How to unlock Wi-Fi 7's full, blistering speed in Windows 11

It took a very long time for Windows 11 and Wi-Fi 7 to lastly come collectively. Devices with the brand new Wi-Fi normal have been accessible because the starting of 2023, however Windows didn’t assist it till the newest 24H2 replace. That mentioned, the timing could be intentional.

On one hand, Wi-Fi 7 turns into one more reason to change to Windows 11, particularly since Windows 10, which is able to now not obtain updates after October, doesn’t formally assist the brand new normal. In addition, appropriate {hardware} is now extensively accessible: virtually each present pocket book and smartphone helps Wi-Fi 7, and routers with the usual exist in each worth and gear class.

The new Wi-Fi normal improves connection velocity and knowledge switch. This is mirrored in Windows, the place you can find new settings and knowledge for Wi-Fi 7.

We clarify what you to look out for when making the change and how one can higher optimize your laptop with Windows 11.

Wi-Fi 7 assist arrives with Windows 11 24H2

According to Microsoft, solely Windows 11 from 24H2 onward formally helps the brand new Wi-Fi normal. If you need to use Wi-Fi 7 on a Windows PC, you need to set up the newest model of the system.

The producers of Wi-Fi adapters and modules additionally level this out. Intel, for instance, mentions within the driver obtain for its BE200, BE201, and BE202 Wi-Fi 7 modules that Wi-Fi 7 options are solely accessible beginning with Windows 11 24H2. Prior to this Windows replace, the producer solely assured assist for Wi-Fi 6E within the driver documentation for its Wi-Fi 7 {hardware}. In addition to the Windows 11 replace, you’ll want an up-to-date driver for the Wi-Fi {hardware} in your laptop.

If you’ve a PC with an built-in Wi-Fi adapter on the motherboard, it’s greatest to acquire the motive force from the motherboard producer. If you’ve a pocket book, the producer’s web site is one of the best place to go. If your pocket book has an Intel Wi-Fi 7 module corresponding to BE200, the quickest solution to get the newest drivers is to go to the Intel assist web page for this product.

This is as a result of Windows 11 solely helps primary Wi-Fi 7 features after the replace: the motive force, however, tells the working system which particular options the built-in Wi-Fi {hardware} presents — for instance, which frequencies and channels it makes use of or through which type it helps the Wi-Fi 7 perform Multi-Link Operation (MLO). For this motive, a built-in Wi-Fi card is barely practical as soon as the suitable driver has been put in – even when you’ve got already put in the 24H2 replace for Windows 11.

Using Wi-Fi 7 on older Windows variations

Provided you put in the proper driver, Wi-Fi adapters for Wi-Fi 7 may also be used with older variations of Windows 11. In many circumstances, the working system acknowledges the {hardware}. However, it can’t make the most of sure Wi-Fi 7 benefits with out the suitable Windows substructure.

For instance, notebooks with an Intel adapter can solely set up a connection to an acceptable Wi-Fi 7 router through the 6 GHz frequency with a 160 MHz channel, not with the 320 MHz channel, which is twice as quick. This corresponds to a Wi-Fi reference to the Wi-Fi 6E normal.

The similar applies to MLO: The pocket book can’t set up a number of simultaneous connections to the router, though its Wi-Fi {hardware} is able to this.

You’ll encounter the identical restrictions if you wish to use Wi-Fi 7 {hardware} beneath Windows 10 — if the producer driver could be put in in any respect. According to Microsoft, Windows 10 doesn’t assist Wi-Fi 7 and can now not achieve this. You additionally shouldn’t depend on the Wi-Fi connection info within the settings beneath Windows 10.

The older working system reveals Wi-Fi 6 because the Wi-Fi protocol used even when linked through the 6 GHz frequency, though the usual doesn’t assist this frequency. The specification of the community channel used can be incorrect. The displayed connection velocity (hyperlink price) is right, however corresponds to a reference to Wi-Fi 6E.

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However, the inaccurate info solely displays the view of the Windows consumer. In the router, you possibly can test whether or not there may be nonetheless a connection through Wi-Fi 7, at what hyperlink price and on which channels it takes place. In a Fritzbox, use the overview beneath Home Network > Mesh, click on on the pencil icon subsequent to the Windows laptop entry, and choose Wi-Fi: There you’ll see all related details about this connection.

However, even Windows 10 doesn’t guarantee optimum Wi-Fi safety. From replace 1903, the working system helps WPA3, which is at the moment one of the best technique.

Can I take advantage of Wi-Fi 7?

With just some instructions in Windows 11, you possibly can test whether or not your system fulfills the necessities for Wi-Fi 7. First, you need to decide which Windows model and replace you’ve put in. To do that, enter the next command within the Windows search bar:

winver

The “About Windows” window will open, exhibiting you the put in model and construct quantity. For you to have the ability to use Wi-Fi 7, it should say Version 24H2.

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You can use the command line to search out out what the Wi-Fi {hardware} in your laptop can do. To do that, open the command immediate and kind the command:

netsh wlan present drivers 

It gives an outline of the capabilities of the built-in Wi-Fi module. At the highest is the product title and the producer, beneath Version, you’ll discover the model variety of the put in driver. In the Supported Radio Types line, the entry 802.11be should seem on the far proper. This is the official title for Wi-Fi 7.

If you see this entry, you realize that your Wi-Fi {hardware} can use the present normal. Therefore, the entry WPA3-Personal must also seem within the checklist of supported encryption strategies, you’ll additionally see WPA3-Enterprise.

WPA3 encryption is necessary for a Wi-Fi connection through Wi-Fi 7 over 6 GHz. Unlike 2.4 and 5 GHz, the older WPA2 encryption technique is now not enough right here. As Wi-Fi 7 is backwards suitable with older Wi-Fi requirements, your laptop nonetheless helps WPA2-Personal and probably WPA2-Enterprise, each ought to seem within the checklist.

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Under Number of Supported Bands, you possibly can see which Wi-Fi 7 frequencies your Wi-Fi {hardware} can use to transmit knowledge. For the Wi-Fi module of a present pocket book or PC, all three frequencies (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) ought to seem right here. However, which frequencies you possibly can really use for a Wi-Fi 7 connection is dependent upon the router to which your laptop connects. Some Wi-Fi 7 routers, for instance, don’t use 6 GHz, which implies 6 GHz transmission isn’t potential, even when the pc’s Wi-Fi is able to this frequency.

Wi-Fi 7 particulars in Windows settings

The Wi-Fi info within the Windows 11 settings is much less detailed than within the command immediate, however it’s simpler to entry. To do that, you need to first set up a Wi-Fi 7 connection to an acceptable router on the pc. You can do that with the brand new Wi-Fi normal:

Click on the circle icon to the left of the speaker icon within the Windows taskbar on the suitable. At the highest left of the brand new window, the Wi-Fi icon ought to be highlighted in blue and the phrase Available ought to seem beneath it.

If you click on on the icon with the arrow pointing to the suitable, all Wi-Fi networks throughout the laptop’s reception vary will seem. Now choose your community and click on on Connect. Next, enter the Wi-Fi password. If it’s entered accurately, Connected, Secured will seem beneath the Wi-Fi title.

To view the properties of this Wi-Fi connection, click on on the small i within the circle on the prime proper. This will take you on to the Network and Internet — Wi-Fi menu within the Windows settings. Here you’ll acknowledge the entry Wi-Fi 7 within the Protocol line and know that you’ve established the connection through the brand new Wi-Fi normal.

You already know many of the different particulars from the immediate. For instance, the Security Type, which specifies the lively encryption of the Wi-Fi connection, ought to say WPA3-Personal. Under Description, you’ll discover the title of the Wi-Fi {hardware} within the laptop and the put in Driver Version beneath.

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New for Wi-Fi 7 are the small print within the following traces Network band (channel) and Aggregated connection velocity (obtain/transmit). The Wi-Fi frequency through which the Windows laptop is linked to the router often seems within the prime line. In Windows 11 24H2, there are two frequencies right here. For instance, 5 GHz and 6 GHz plus the corresponding radio channels through which the router and Wi-Fi consumer are linked.

This signifies that the router and Windows laptop can deal with multi-link operation (MLO), some of the vital new features of Wi-Fi 7. If this appears to be like totally different in your Windows settings, regardless that the working system and drivers fulfill the necessities for Wi-Fi 7, test whether or not the router is ready up accurately.

For MLO to be lively, it should use the identical SSID and password for every frequency. If you see totally different settings for the totally different frequencies within the router menu, you need to search for an possibility corresponding to Enable MLO community. If you discover it and change it on, the router ought to mechanically use one SSID and password for all frequencies.

On some routers, MLO is lacking from the put in firmware: updating to a present model might repair the issue. The Aggregated Connection Speed line within the Windows settings reveals the hyperlink price, which is the present connection velocity between the router and consumer. It doesn’t correspond with the precise Wi-Fi velocity.

This is as a result of it contains not solely the switch price of the usable knowledge packets (internet knowledge price), for instance, video knowledge when streaming, but additionally the administration and backup knowledge required for the connection (gross knowledge price). In addition, interference and errors happen through the switch, that means that the precise knowledge price is round 70 to 80 p.c of the hyperlink price, even beneath optimum situations.

The time period aggregated connection velocity means that the info solely applies to Wi-Fi 7 and MLO as a result of the router and consumer are linked through a number of frequencies and Windows due to this fact provides up the potential knowledge price. In Windows 11 24H2, nonetheless, this info is used for all community connections, together with Ethernet.

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With Wi-Fi 7, it is dependent upon the MLO variant to which the router and Wi-Fi consumer are linked as as to if the hyperlink price worth is definitely the sum of the 2 connections. In most circumstances, units with MLO use the so-called multi-link single radio (MLSR). This entails parallel connections through two frequencies. However, knowledge is barely exchanged through one.

Here’s the benefit. In the occasion of transmission or vary issues, the units can in a short time change to the extra interference-free frequency and proceed the switch with out interruption. Without MLO, the router should first de-register the consumer from one frequency utilizing band steering after which join it through the higher one.

The aggregated connection velocity due to this fact solely reveals the hyperlink price of the at the moment lively connection, not the sum of the 2 frequencies.

The scenario could be totally different with the MLO variant Multi-Link Multi-Radio (MLMR). Here, the router and consumer can change knowledge through each frequencies concurrently. The precise knowledge price can then be increased than with one connection. In this case, you’ll see a better hyperlink price within the Windows settings, which provides collectively the values of the 2 connections.

Many routers with Wi-Fi 7 assist each MLO variants, however the Wi-Fi {hardware} in Windows computer systems often solely helps MLSR such because the BE200 and BE201 Wi-Fi modules from Intel which might be typically put in in notebooks. In order to make use of Wi-Fi 7 with MLO, the router and Wi-Fi consumer should use the brand new normal on all supported frequencies.

However, this isn’t all the time the case. The Fritzbox 5690 Pro from AVM, for instance, can solely set up an MLO connection through 5 GHz and 6 GHz, because it makes use of the older Wi-Fi 6 normal through 2.4 GHz. Despite Wi-Fi 7, the Fritzbox 4690 doesn’t assist MLO in any respect. It solely transmits through 5 GHz and a pair of.4 GHz and solely makes use of Wi-Fi 6 through this frequency.

Checking your router for Wi-Fi 7 and MLO assist

You can even test whether or not a reference to Wi-Fi 7 exists within the router menu. The simplest way to do that is with a Fritzbox with the brand new normal.

Under Home Network > Mesh, you possibly can acknowledge an MLO connection by the 2 dashed inexperienced traces that run between the router and consumer. In the Home Network Devices part, you will notice MLO within the Properties column.

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You can acquire further info by clicking on the pencil icon subsequent to a Wi-Fi consumer and choosing Wi-Fi. Under Wi-Fi connection, the entry Wi-Fi 7″ought to seem after the Wi-Fi normal. Further down is the road MLO, the place lively ought to be entered, adopted by the MLO variant in brackets. You’ll often see eMLSR for Enhanced Multi-Link Single-Radio.

As that is MLO, the Fritzbox reveals info on each lively connections. You can select between them on the prime by clicking the button for 5 GHz or 6 GHz, for instance. Under Data Rate, you’ll discover {that a} worth is entered within the Current window for one frequency that corresponds roughly to the hyperlink price that you simply see on the Windows consumer to which the router is linked through MLO. The different frequency, however, has a considerably decrease worth, corresponding to 6 MBit/s.

The band with the excessive knowledge price is at the moment getting used for transmission. There’s additionally a connection on the opposite frequency, however solely the small quantity of administrative knowledge required to keep up it’s at the moment being transmitted.