You have your router turned on and transmitting signal at full speed through your 5GHz WiFi. You’re ready to play a game, update your system, download a new title, or watch a movie, but you can’t connect. Don’t worry, we are here to help you.
There are multiple reasons why this may be happening and some are more complex than others. However, to restore peace of mind when the PS4 does not detect 5G WiFi, we present possible causes and solutions below.
Advantages offered by connecting through WiFi 5GHz
WiFi networks use radio signals in the 2.4 GHz or WiFi 5GHz frequency bands. All modern WiFi devices support 2.4 GHz connections. However, some devices support both, such as your PS4.
In general, the difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz comes down to wireless range vs. speed. If you want better range, use 2.4 GHz . If you need higher performance or speed, the 5 GHz band is better. The 5GHz WiFi band, which is the newer of the two, has the potential to eliminate network interference to maximize performance.
Which means that this band will be better for things like reducing lag or latency in your video games. This will definitely give you a better gaming experience due to the fast connection.
PS4: solutions to problems connecting your 5GHz WiFi
It is important to note at this time that the 5GHz WiFi network only works on your PS4 Slim and Pro. Only these devices have the necessary 5GHz functions. Unfortunately, original or normal PS4 models cannot connect to the 5GHz WiFi network because they do not support this connection and do not have the necessary function.
Indeed, as long as you have other models than the first PS4 model, you should be able to connect to the 5GHz WiFi network without problems. This is why you should check the model of your PS4 before trying to connect to the network.
Check these WiFi network problems first
To find out why your PS4 is not receiving a signal, you can start by performing one of these checks.
- Is your router unplugged or did the power go out? The solution may be as simple as restarting the router or plugging it back in.
- Is your PS4 console trying to connect to a different WiFi network? Although your device normally connects directly to your home WiFi network, you may be trying to connect to a different network. You may have to manually make it connect to your home network so it forgets the other one.
- Did you change your WiFi password recently? You may need to re-enter the new password on the PS4 if it doesn’t automatically save the new password.
- Do other websites work? Sometimes certain websites or servers go down. Check other sites to see if it’s your WiFi or just a specific site.
- Can you connect if you move your PS4 closer to the router? If you normally have a strong signal in rooms far from your router but suddenly can’t connect, move your PS4 closer to the equipment that is emitting the WiFi signal. If you can pick up a signal in a closer room, you may have a long-range signal problem, not a WiFi connection problem.
Manually select a frequency band
PS4 Pro automatically switches between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi frequency bands to always use the fastest one. In this exercise, most of the time, the game will start to lag or lose connection for a few seconds.
If you have a dual-band router such as the Movistar Smart WiFi Router, you should try to manually select a band from the console’s network settings. You can try both bands and then set the one that works best. To do so you must enter:
- Go to Settings > Network > Set up Internet connection > Use WiFi > Easy.
- Now look for the “Options Menu” at the bottom of the screen and select it.
- Open the WiFi frequency bands and now select 5.0 GHz or 2.4 GHz.
Additional checks
In some cases, simply restarting the console can fix the error. It will only take a couple of minutes. This same procedure is something you can try with your router.
However, if nothing works, there is always one last resort: you can also try connecting via an Ethernet cable. This is the way to obtain a reliable connection without any type of interference or latency.
Finally, if none of the steps above resolved your issue, some users have found that changing the DNS server settings can also help. If it still doesn’t work, you should contact Sony PS4 support for further assistance.
