Do my old devices work on Wi-Fi 6?

Do my old devices work with Wi-Fi 6 or newer?

Improvements to Wi-Fi technology occur every few years (you can learn more about the different generations in our what are Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 article), and we all want to know if our devices will support those standards.

If your device was made before 2020, the answer is almost always no because Wi-Fi 6 was officially released in late 2019.

These new technologies require newer hardware. You cannot grab a software update to make older devices support newer standards; you need new devices supporting that technology.

Think of when 4K content started to come out. Those of us with 1080p televisions had to upgrade to 4K TV sets to see the additional pixels.

Even if it was made in 2020 onward, it’s not guaranteed. Each device is different.

This doesn’t mean your older devices won’t work with a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E router.

It just means they’ll use the fastest technology they both support. So if your router supports Wi-Fi 6 but your phone only has Wi-Fi 5, they’ll communicate using Wi-Fi 5.

Year of release

While not guaranteed, the date your device was made can often give a clue as to what Wi-Fi generation it supports.

Most devices released before 2016 support Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) at the most, an older standard initially adopted in 2009
Most devices released between 2016 and 2022 will support Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Most devices released from 2023 onward will support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), with some higher-end devices supporting Wi-Fi 6E

Check the manufacturer’s resources

The manufacturer usually includes a “specifications” section in the device's packaging or website that explains what Wi-Fi standards it supports.

Many device specifications and websites will still use the official 802.11 naming standard rather than the simple “Wi-Fi 5” and “Wi-Fi 6” names, creating confusion.

802.11n = Wi-Fi 4
802.11ac = Wi-Fi 5
802.11ax = Wi-Fi 6 or 6E

You can also rely on the box or packaging it came in, which may list this information. Failing that, you can contact the manufacturer directly.

How else can I find out?

A laptop on Amazon lists its wireless compatibility as **802.11ac**, which is Wi-Fi 5. If you wanted a device supporting Wi-Fi 6, it would need to say 802.11ax.

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Do a web search and look at reputable sources – websites where you buy the device (Amazon, Newegg, Micro Center) often list this information
Wikipedia often lists this on the right-side info box, but remember that Wikipedia is updated by its users, not the manufacturer
Ask online in trusted forums

Does it matter what type of device I have?

Yes, it does. Depending on the device's daily purpose, manufacturers may use older Wi-Fi standards because those devices may not need newer and faster. Newer chips are more expensive, driving up the product’s price tag, so if an older standard works fine, they may do this to save on manufacturing costs.

Wi-Fi Support by Device

Device Type	Wi-Fi Support
Computers	- All laptops and most modern desktops ship with Wi-Fi support. - High-end computers usually support Wi-Fi 6 and 6E. - Budget-friendly computers may stick with Wi-Fi 4 or 5. - USB 3.0 ports allow upgrading via adapter/dongle.
TVs	- Some TVs use older Wi-Fi standards as they are sufficient for streaming. - Budget-friendly TVs rarely support the latest standards.
Streaming Devices	- Devices like Firesticks, Apple TV, and Roku often support newer Wi-Fi standards. - Can be used to upgrade Wi-Fi support for a TV.
Phones and Tablets	- High-end devices (since 2023) often support Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. - Mid-range devices stick to Wi-Fi 5. - Budget devices may support only 2.4 GHz and Wi-Fi 4.
Game Consoles	- 2000s consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) support Wi-Fi 4. - 2010s consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) support Wi-Fi 5. - 2020s consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X) may support Wi-Fi 6E or 7.
Printers	- Most support only 2.4 GHz and Wi-Fi 4.
E-Readers	- Most support only 2.4 GHz and Wi-Fi 4.
IoT Devices	- Devices like smart cameras, doorbells, and thermostats often use 2.4 GHz for better range.

FAQ

What is firmware? Will a firmware update allow my device to support a new Wi-Fi standard?

Some devices ship with hardware that physically understands the new technology (such as a 6 GHz capable computer chip) but install it before the new standards are finalized. In other words, a manufacturer may put a 6 GHz chip before the Wi-Fi 6E standard is fully sorted out and understood so that when it is, they can later enable support for it.

Firmware is the built-in, low-level software that controls a device’s hardware (e.g., how a router, printer, or motherboard functions), while software is code that can’t change the hardware.

Because firmware controls the hardware, new firmware can sometimes “flip the switch” and make the hardware now understand that new standard if the underlying hardware supports it.

Most devices do not do this. Most would require buying a new device to gain the functionality.

I have a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E router, but my devices are older. Will they still work?

The answer is often “yes” because routers are backward-compatible.

Older devices (as long as they were made within the last 10 to 12 years) will still connect to the newer router without issue, but they will communicate using older standards such as Wi-Fi 4 or 5. This may mean reduced speeds, but they’ll still work!

With a Wi-Fi 6 (or newer) router, you are future-proofing. When you upgrade your devices to ones supporting the newer standards, they will operate faster and more efficiently since you already have a new router that speaks the same language.

My router doesn’t say “Wi-Fi 5” or “Wi-Fi 6” on it. How can I tell what generation it supports?

These terms are newer, so not all routers (or the boxes they came in) will use them. Instead, look at the speed rating printed on most router units and the box they come in.

The letters symbolize the generation, while the numbers symbolize the speed.

Examples:

N300 means it supports the 802.11n standard, which is Wi-Fi 4
AC2200 means it supports the 802.11ac standard, which is Wi-Fi 5
AX5400 means it supports the 802.11ax standard, which is Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6E also uses the “AX” name, so it will usually say Wi-Fi 6E right on the packaging or unit if it supports this enhanced version of Wi-Fi 6.

After the letter, there is a number. The bigger the number, the faster it can potentially transmit, especially with more devices connected. For example, an AC2200 router will provide faster speed than an AC1200 router.

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