Changing iPhone 5G to 2.4G for at home smart appliances installation

I am wondering how to change my iPhone 15 Pro Max from 5G to 2.4G when trying to download at home Smart appliances that require 2.4G, such as lights, self-cleaning litter boxes, etc. etc. I thought I already asked our community here, but now I can't locate it anywhere. I do know a lot of smart appliances require this, and I do know most people have 5G's now, so how do I change it to the 2.4 to set-up an appliance? Thanks!

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 27

Posted on Oct 22, 2026 10:58 AM

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Posted on Oct 22, 2026 1:07 PM

As mentioned, there is a difference between 5G cellular and 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi networks.

For smart home appliances you are looking at 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi networks, which have nothing to do with your 5G cellular service.


How you change, or if you even need to change between 2.4 and 5GHz will depend on how your wi-fi router is set up.


Yes, many smart appliances will connect to a 2.4Ghz wi-fi networks only and if the wi-fi router separates the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz networks you won't be able to find and see the appliances while connected to the 5Ghz network.


Many routers merge the networks, so changing how you connect should not be necessarry.


If your router does separate the networks, in most cases you should see two Wi-Fi networks with the same name with the only difference being a 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz label if that is how you configured from your router. Or different names for each network frequency.


We can't specifically tell you how you would do it in your case since we have no way of knowing how your Wi-Fi router is configured.



Here's your previous thread on the matter: Changing Phone from 5G to 2.4G - Apple Community





4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 22, 2026 1:07 PM in response to gypsyldy

As mentioned, there is a difference between 5G cellular and 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi networks.

For smart home appliances you are looking at 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi networks, which have nothing to do with your 5G cellular service.


How you change, or if you even need to change between 2.4 and 5GHz will depend on how your wi-fi router is set up.


Yes, many smart appliances will connect to a 2.4Ghz wi-fi networks only and if the wi-fi router separates the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz networks you won't be able to find and see the appliances while connected to the 5Ghz network.


Many routers merge the networks, so changing how you connect should not be necessarry.


If your router does separate the networks, in most cases you should see two Wi-Fi networks with the same name with the only difference being a 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz label if that is how you configured from your router. Or different names for each network frequency.


We can't specifically tell you how you would do it in your case since we have no way of knowing how your Wi-Fi router is configured.



Here's your previous thread on the matter: Changing Phone from 5G to 2.4G - Apple Community





Oct 22, 2026 1:22 PM in response to gypsyldy

Most Routers available today create one big happy network across your home.


Anything connected using any of the below are all part of that Network.

2.4 GHz Wi-Fi

5 GHz Wi-Fi

6 GHz or higher Wi-Fi

Ethernet cable


Your Router accepts messages and transmits message to and from all of them and matches speeds and changes media as needed.


So you don't need to be standing right next to that color-changing light bulb with your computer or phone.


What you need is for each and every device to be connected to your Router. ANY connection will do -- your Router directs the traffic, and does that local "SWITCH' function without sending anything onto the Internet to do so.


For a device to connect over Wi-Fi, it just needs to know the network-name and the Network password.

For a device to connect over Ethernet, it just needs a good ethernet cable plugged in to the Router (passwords not needed, as you controlled the wiring).

Changing iPhone 5G to 2.4G for at home smart appliances installation

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