This can be a frustrating problem where you try to find your router’s 5 GHz Wi-Fi network on your PS4, but it doesn’t show up. When you set up a new connection via the Network settings tab, normally a list of wireless networks in range displays.

But sometimes the 5 GHz network you’re looking for doesn’t show up. Why can’t your PS4 find it?

This is often a compatibility issue, since older original PS4 models do not support 5 GHz Wi-Fi at all and can only connect via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.  If your PS4 is not a newer Slim or Pro model, you’ll have to connect to the 2.4 GHz band or use a wired connection instead.

If you’re not sure which PS4 model you have, older ones are basically “chunkier” and heavier than the newer and more compact “Pro” or “Slim” models released in 2016.

Here’s my older PS4 model, which doesn’t support 5 GHz Wi-Fi:

Regarding general size and weight, here’s a comparison of the models (Original vs Slim vs Pro):

 

And then networking capabilities (Original vs Slim vs Pro):

(source)

You’ll see it’ really only the oldest original PS4 model released in 2013 that doesn’t support 5 GHz Wi-Fi. The Slim and Pro models should work fine on 5 GHz networks.

If you’re confident your model is a Pro or Slim model and should find and work with 5 GHz Wi-Fi, then it could be a connection setup or signal issue, which I’ll cover in the following sections.

How To Connect A Compatible PS4 To 5 GHz Wi-Fi

If your PS4 model is definitely a Pro or Slim model and therefore works fine with 5 GHz Wi-Fi, connecting it up should be easy as long as you’re in range.

Here are the steps:

• On your PS4, go to Settings….Network….Set Up Internet Connection
• Select Wi-Fi if that’s what you are using
• Select Easy – a list of Wi-Fi networks would usually pop up.
• Press the Options button – the small button on the right of your Dual Shock, close to the main four buttons (square, x etc)
• A Wi-Fi Frequency Bands menu should come up, with three options – Automatic, 5GHz Only and 2.4GHz Only.
• Select the 5 GHz option if this is the band you want to connect to.
  
• The 5 GHz network should reappear on the screen. Your PS4 is now able to find it!
• Select the 5 GHz band and enter the wireless password to connect.

See just below for a video demo of these steps

 

Signal Issues With 5 GHz Wi-Fi

If your PS4 is 5 GHz compatible, but still can’t seem to find a 5 GHz network, it could be a signal strength issue. Although 5 GHz Wi-Fi is known to be able to deliver potentially higher speeds, that’s only at closer range. It doesn’t work so well over distance or through solid objects as the older 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band.

Therefore if your PS4 and router are several rooms apart, with thick walls/floors in the way, the 5 GHz signal might not be detectable by your console, or might be unreliable and keep dropping out. If this happens, move closer or connect to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network instead.

See our article on the differences between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi for more on the differences and when it might be best to use each band. Bottom line is it doesn’t really matter in many cases whether you connect to the 5 GHz band or not, and oftentimes you’re better off on 2.4 GHz anyway over distance.

Alternative Option – Use Wired Connections Instead

A much better option for gamers instead of using either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections is to switch to wired ethernet connections instead.

Ethernet connections are almost always far superior to wireless ones anyway for gaming, delivering higher speeds, lower ping and better reliability that Wi-Fi, which is always prone to weakening and dropping signals.

You’ve got the more obvious option of just plugging an ethernet cable directly into your router and PS4 if you’re close enough.

But if you’re several rooms away from the router and can’t move closer, Powerline Adapters are another clever way of getting on a wired connection to your router using the existing house wiring.

Powerline kits are pairs of adapter plugs that you install in wall sockets and connect to your router and PS4. The two adapters then communicate through the house wiring to deliver a wired ethernet connection to your device.

See the video just below for a 2 minute demo of how they work.

 

They can be a great way of bypassing Wi-Fi altogether regardless of the band, and getting onto a wired connection even when further away from your router.

See our page on Powerline adapters for more details and links to some different models.