How to Connect Smart Bulb to 5GHz Wi-Fi?

A smart bulb is helpful in more ways than one, especially considering the era we live in. Moreover, a smart bulb offers you a bucketful of options compared to traditional bulbs that we used in the past. So, it is not surprising if you are thinking to yourself what type of Wi-Fi to use with your smart bulb.

If you fall into that category, we are happy to tell you that you are in the best place on the internet as we are discussing how to connect your smart bulb to a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection.

You don’t have to be a tech pro to implement the steps that we discuss today. All you have to do is read the article vigilantly till the end. Let’s get going!

What is Wi-Fi 5GHz? 

5GHz is a relatively new wireless Wi-Fi internet frequency. It is faster than the older version 2.4GHz, but has a shorter range compared to 2.4GHz. This means it works best for nearby devices. This obviously suggests that 5GHz might not be the best option for smart bulbs especially if you intend to keep your smart bulb too far away from your Wi-Fi connection.

However, 5GHz is a better option for most other household items. In addition, the 5GHz band has less interference. So, it is better for streaming, gaming, and video calls. Many modern routers support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

Let’s be more specific and talk more about how it works with smart bulbs. 

Is it Possible to Connect a Smart Bulb to a 5GHz Wi-Fi Network? 

Although it is possible, most smart bulbs do not support 5GHz Wi-Fi. As we explained, since 5GHz has a shorter range, most smart bulbs are designed to work using 2.4GHz. 

If your smart bulb supports 5GHz, you can connect it like any other device. So, it is important to go through the manual of your smart bulb in the first place to determine whether it is compatible with using 5GHZ Wi-Fi.  

Related: How Much Data Does a Wi-Fi Security Camera Use?

How Do You Know If Your Smart Bulb Supports a 5GHz Wi-Fi Network? 

Like we explained, it is crucial to look at the user manual to see whether your smart bulb is able to work using 5GHz Wi-Fi. You can do the same by visiting the official website of the product you own.

Again, we want to emphasize you that most smart bulbs do not use 5GHz Wi-Fi. So, keep that in mind if you don’t have access to the user manual. 

How to Connect Smart Bulb to 5GHz Wi-Fi?

Although there are various methods, here is the most used and the best method to use a smart bulb with a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection.

Before explaining the steps, again, we want to emphasize that if your bulb only supports 2.4GHz, you cannot force it to connect to 5GHz. However, you can still set it up using alternative methods explained in the next section of the article.

If your router broadcasts both 2.4GHz and 5GHz under the same Wi-Fi name (SSID), your phone might connect to 5GHz, preventing the smart bulb from detecting the correct network.

Solution: Separate the Wi-Fi Bands

1. Log in to your router settings (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Go to Wi-Fi settings and find the band settings.
3. Enable separate SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
4. Rename the 2.4GHz network (e.g., “MyWiFi_2.4G”) and 5GHz network (e.g., “MyWiFi_5G”).
5. Connect your phone to the 2.4GHz network and set up the smart bulb.

This is the best and most commonly used method to connect a smart bulb successfully with a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection.

Related: Does Using Ethernet Slow Down Wi-Fi?

Alternative Methods to Connect a Smart Bulb with a 5GHz Wi-Fi Connection

Here are some more ways if the previous method is out of your reach. 

Disable 5GHz Temporarily

If your router doesn’t allow separate SSIDs, you can disable 5Ghz temporarily during the setup. Here is how you want to do it. 

Log in to your router > Find the Wi-Fi band settings > turn off 5GHz > Connect the smart bulb to Wi-Fi > Enable 5GHz after you finish the setup. 

Move the Smart Bulb Away from the Router

Remember 5GHz has a shorter range. You can use this quality of 5GHz and move about 30-50 away from the router to help it switch to 2.4GHz and setup the bulb.

Use a Guest Network

If your router allows it, create a guest Wi-Fi network and set it to 2.4GHz only. Then, connect the smart bulb to that network.

Use a Wi-Fi Extender

A Wi-Fi extender that supports 2.4GHz can help with your work. You can set up the bulb using the extended network and then connect it to the main Wi-Fi.

Can 2.4 GHz Bulbs Work on 5GHz Wi-Fi Connections? 

As we mentioned once, it is not possible to connect a smart bulb that is compatible with 2.4GHz to a 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency. However, you can use the alternative methods we explained earlier to deal with this situation. 

The dual-band system is the only workable and best method we can offer you if this is the case with you. 

Why is My Smart Bulb Won’t Connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi? 

Here’s why your smart bulb might not connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi.

• Most smart bulbs are designed to work on 2.4GHz, not 5GHz. We explained this enough, we guess.
• A 5GHz network is not a practical solution for smart bulbs as it has a shorter range. 
• If your router works 2.4GHz and 5GHz under one network name (SSID), your bulb might fail to connect.
• Devices may struggle to connect to 5GHz if the signal is weak or there’s interference.