Unifi band steering not working. This helps reduce latency, improve connection .

Unifi band steering not working You have to choose one method. Replacing one single AC access point before. Wi-Fi booster with this function can improve your Wi-Fi. 5. 4 GHz network. Implement Band Steering UniFi APs support band steering, encouraging dual-band capable devices to connect to the less congested 5 GHz band. 4, 5, or 6 GHz—on a single UniFi Access Point. Band steering is on "prefer 5g" I know there's a Aug 30, 2024 · Band steering not working This thread has been locked for further replies. 2 GHz band set to width 20, 5 GHz band width 80. Standing 6 feet from the U6-LR on 80MHz width channels I can pull 700MBps+ on my iPhone 13 pro using AX. Mar 17, 2016 · Model UniFi AP-AC v2 Firmware Version 3. However, band steering is operated by the access point, and it cannot control how the client device interprets or sends the probes, leaving many client devices unable to be steered to the 5 GHz band. In reading the public comments on the 6. Combine with Other Features: BSS Transition works best when combined with other network optimization features, such as band steering and load balancing. Sep 3, 2023 · I upgraded my Spectrum internet last week to 1gig. Enabling both settings (network and AP) will not work. 4 signal and everything works just fine. While it isn’t a guarantee that the client will connect to that band, the UniFi Access Points will attempt to balance traffic based on the setting defined. 4 world. Is this still the case? The unit has both radios active and every client is only using the 2g band/radio. May 5, 2025 · Follow these steps to plan, configure, and optimize a UniFi Wi-Fi network to ensure that you maximize performance for speed, reliability, and roaming! It supports a higher channel width on the 6 GHz band, up to 320 MHz compared to WiFi 6E's 160 MHz, allowing for more data throughput. Once outdoors they will transition to the 2. Once I installed the new equipment (and was forced into a new network credentials), I started having issues with accessories being unresponsive. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions. Prior to installing my new router and modem, everything in HomeKit was working wonderfully. 4GHz signal power down then there's still the High Performance Devices [Beta] - Connects high performance clients to 5 GHz only toggle which works relatively well in my experience. All up to date. I strongly recommend using the new one because it is There is band steering option but it only allows to band steer to 5ghz not 6ghz. 19. My mobile devices mostly connect to the 5Ghz when I am indoors. There seems to be two camps: one that says separate your 2. 3. I was wondering if the band steering on Unifi APs works reasonably well. 4ghz only clients to 5ghz. 4GHz signal is stronger then they will connect even though it may have more interference. The advanced settings in UniFi networks offer a range of options that can help you tailor your network to meet specific needs, ensuring that all devices Oct 7, 2024 · UniFi Fast Roaming is Ubiquiti’s implementation of the 802. I was hoping someone more experienced with 6ghz could maybe let me know whats the best practice and general consideration for 2. 4 and 5 GHz 2) push to 5 GHz. Symptoms: When a device is first established connection to the SSID the experience is mostly good, however have a period of time (I found no pattern to this) the device network connectivity stops working (it Nov 29, 2023 · Band Steering 1. 11r protocol. Meanwhile other devices work just totally fine with no issues or loss of internet. This standardized methodology replaces the old AP level band steering, which is fully deprecated. If the 2. 0. 4 and 5Ghz Clients on the same SSID with 6Ghz turned on when using Ubiquiti 6E APs at least! Why? Ubiquiti disables the WPA2/WPA3 option and only allows WPA3 or WPA3 Enterprise which by default forces all leg Ubiquiti UniFi Access Point - Band Steering (1 of 2) 777 or 404 8. 4GHz on one Ap to just duplicate the ssid but I am unsure if roaming / band steering over multiple same ssids is supported or not. Aug 2, 1993 · Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is a WiFi 7 feature that allows compatible client devices to maintain simultaneous connections to multiple bands —2. Freshly updated for UniFi Network version 8. Oct 23, 2022 · A number of users have reported problems with band steering enabled on Unifi access points, so make sure that band steering is disabled. I don't use band steering. Hey guys, I'm having an issue on the office. I want the client to do a better job of picking between 2. If you do not have a UniFi Gateway, are unsure how to perform a site survey, or need help interpreting results, consider consulting a WiFi surveyor. The UniFi Controller provides tools and analytics to see how devices are distributed across bands and to make adjustments as necessary. 4 GHz band, increase interference and connectivity issues. By enabling and configuring band steering, you can improve network performance, reduce congestion, and provide a better Wi-Fi experience for all connected devices. You can manage this per AP, but I just group selected and did it to all of them. The following guide outlines essential settings for VLANs, switch ports, Wi-Fi SSIDs, a The UniFi AC Pro (UAP-AC-PRO) is a versatile, reliable access point with features that work for home setups and small to medium business environments alike. Nov 21, 2023 · What is band steering and how to enable it? In this article, we will explain what band steering is and how it can help us improve our Wi-Fi performance. But does Ubiquiti AC-LITEs do band steering in a functionally different way than say Asus RT-AC68U's "Smart Connect"? It's got fine tuning for min RSSI, min/max PHY rate, etc. So you have to go to each AP, (or creat an AP group that sets for many APs) and choose Balanced. UniFi’s Advanced Wi-Fi settings are often misunderstood. Jul 1, 2024 · Hello, i like to request the feature, to change the status of band steering per access point instead of only one global setting for all access points. How does ubiquiti handle the band steering exactly? Before I switched the Branch to Unifi we used LANCOM. I tried deleting them and re-adding them, and now, non of the hubs or bridges will connect. 2 U6-LRs and 2 In-Wall HDs. Learn what Band Steering does within the UniFi Controller and whether to not you should enable it. 4. Jan 27, 2022 · UniFi’s Wi-Fi Settings Table of Contents Creating a New UniFi Wi-Fi Network Advanced Wi-Fi Settings Wi-Fi Band Optimize IoT Wi-Fi Connectivity AP Groups UAPSD High Performance Devices Proxy ARP Legacy Support Multicast Enhancement (IGMPv3) BSS Transition L2 Isolation Enable Fast Roaming Bandwidth Profile Security Settings Security Protocol If WPA3 is selected… Hide Wi-Fi Name PMF Aug 30, 2024 · Band steering not working This thread has been locked for further replies. Conduct a WiFi site survey to ensure optimal coverage. Has anyone else had this issue and solved it? Sep 2, 2024 · UniFi’s advanced Wi-Fi settings, what they mean, and how you should use them. I'm not exactly sure what I'm missing, but while other devices work fine, my PS5 has a terrible time maintaining a decent connection. . Feature Explanations Should I enable UniFi Band Steering? What is UAPSD in UniFi? What does Band Steering do in UniFi? What is BSS Transition in UniFi? Jul 24, 2025 · Understanding Band Steering in Wi-Fi: What It Is and Why It Matters? In today’s digital world, seamless internet connectivity isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Works perfectly for me at home. With my current setup, using a single SSID (even after enabling WiFi Agile Multiband in the settings) results in my iPhone 15 Pro sometimes sticking to the 2. 14 I have an AP as above and the option for band steering is disabled. Benefits of Band Steering The benefit of band steering is an optimized Wi-Fi network that smartly manages device connections to ensure the best possible performance. Wondering if there could be something specific going on for it to be trying to force 2. For my setup, I have always had nightly optimization turned on and band steering off and haven't seen any issues with this update. It ensures de Change Wi-Fi channels in UniFi, understand how they work, and avoid interference issues with a clear, step-by-step guide anyone can follow. Weirdly enough I seem to have issues with one of my 6GHz clients having connectivity issues in certain spots in my house where other normal wifi 6 (5ghz) clients do not have Jun 8, 2024 · Explore the importance of Wi-Fi network optimization with band steering and AP steering. Learn how to manage your entire network and home lab! What is AFC? AFC (Automatic Frequency Coordination) is a feature in UniFi Network designed for 6 GHz WiFi that increases transmit power while complying with FCC Standard Power Limits. Then, when I go to the room where the AP is, they don't come back to 5g. Find out if band steering is a good way to get a better network connection. It’s quick to install, easy to manage, and packed with useful features like dual-band support, PoE flexibility, and semi-outdoor capability. It enables over-the-air Fast BSS Transition, which allows devices to roam faster between the UniFi access points. Currently we have 5ghz prefer band steering, but there is an area on the office, where we have "small" meeting rooms that fit just one person. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Once enabled, this can be manually set for your 2G and 5G radios independently. 4Ghz to be at least 6 Mpbs. Upgraded all Unifi firmware and software to the latest versions. Mar 31, 2021 · So, where does this band steering mechanism come into play? Band steering allows the access point to disable the 2. The defaults are usually safe, but it’s helpful to understand what these settings do while setting up a network or troubleshooting an issue. As the steering mechanism demonstrates, both the access points and client devices can send probes. 4ghz inside there since the -dBm is better, should I set that AP to balanced or band steering off? Thanks! We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. My school has lots of Chromebooks, which have 5ghz WiFi cards and newer laptops for staff, so I set “Prefer 5ghz. But given that the language of the band steering feature doesn’t even mention 6 GHz… ehhhhh. If you want to use the new method then you have to disable Band Steering on all your APs which are sending these networks. The SSID setting was recently introduced, as new firmware includes new band steering logic controlled by the SSID setting.   Here are some of the most common UniFi mistakes I run into, and what you can do to Is it a bad idea to enable both band steering (prefer 5Ghz) and “only connect modern devices to 5Ghz” at the same time? Let us explain. Scroll down the page and toggle Band Steering on. We're slowly converting some ANCIENT Wi-Fi deployments to Meraki and trying to clean up various Wi-Fi-related problems in our environment, like rogue With Unifi specifically, Band Steering at either Network App or AP-level have caused me problems with 2. I use a Hue In each case, the device in question has worked, then stops working, then will start working again later. I picked up two U6-Lites and have them at opposite ends of a one story ranch house with unified SSID. How do you use a band steering? In a normal operation, the AP sees wireless Why does band steering work so poorly? My devices connect to the 5g band at first, but they eventually jump to 2g when 5g coverage is still ~3 lines. UniFi controllers have a feature called Band Steering. 1/24) Enabled NAT-PMP & UPnP Unifi nanoHD on latest firmware Wifi network 2. 4 GHz band while taking advantage of the faster 5GHz band to improve user's network experience. This checkbox is off right now. 59, including Radio Manager, PPSK, and other recent changes. 168. If I want devices to switch to 2. First I thought it's becoause of the DFS Channels, in the past - especially the Nexus devices - had Problems with Channels above 50. Generally, no. Here's my setup: pfSense router - using default VLAN (192. One powerful feature that modern routers offer to tackle this problem is band Jun 19, 2024 · Setting up a UniFi network can be a complex task, but with the right configurations, it is possible to create a secure, efficient, and well-organized network. By default, I believe the AP band steering is turned off, and the SSID band steering is turned on when creating a new SSID. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Signal will drop out entirely where I had Mar 27, 2023 · For the AP (s) that provide support for that auditorium, how do you have their 2. If you have a UniFi Gateway or UniFi Cloud Gateway, use the WiFiman Mobile app (iOS / Android) to measure signal strength and latency. Jul 25, 2006 · Does WiFi Band Steering actually work or is it still buggy as all hell like I remember it being? Feb 26, 2019 · Here is why they do Band Steering. Performance has gotten much, much worse. However, in case a device is not 5GHz- ready, it will connect to the 2. This helps reduce interference, improves overall speed, and ensures better performance for devices that support higher bands. 4015 Controller: 4. At the Wifi SSID setting level, there is a Band Steering on/off setting. lt's possible on UniFi controllers/APs and it is useful if band steering doesn't work properly in some areas or is just not necessary. 54 release, a number of people have said turning off band steering fixed their issues on the U6-LR. Jul 13, 2021 · We go through all of the recommended settings that I apply and setup with every Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi setup that I do and install and these are generally the most settings I found to work best for if you don't want to bring 2. Aug 19, 2024 · Conclusion Band steering is a powerful tool for optimizing your UniFi network, helping to ensure that devices connect to the best possible band for their needs. Or even Google WiFi (it doesn't expose any fine tuning controls, but apparently it Failed to fetchTry Again 3 days ago · The Ubiquiti UAP‑AC‑PRO: compact, PoE‑ready UniFi AP that delivers strong multi‑client Wi‑Fi performance — but there are important caveats to consider. DTIM Auto. Jul 25, 2023 · Does band steering work in Unifi? UniFi Access Point supports band-steering Yes, band-steering works with UniFi. Hi all, I am installing a unifi network at home. I have band steering turned on for both of the WiFi names I've configured. After restarting the router, reconnect your iPhone to Wi-Fi and see if the problem is fixed Band steering should work with and without local probe response enabled. It encourages dual-band clients (those that can connect to both 2. I created a second SSID for the 6 GHz devices Set WPA3 Turned off Band Steering I’m using 6E devices - iPhone 15 Pro Max or Alienware x16 - both 6E Updated all firmware’s to the latest versions Power cycled everything Mar 21, 2004 · Band steering has two options on Unifi 1) balanced between 2. 2. 4, 5 and 6 networks. Sep 25, 2023 · For Unifi UDR routers, enable these settings: Turn on Band Steering to favor 5GHz for iPhones Enable Fast Roaming to minimize connection drops Set DTIM to 3 for better multitasking performance Adjust Transmit Power to use higher signal strength After applying settings, then restart the Unifi router. Troubleshooting Steps Check your device's LED or LCD s Over at r/homenetworking, any time anyone asks about band steering, the answer is always "Just get enterprise hardware" aka Ubiquiti. Hi I have a Unifi Ap and been having a range of issues with IOS devices (iPhones and iPads) when connected to the AP and hoping to get some advice on how to best to try and resolve it. Ultimately the client decides what to connect to, but the AP will "hide" the 2G connection from 5G enabled devices. Aug 13, 2024 · Whether you’re setting up a home network, managing an office environment, or optimizing a public Wi-Fi system, configuring the right settings on your UniFi network is crucial for achieving optimal performance, security, and user experience. Hello, I want to inform you that with the current specifications of the 6Ghz Band and the requirements for the WPA3 authentication scheme, there is NO backward compatibility with 2. I do not work for and I am not directly associated with GL. 4 GHz and 5GHz and pick the one with better signal strength. May 14, 2021 · Your router might support band steering to auto switch between 2. Disable band steering, you don't want that, it doesn't work as good as the other feature Nov 13, 2025 · Fast Roaming, Band Steering, BSS Transition & Roaming Assistant In UniFi Network, you will find a couple of options that will all help the client devices roam faster to another access point or band (2,4 GHz to 5 GHz). Band steering encourages devices that are 5GHz-capable to migrate to the 5GHz spectrum, freeing up the 2. Jul 2, 2025 · Learn how to optimize UniFi roaming for seamless transitions between access points using Min-RSSI, band steering, and 802. Band steering would seem the opposite of what I want. 03K subscribers Subscribe Determining and Configuring Minimum RSSI Minimum RSSI can be enabled within the UniFi Network Application by selecting an AP in UniFi Devices and then navigating to Settings in the side panel of the selected device. But it's up to the client and Roku could do it differently than Windows than iPhone.  I’ve helped a lot of people troubleshoot networks and camera setups, and it’s usually not some big issue, just a few small things most folks don’t even realize they’re doing. 8. Additionally, WiFi 7 introduces Multi-Link Operation (MLO), enabling devices to connect to multiple bands simultaneously, which will reduce latency and improve roaming and bandwidth. I'm curious what others think. That's what I would test with, but I've always turned it off completely. 4 on Medium. I have seen guides where if you want 2. I have 4 APs. If you experience degraded connection quality (i. 4Ghz clients (I don't do split SSIDs for each band). On the AP options itself, go to BAND STEERING and choose Prefer 5G. Ceiling mounted - no plaster. ” -Read up on it in their support section. I run 5GHz on High and 2. Our band steering guide covers how to set this up in your UniFi network. How do these two settings impact each other? Archived post. Mac books are still running the same version of MacOS from the time I setup UniFi. 4GHz clients to associate on 2. in this UniFi band steering configuration guide, we’ll take a look at exactly what band steering is, and how to Few questions: In the settings of the Radio, there is an option "Band steering" and the 2 selections - Prefer 5 GHz and Balanced. Finally try to set signal strength to high. They are dense, and 5ghz is not going well trough that wall there. Should I enable UniFi Band Steering? What is UAPSD in UniFi? What does Band Steering do in UniFi? What is BSS Transition in UniFi? Oct 26, 2024 · Band steering can significantly improve your network’s performance by directing devices to less congested frequency bands. There were some threads about the older controller versions that say this was intentional on the UBNT forums. The Access Point has the logic to "hide" from 5GHz-capable clients that are asking to connect on the 2. Each time these devices have an actual IP, are connected etc and there is nothing in the logs from the UniFi network controller thingy. Here is my data point. With homes and businesses packed with smart devices, traditional Wi-Fi setups can often struggle to deliver fast, stable connections to every corner. So I forced all AP to CH 44,+1 (VHT80) the 5ghz Band is totally free here so that's not the reason for it. Inability for client devices to connect to your WiFi SSID is often related to these environmental challenges or configuration errors. However, if local probe responses are disabled, allowing persistent 2. The Band Steering setting on the WiFi network is a completely new method to steer. , high latency or wireless disconnections), then you should consider revertin Legacy IoT devices, especially those operating on the crowded 2. I have tried enabling Band Steering, both prefer 5 GHz and balanced, and it just does not seem to be working. This feature can be enabled in the AmpliFi app by selecting the router icon, and navigating to Settings > Wireless. I wonder if this could be responsible for some of the weird 6GHz behavior I've seen? Comprehensive UniFi guides, tutorials, and insights from a long-time expert. Aug 19, 2024 · Ensure your UniFi devices are running the latest firmware to take advantage of these improvements. 4/5 GHz - using default network - band steering disabled Standard network, DHCP Mode This article explains the best practices for optimizing WiFi speeds. 4ghz channel broadcasted. May 5, 2025 · Band steering is an easy way to request that client devices attempt to connect to a certain WiFi band (2. They have always been a little flaky (clients would often have to manually disconnect and reconnect when r This video explains how to enable WiFi band steering on the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller for improved network performance. It is designed to encourage users with 5GHz-enabled devices to connect to the 5GHz network, to achieve peak performance. local name resolution not working Sonos speakers disappear from the network AirPrint-capable printers are not available HomeKit devices not found Time Machine backups fail Mobile applications fails to discover devices on the The AP band steering setting has been there for a long time. 11r/k/v protocols. If you have Sonos devices in your UniFi network, you may experience some of the following symptoms which may appear unrelated but are a consequence of broadcast storms: . Apr 28, 2025 · You’ve already invested in UniFi, so let’s make sure it’s working the way it should. However, I saw that there is a separate band steering checkbox, for the U7 Pro's device configuration page, independent of any of the configured WiFi names. The setting directly on the APs is the old method. The band steering was great, but something changed to cause the DHCP to stop working which led me to Ubiquiti. In the controller click the AP, then setting, then band steering and you can tell it to prefer 5hhz Turned off band steering Enabled the daily scan for interference and allowed unifi to change wifi channels as needed. Why was this never an issue until now: meaning things have been working for a year now without that option. Aug 30, 2024 · Band steering not working This thread has been locked for further replies. I have a U6-Enterprise, but I don’t yet have any 6E clients with which to test this. 4GHz and 5GHz) to connect to the 5GHz band. 4GHz bands even after being identified as 5GHz may not work. The smart function "Band Steering" affects the efficiency of your home network. Aug 27, 2020 · Go to Config (Gear Icon) > Band Steering and set it to what is appropriate for your environment. UniFi remains a popular choice for small, medium and even large enterprise deployments. But what I want is to make the devices prefer 6 GHz, which one should I select? For both 5 and 6 GHz, I can select the channels manually or let Unifi do it automatically. Is this the normal behaviour? Try to turn off band steering. 5g TX is set on custom with the maximum power, and 2g is on medium (on low some IoT devices on the garden wouldn't connect). Although thes When band steering is off they work perfectly fine. So band steering is designed to favor 5ghz for speed purposes unless the device is not capable of 5ghz. e. Learn how these technologies enhance performance and connectivity. Most clients are not super smart. 4GHz bands for older devices that are not 5GHz capable. 4 GHz band from probing the client device, so it responds only to the 5 GHz band, reducing the congestion on the 2. Any higher and they are constantly going off and on the network. This article discusses best the practices for troubleshooting UniFi devices that are not in a standard "Online" state in your user interface. 4GHz band. Sep 1, 2023 · Hi all, Hoping someone will spot something obvious that I've missed here! We are having a really rather strange issue with our unifi U6-LR access points and intermittent client connectivity. 4 Ghz or 5 GHz). I'm running the latest firmware on all my APs and the latest controller software on my Cloudkey. 4GHz and 5GHz SSIDs, and the other that says (if its available in your platform) leverage band steering to force capable clients to the 5GHz spectrum. 4GHz and 5GHz bands. Ubiquiti doesn’t do the best job at explaining, so lets go through them one by one. Apr 20, 2022 · If you have bought any of Ubiquiti’s wireless networking devices and frequently check their working status on the UniFi dashboard, you might encounter some (or a lot of) alerts, indicating that there is “High TCP Latency” between your Ubiquiti device and your own. This means balance 2GHz and 5Ghz clients so they get the same bandwidth. Exactly how I prefer it. Edgerouter at the core, running the controller in a docker container. Since the 5 GHz band typically offers faster speeds and less interference, enabling band steering can enhance the overall network performance and signal strength for supported devices. Instead of switching between bands, MLO-enabled clients stay associated with multiple links and choose the best one (s) for transmitting and receiving data. 4 GHz with minimum RSSI set to -70 dBm for each, and the transmit power set to 20 dBm on each band. I'm getting, if I'm lucky, ~100kbps. 4GHz and 5GHz channels, channel widths, and band steering set? In my client dense areas I set the following: I've got 3 Chromecast audios and a gen 3 on my 5 GHz signal, an old gen 1 Chromecast on 2. Hi have band steering enabled on my U6+, and I noticed in my 5ghz devices, I don't see the 2. Set the bad steering to prefer 5ghz. Ideally, I’d want band steering to have the band preference order: 6 GHz 5 GHz 2. Should you enable UniFi band steering? If you want fast and reliable UniFi hosting, check out HostiFi with fast support, regular backups, managed updates and prices from just $9 per month. Basically it was developed so that it would effectively move all modern devices to a 5ghz world and leave all legacy devices on the now crowded 2. Sep 9, 2025 · Devices > YOUR-ACCESS-POINT-HERE > Config > Band Steering Ensure Band Steering is set to Prefer 5G This ensures that clients will connect on the 5GHz channel when available. When Should you Enable Fast Roaming? In general, you don’t need to enable Fast Roaming in a home network. Now, when looking at this, they all might sound like a good idea to enable, but most aren’t. To learn more about our hosting plans, create an account and get started today. iNet This guide covers how to troubleshoot common wireless problems using UniFi Network, including how to evaluate signal strength, interference, airtime usage, and channel congestion. How to optimise your Ubiquiti UniFi WiFi configuration. My older Wifi cameras prefer Minimum Data Control for 2. 4GHz band even in spots where I would get far better bandwidth and latency on 5GHz. This helps reduce latency, improve connection You have to do this yourself manually with UniFi, because there are tradeoffs they don’t want to make for you to this approach given their prosumer focus: it can cause 6GHz clients to hold on to the 6GHz network for longer than they should, because band steering doesn’t really work across networks. In the individual AP settings, there is a setting for Band Steering: off/Prefer 5Ghz/Balanced. That band steering sounds like a crap gimmick feature or scam term meant to discourage customers from changing their own network details to make things easier for customer service calls. xyzs hctdx quyc whm elgbwsgu vqfezrdw xshc mjew lzstrr ffb ekfa ddv vrfptp fmqhvod kpez