Fix: Why Is My Google Chromecast Not Working on 5GHz WiFi?

Google Chromecast is one of the most affordable solutions that brings high-quality online content to your living room non-smart TV. Several iterations and years of improvisations later, it has never been easier to stream 4K HDR content on your TV without spending a fortune on a media player. Google Chromecast plugs into your TV’s or monitor’s HDMI port, connects to your WiFi, and brings the sweetness of Android TV to your non-smart device.

The recent iterations of Chromecast also support content in HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision HDR formats that takes your movie-watching experience to the next level. Easily the biggest reason behind the success of the Google Chromecast has definitely got to do with its size and portability. Add features like a fluid UI, access to thousands of Android apps, and seamless navigation through Google Assistant, and you just can’t go wrong with Google Chromecast.

What is a 5GHz WiFi Network?

Google Chromecast supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi networks. For the layman, these terms may seem like Greek and Latin, but for those who truly care about connection speed and strength while streaming 4K HDR content over the air, the difference between these two networks is night and day. Simply put, one is way faster than the other and that’s the 5GHz network that most modern-day routers provide alongside a traditional 2.4GHz signal.

Being connected to a 5GHz network improves network speed dramatically, which is something you’d need while streaming high-quality content to your Chromecast device on your TV. Google itself recommends that you connect your Chromecast to a reliable 5GHz network if possible. However, the fact that you’re reading this means you’ve been unable to get your Google Chromecast to work with a 5GHz WiFi network. This is quite a peculiar problem and one that can only be caused by a few issues.