Update: I have added a new section explaining the relationship between ISP speed and Wifi Speed. And I’ve added 3 videos to the article that explains all the info in graphical detail. I hope you enjoy and thanks for visiting CareerGamers. Every second you are here is massively appreciated. All the very best. Nick.
The Xbox Series X and S come packing a plethora of next-gen features. But these days, regardless of graphical power or fancy hard drives, a console will only fulfill half its potential without an internet connection.
So does the Xbox Series X and S, hidden amongst all the more exciting upgrades, support 5Ghz wifi?
If the Xbox Series does have 5Ghz wifi, is it really worth using? And if so, how would I even go about connecting my Xbox Series X or S to the next-gen wifi standard?
Having given it some thought, I realized that I probably wasn’t the only person wondering whether 5Ghz would work with the new Xbox Series consoles.
So I jumped online in search of an answer.
This is what i found:
Can the Xbox Series X and S connect to a 5ghz wifi router? Yes. The Xbox Series X and S can connect to a 5Ghz wifi router easily in the settings menu. However, 5Ghz does come with both advantages and disadvantages meaning it’s not always the best option for the PS5 to connect to the internet.
Now you know that the Xbox Series consoles can be connected to your 5Ghz wifi router.
But before I jump forward and explain how to connect, I’ll take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using 5Ghz wifi. Plus, I’ll explore whether it’s worth using 5Ghz wifi from a bandwidth point of view.
Ok, let’s get going!
The advantages and disadvantages of using 5Ghz wifi with the Xbox Series X/S
5Ghz wifi promises to offer a generational leap over the current standard: 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi
Boasting double the bandwidth and sack full of other features, 5Ghz looks set to usurp 2.4Ghz wifi.
Or is it?
After doing a little research, I was surprised to discover that 5Ghz Wi-Fi is pimpled with a number of flaws.
Though 5Ghz, in theory, offers more than double the bandwidth of 2.4Ghz Wi-fi, 5Ghz actually has a number of shortcomings that could negate this advantage and even reverse it to give 2.4Ghz the last laugh.
Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of 5Ghz wifi and how they could affect you:
Advantages
5Ghz is faster
5Ghz can transmit data at a whopping 1300Mbs. That’s more than double the lower limit of 2.4Ghz’s 450Mbs bandwidth.
What does that mean for you? It means games will download faster. Much faster.
Stable connection
5Ghz offers a more stable connection between router and device than 2.4Ghz wifi. This should lead to less data loss in transmission which should decrease lag when playing games online.
More channels
5Ghz wifi offers more frequency channels than other wifi types.
This means interference sources, such as microwaves, mobile phones, and next door’s router, won’t affect a 5Ghz connection like it would a 2.4Ghz connection.
Disadvantages
Shorter Range
5Ghz has a shorter range than other wifi types. This makes it unsuitable for larger homes and buildings.
Signal is blocked by solid objects
A 5Ghz signal seems to have a bit of a problem passing through solid objects.
This is a bit of a problem considering houses tend to be stuffed full of solid stuff.
Walls, chairs, floors, tables, your dog, everything that’s solid or solid looking can potentially stop a 5Ghz signal in its tracks.
High Speeds not supported. Yet.
Most broadband providers do not supply broadband fast enough to make use of the extra bandwidth afforded by 5Ghz.
Is it worth connecting your Xbox Series X/S via 5Ghz Wifi?
Now that you are aware of 5Ghz Wi-Fi’s advantages and disadvantages, I think it’s worth talking about whether 5Ghz wifi will actually give you a real-world bandwidth advantage over and above 2.4Ghz wifi.
To explain this in more detail I’ve looked at a few examples of average broadband internet speeds across the UK and US and compared them to the current speed of 2.4Ghz wifi.
Spoiler Alert:
2.4Ghz wifi should offer ample bandwidth for your needs. Let’s take a look why…
2.4Ghz supports speeds between 450Mbs and 600Mbs. This is massively faster than the average broadband in both the USA and UK.
In the USA the average broadband speed was 86.04 Mbps in Q2 2020. Over 5 times slower than the slowest speed on 2.4Ghz wifi.
In the UK the average broadband speed is 64Mbs as of May 2020. Again, nowhere near enough to saturate a 450Mbs 2.4Ghz wifi connection, never mind a 600Mbs connection.
To give you an idea of what I mean, my Mac is connected to my Wi-Fi router with a 2.4Ghz connection and I get a speed of over 400Mbs with an extremely fast 500Mbs Virgin Media connection. Take a look below:
SPPPEEEEDDDD!
I can honestly say that the 450Mbs bandwidth offered by 2.4Ghz wifi is way, way, more than you’ll need to download and play games lag-free over the internet.
So if you don’t have a 5Ghz connection and you are thinking about buying a router for 5Ghz: Stop. Let me save you some money. 5Ghz won’t make any difference at all to your online experience. Unless you have extremely fast broadband.
However, if you already have 5Ghz build into your router, and you are determined to use it, read on to learn how to connect your Xbox Series X and S to 5Ghz Wi-Fi
How to connect the Xbox Series X or S to 5Ghz Wi-Fi
If you are still determined to use 5Ghz wifi, here’s how to enable it with your Xbox Series X or S.
Keep in mind, some routers will need you to turn on 5ghz wifi and some will enable 5Ghz automatically depending on what device tries to connect to it. If that’s the case, you’ll need to have a flick through your router’s manual, or a click-through of the router’s manufacturers’ website to check what you need to do to enable it.
I would tell you how to turn on your 5Ghz with your router here, but there are countless routers floating around, and writing instructions for them all would turn this skinny-fit 1500 word article into a brontosaurus bashing 150,000-word monster.
Once your 5Ghz is enabled or is already enabled, follow the method below to make your Xbox Series X or S use 5Ghz.
Also, keep in mind you likely connected your Xbox to Wi-Fi when you first booted it up. Most likely by using the Xbox iOS or Android app. The below method is how to connect to Wi-Fi, after initial setup. If you want initial set up. I suggest you take a look here at the official Microsoft Website.
What you’ll need before you start:
- Your Xbox Series X or S and controller
- Wifi router set to enable 5Ghz
- Your wifi network’s password/passcode.
The Method:
1: First, make sure your Xbox is powered on, connected to the TV, and that the controller is ready to use.
2: Next, grab your Xbox controller and press the large logo button in the center of the controller. This will bring up the “Guide” menu.
3: In this menu, cycle all the way to the right until you see the option “Profile and System”. Click on it.
4: On the next screen select the “Settings” option.
5: Next, select the “General” tab.
6: In the general Tab Select “Network Settings”.
7: On this new menu page click “Set Up Wireless Network”. Clicking this button will delete your current Network connection enabling you set up a new connection.
8: A new page will open showing you all available Wifi Networks. Choose the version of your wifi network that has “5G” in the name. This will ensure that you are connecting to the correct frequency network.
Note: Some routers automatically switch between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi. If that’s the case with your router, you’ll need to consult your owner’s manual to see how to disable 5Ghz wifi for a particular connection and force 2.4Ghz. Generally speaking though, most routers will just connect to 2.4Ghz wifi unless specified.
9: Next, you’ll be asked to input your wifi password. Type it in.
10: If the Password is correct, your Xbox Series X or S will connect within a few moments. You are now connected to your 5Ghz wifi network.
Understanding Broadband Speeds in Relation to Wi-Fi Speeds
Now, let’s take a moment to break down something really important – the difference between your broadband speed and your Wi-Fi speed. It might sound like a dry topic, but stick with me. You’ll appreciate this the next time you’re bragging about your super-fast Wi-Fi connection, or when you’re trying to troubleshoot laggy video calls!
First things first. Broadband speed and Wi-Fi speed, they’re not the same thing. Nope, not even close. But they’re both crucial to your online experience, whether you’re a professional gamer, a serial Netflix binger, or just like to stay connected.
Your broadband speed, also known as your internet speed, is essentially how fast data can be transferred from the world wide web to your home network. This speed is determined by your Internet Service Provider, or ISP, and it’s usually the number they plaster all over their advertisements.
“Come to us,” they say. “We offer 100Mbps!”
Sounds impressive, right? But let’s clear something up – this is the maximum speed that data can be transferred from the internet to your home. It doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the speed your devices are enjoying.
Now, let’s talk Wi-Fi speed. Wi-Fi speed is about how fast data can move within your home network, from your router to your devices. That’s your phones, laptops, your Xbox Series X/S, and yes, even your smart fridge.
The Wi-Fi speed can be influenced by many factors – the Wi-Fi standard you’re using (2.4GHz or 5GHz), your router’s capabilities, how far you are from the router, and what kind of obstructions are between you and it (like walls, furniture, or even your pet Fido).
But here’s the twist. No matter how impressive your Wi-Fi speed might be, it can’t magically make your broadband speed any faster. If your ISP is giving you 50Mbps, and your Wi-Fi can handle up to 1300Mbps, you’re still only going to get 50Mbps at best from the internet. It’s like having a super-fast sports car but being stuck in city traffic; your car could go faster, but it’s limited by the conditions around it.
In summary, while faster Wi-Fi speeds can ensure that you’re getting the maximum possible speed from your broadband connection to your device, they can’t boost your broadband speed. So next time you’re scratching your head about why your lightning-fast Wi-Fi isn’t delivering lightning-fast internet, remember – you might need to have a chat with your ISP about your broadband speed. And hey, now you can do that chat with confidence!
Conclusion
Right then. It’s that time in the article where I give you a lovely summary of everything we’ve talked about:
- 5Ghz offers a number of advantages over 2.4Ghz wifi. These include:
- Faster speeds
- More stable connection
- More channels
- However, 5Ghz wifi also has a number of shortcomings These are:
- The signal has a shorter range than 2.4Ghz wifi
- The signal doesn’t pass through solid objects easily
- Broadband providers are nowhere near maxing out 2.4Ghz wifi speeds
- 2.4Ghz wifi offers more than enough bandwidth for online gaming
- The Xbox Series X and S can both connect to 5Ghz wifi
- See method above
- Your download speed is limited by the slowest speed of both your ISP broadband and your Wifi.
- If your Wifi Speed is 500Mbs/s and your ISP speed is 100Mbs/s you’ll only download at 100Mbs/s and vice-versa
What Next?
How long is the Xbox Series X/S power cable? The Xbox Series X and S power cable is 5-feet or 1.5 meters long. Not long enough for you? Then check out my “how long is the Xbox Series X/S Power cable” for solutions.
How do I charge the Xbox Series X/S controller? The Xbox Series X and S controller can be charged in multiple ways. These ways include, among other things, battery packs, disposable AA batteries, and Rechargeable AA batteries. Take a look at my “How to charge the Xbox Series X/S controller” article here to find out which method is best.