how to get iOS to prefer a wifi network?

[casperes1996]

I give both my 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks the same SSID & same password and let the devices automatically choose the best frequency. I have logged into my router and I can see what frequency the devices are on and see them switch back and forth between the two frequencys as needed (as a device gets further away it switches to 2.4 GHz as it gets closer it switches back to 5 GHz). Not sure how all routers handle this, but my ASUS router handles this perfectly. My router never gets rebooted. And I have not had any issues at all. All my devices are wireless, a desktop, couple laptops, couple Apple TV's, a kindle, several iPad's and several iPhone's not to mention all my friends and family use it when they come over.

I can say that this works well with Time Capsule as well, but for various reasons, I've decided to split them up regardless. Automatic switching works flawlessly however, and can be monitored with AirPort Utility

 

[cynics]

I am curious why the OP needs their iOS device to connect to the 5Ghz connection? Even streaming video to an iOS device likely does not require the increased bandwidth of the 5Ghz connection.

Depending on the area 2.4ghz band can be congested. You're much less likely to find the same problem with 5ghz.

However someone commented after you, you can't "feel" a difference unless their is an underlying problem especially if you are referencing the same dual band router. Matter of fact depending on beamforming and other variables/specs 2.4ghz can be better than 5ghz especially when it comes to range and wall penetration.

My work has separate SSID's and 2.4ghz is barely usable while 5ghz maxes out the business speed 100mbps they pay for (I'm in the US, 100mbps is supposedly fast). Not sure if this is due to congestion or not though.

Although like mentioned this should be very easy to fix for the OP. Since there are already 2 SSID's just forget the 2.4ghz. And if congestion isn't a problem then like you basically mention, don't worry about it. My iMac often reverts back to N (annoyingly like right now) but the only way I notice is by looking. Since I can't noticed I don't bother dividing the bands to two separate SSID's.

 

[stulaw11]

This would definitely be nice to add to the OS.

Another example; when out I want to connect to the free public Comcast hotspots, but at home my own router.

But since Comcast forces its modems (the neighbor must have it I have my own) to broadcast the free signal as a hotspot, the phone remembers the public comcast wifi (all SSID are xfinitywifi) and chooses it over my secured network for some reason.

Manually remembering daily is a pain.

 

[inkahauts]

My macOS was already set to prefer the 5 GHz network over the 2.4 GHz network.
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Why does my macOS machine always prefer the 5 GHz one? It is also used in all of the same places and moves around the house just like the phone. (But it doesn't leave the house like the phone does.)
.

Movement. Your mac stays put so it never loses signal.

Your phone leaves the house or goes far enough to lose signal and therefore connects to the signal it sees first. And that's always the 2.4 since it travels further.

I do not believe it'll ever automatically switch to a different network if it's already well connected with one right now. And I was always under the impression it connects to what it can find first and mine always finds my 2.4 before the 5 when I get home.

 

[C DM]

This would definitely be nice to add to the OS.

Another example; when out I want to connect to the free public Comcast hotspots, but at home my own router.

But since Comcast forces its modems (the neighbor must have it I have my own) to broadcast the free signal as a hotspot, the phone remembers the public comcast wifi (all SSID are xfinitywifi) and chooses it over my secured network for some reason.

Manually remembering daily is a pain.

It certainly would be nice, and something this has been requested since basically the 1.0 days...and unfortunately here we are basically a decade later, and no closer to it really.

 

[steve62388]

I have two separate SSIDs on my home network, one for 2.4 GHz and the other for 5 GHz. While iOS is programmed for both, I have always manually selected 5 GHz. Still, many times, I find iOS choose to connect to the 2.4 GHz network. Why is this happening and how do I prevent it? I usually notice this has happened because the connection becomes slow.

I do not have this problem with macOS.

Thanks for any help.

Yes, you can do this. You need to setup what's known as a Profile. You can do this via the macOS app Apple Configurator, it's designed for the large scale deployments of iOS products. Or if you just need the WiFi priority bit then you can use an iOS app called (funnily enough) WiFi Priority.

With WiFi priority you would set two different SSIDs for your 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz home network. You would set one to automatically connect and the other to be ignored. Your iPhone still holds all the password details of the ignored network so it's very easy just to switch over if needed.

 

[Apple_Robert]

This would definitely be nice to add to the OS.

Another example; when out I want to connect to the free public Comcast hotspots, but at home my own router.

But since Comcast forces its modems (the neighbor must have it I have my own) to broadcast the free signal as a hotspot, the phone remembers the public comcast wifi (all SSID are xfinitywifi) and chooses it over my secured network for some reason.

Manually remembering daily is a pain.

Have you tried rearranging the wifi order? I did that for my Mac, and I don't have a problem with the old Xfinity wifi popup on the phone.