common among the double bands in a bid to increase ease of use by the manufacturer. 

A double GHz Wi-Fi will automatically switch you between both 2.4GHz and 5GHz depending on your distance from the router as well as your current internet speed. 

Usually, as with most Router manufacturers, both bands are named the same, only varying at the tail of the name by adding a suffix either 2.4GHz or 5GHz. To check the Wi-Fi GHz you’re connected to by looking  up the name of the network (SSID), follow the below guide;

  • Tap and hold on Wi-Fi from the Control center. Access the Control Center by swiping down from the right side of the screen or swiping up from the screen bottom for iPhones without and with home buttons respectively
  • On the Wi-Fi window, your access point will be seen below Wi-Fi and sometimes may consist of long strings of letters and alphabets
  • Check the one you’re connected to. If it shows a 2.4GHz or 5.4GHz at the end of the name ,then you know what Wi-Fi GHz your iPhone is connected to.

However, in the case you don’t find it there, your manufacturer just didn’t add it and there’s nothing to worry about. Continue with the rest of the steps to find out which works for you.

Perform A Speed Test

One of the key differences between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz lies on the speed of each network. Without any technicality involved, you can easily tell that the 5GHz will outperform the 2.4GHz when it comes to speed, primarily because it has the higher number. 

A 5GHz Wi-Fi gives maximum speed and can supply as much as 100Mbps. It’s the standard for gaming, video streaming and calls as it’ll not buffer for even a second. However, its effectiveness will be lost in the long range. Whereas the 2.4GHz will do well in long range as it can pierce through objects to get the network through, but with a poorer speed compared to 5GHz. 

To perform a speed test to know which Wi-Fi GHz you’re connected to, you can use any of the online internet speed checker tools. Launch them from your browser and have the tool analyze your internet speed. The one with the lower speed is likely to be the 2.4GHz and higher speed the 5GHz. However, to keep things fair enough, stay as close as possible to the Router.

Perform A Signal Strength Test

Signal strength can also be used to distinguish between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi. The 2.4Ghz will perform better than the 5GHz as you continue to move further away from the Router. 

To many it doesn’t make sense how the 2.4 GHz stands the test of strength against the 5GHz, but you’ll be wrong to assume it won’t. Think of it like a vehicle’s gear assembly where smaller gears do the heaviest of jobs. When connected to a 2.4GHz, you can be sure to still have your connection intact even when you move considerably away from the Router.

With 5GHz, it’s completely a different story, in fact the opposite. Move away from the Wi-Fi network source and you’ll have the signal fizzle away. To perform a signal strength text to know which Wi-Fi GHz you iPhone is connected to;

    • Connect your iPhone to the network standing close to the source
    • Gradually move away from the router and notice how the signal strength begins to adjust
  • Continue to move away until one of the networks likely stops showing any live signal. The first SSID to give up its signal is most definitely the 5GHz and the winner of the race will be the 2.4GHz.

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Use The Airport Utility App

The Airport utility app is a Wi-Fi scanner that can easily determine what Wi-Fi band you’re using. Although the Airport utility app was made to serve the Apple Airport routers, they’re not exclusive to them as it’s able to check other bands from different Routers. 

To use the Airport Utility app to determine what Wi-Fi GHz your iPhone is connected to, you have to first download the app, it’s freely available on the app store, afterwards follow the below guide;

  • First, with the Airport Utility app installed, open the settings app
  • Scroll down to the pane of apps, find and tap on Airport Utility
  • Toggle the switch to the right of Wi-Fi Scanner on
  • Close Settings and tap open the Airport Utility app
  • Tap on Wi-Fi Scan at the top right corner of the screen
  • On the next screen, tap on scan at the top right corner
  • The scan result will show you a list of Wi-Fi networks around as well as their respective GHz. Choose from your Router SSID and take note of the Wi-Fi GHz.

 

How Do I Check If My Wi-Fi Is 2.4GHz On My iPhone?

You probably are wondering if your Wi-Fi is 2.4GHz or the counterpart, probably because you want to know if you can connect more devices to your Router or are suspecting that your internet speed is slow. 

It’s not very difficult to check if you’re connected to a 2.4GHz, although the iPhone has not made that any easier. However, a workaround is available. Use the guide below to check if your Wi-Fi is 2.4GHz right from your iPhone;

Look Up Channel Info For The Router

Channel information is included just below your network SSID and can give you a clue of what Wi-Fi GHz you’re connected to. Lower Channel numbers are quick indicators that the network is using a 2.4GHz band whereas higher ones tell that it’s a 5GHz Wi-Fi. 

Here’s how to look up channel information on your iPhone;

  • Swipe from the top to open the Control Center
  • Tap and hold the Wi-Fi icon to open the Wi-Fi
  • Look at the last detail just below your connected network, you’ll find ‘Channel’ and a number written next to it.

For Channel numbers from 1 – 11, these will indicate that your connected network is 2.4GHz and higher than that will indicate a 5GHz Wi-Fi. 

However, this range is a working number in the U.s and can vary from country to country. You may want to check with your Router manufacturer the indicator numbers for 2.4Ghz and 5GHz Wi-Fi. 

 

Can I Check If My Wi-Fi is 2.4GHz On My iPhone?

Yes, it’s possible on an iPhone to check if you’re connected to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Note that there’s no clearly spelt way to do this on your iPhone. The best way that has been found to be accurate is to check your connected network Channel number.

Channel number may vary for different Router manufacturers which makes it unreliable. What you can do best is to check with your Manufacturer the band your Router operates on and how to distinguish between a 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi network.

Conclusion

Depending on how you use your Wi-Fi, it’s important to have a knowledge of what frequency your Router supplies. Generally, if you need more devices connected at once at a longer range, then the 2.4GHz is your best bet. And if it’s speed and stronger signal, go for a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection. If you’re still not sure how to distinguish between both bands, use the above guide to learn how to check your Wi-Fi GHz on iPhone.

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