iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If your gaming device is on Wi-Fi and the connection is unstable, testing a narrower channel width may help when nearby wireless networks are causing interference. It is not a guaranteed ping fix: choose a width based on your band and local conditions, then compare results before and after.
What channel width changes—and what it does not
Channel width is the amount of wireless spectrum a Wi-Fi connection can use. Wider settings can support greater throughput, while a narrower setting may be more reliable in a crowded spectrum. ASUS notes that bandwidth affects wireless speed performance and signal stability, and that its routers adjust bandwidth automatically by default. ASUS Support: channel bandwidth
Width is different from the Wi-Fi channel number. Changing width does not directly fix a distant game server, ISP congestion, or a problem on a wired connection. A router setting is worth testing when the gaming device uses Wi-Fi and local wireless interference is a plausible cause.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Should you use 20, 40, or 80 MHz for gaming?
There is no universally best width for gaming. Identify the band your device is actually using, then consider how crowded that band is and whether the connection is stable. If the spectrum is crowded or Wi-Fi is unstable, try a narrower supported width. If it is clean, a wider setting may preserve throughput.
#1 Best Overall
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
| Situation | What to try | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Crowded band or unstable Wi-Fi | Test a narrower supported width | May reduce interference; maximum throughput may be lower |
| Clean spectrum and stable Wi-Fi | Keep or test a wider supported width | Can offer greater throughput, but may be less suitable in crowded conditions |
NETGEAR recommends 20 MHz to help eliminate interference in a heavily congested environment for its ProSAFE access points; that is product-specific guidance, not a rule for every home router. Its guidance also describes 40 MHz as offering greater throughput, while noting that users in heavily congested conditions may not benefit from it. NETGEAR Support: ProSAFE channel guidance
Options depend on the router, firmware, Wi-Fi generation, band, and region. ASUS documents these possible widths by generation, but this does not mean every router supports every option:
Rank #2
- OneMesh Compatible Router - Form a seamless WiFi when work with TP-Link OneMesh WiFi Extenders
- Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 Technology – The Archer AX10 leverages advanced Wi-Fi 6 features like OFDMA and 1024-QAM to deliver improved efficiency across your entire network. Perfect for high-bandwidth activities like streaming, gaming, and smart home connectivity.
- Next-gen Dual Band router - 300 Mbps on 2. 4 GHz (802. 11n) plus 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz (802. 11ax)
- Connect more devices than ever before - Wi-Fi 6 technology simultaneously communicates more data to more devices using OFDMA and MU-MIMO while reducing lag dramatically
- Powerful Dual-Core 900MHz Processor – Handles multiple data streams simultaneously for reliable performance across your devices. Ensures smooth streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing without buffering or lag.
- Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n): 20 or 40 MHz
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): 20, 40, or 80 MHz
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Wi-Fi 6E: 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz
- Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be): 20, 40, 80, 160, or 320 MHz
ASUS’s WiFi Insight guidance recommends using 80/40 MHz when spectrum is crowded, keeping wide bandwidth when it is clean, and narrowing width or switching bands if interference remains high. It also associates high latency on 2.4 GHz devices with high Wi-Fi or non-Wi-Fi interference. The suitable option therefore depends on what the local spectrum shows, not on a blanket “80 MHz causes lag” rule. ASUS Support: WiFi Insight
How to change channel width on an ASUS router
First confirm which band the gaming device is using and note the current setting so you can restore it. Menu labels and available options vary with model and firmware.
Rank #3
- NIGHTHAWK WIFI 6 ROUTER FOR YOUR WHOLE HOME: Delivers fast, reliable WiFi across every room of your apartment or small home for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices, all running at the same time without slowing each other down.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING INTERNET SERVICE: Pairs with your existing modem or gateway via ethernet. Compatible with most cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite providers. Some gateways and modem router combos may require bridge mode. No coax needed.
- SET UP AND MANAGE YOUR NETWORK WITH THE NIGHTHAWK APP: Download the free Nighthawk app on iOS or Android for guided setup. Manage WiFi, run speed tests, pause devices, and set up guest networks from anywhere. Active internet required.
- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
- COVERAGE IN EVERY ROOM: Covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 connected devices. Walls, floors, and interference can reduce range. Larger or multi-story homes may benefit from a NETGEAR Orbi mesh WiFi system.
- Connect to the router’s web interface.
- Open Wireless > General.
- Select the bandwidth for the band used by the gaming device.
- Choose a narrower supported width to test if that band is crowded or unstable, then click Apply.
ASUS says bandwidth adjustment is not currently supported in its app; its documented setting is in the Web GUI. For another manufacturer, consult that model’s instructions rather than assuming the same menu path. ASUS Support: channel bandwidth and Web GUI steps
How to tell whether the change helped
Use a before-and-after comparison under similar conditions. This is a practical way to judge your own connection, not a guarantee of a measurable improvement.
Rank #4
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
- Record the current width and note the gaming device’s band and location.
- Play or test the same game using the same server, device, and location, and note latency and any packet loss or instability.
- Change only the channel width, then repeat under comparable conditions.
- Keep the new setting only if the improvement is repeatable and the connection remains suitable for your other devices; otherwise restore the original width.
If changing width makes no repeatable difference, the cause may lie elsewhere. A router width adjustment cannot resolve latency caused by the ISP, a distant server, or a wired-network fault.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Do not confuse width with channel selection or coexistence
On 2.4 GHz, nearby networks can overlap. NETGEAR’s ProSAFE guidance identifies channels 1, 6, and 11 as non-overlapping examples in its regional discussion, while noting that available channels vary by country: it contrasts channels 1–11 in the US with 1–13 in Europe. This is specific to 2.4 GHz and is not enough to prescribe a fixed channel for every location. NETGEAR Support: channels and regional availability
Best Value
- 𝐆𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐅𝐢 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟖𝐊 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Up to 5400 Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streaming, gaming and downloading, all at the same time. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, & obstacles such as walls.
- 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐅𝐢 𝟔 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 – Equipped with 4T4R and HE160 technologies on the 5 GHz band to enable max 4.8 Gbps ultra-fast connections.Power:12 V 2.5 A
- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 – Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA to reduce congestion and 4X the average throughput
- 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 - Covers up to 2,000 sq. ft. High-Power FEM, 6× Antennas, Beamforming, and 4T4R structures combine to adapt WiFi coverage to perfectly fit your home and concentrate signal strength towards your devices.
- 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 – Improved vented areas help unleash the full power of the router
Some NETGEAR routers also have a separate 20/40 MHz coexistence setting. On applicable models, it is enabled by default and falls from 40 MHz to 20 MHz when another 40 MHz broadcaster is detected. NETGEAR says disabling it may improve Wi-Fi speed depending on the environment, but that does not establish a gaming-latency benefit. Treat coexistence as a distinct control, not a default gaming fix. NETGEAR Support: 20/40 MHz coexistence
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
