Connecting to a mobile hotspot on Android is a fairly simple process. The default settings, though, limit the WiFi speed you can use. The default speed for Android hotspot uses the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies. It leaves out the 6 GHz frequency that the newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 support. The reason is that most devices can’t connect to 6 GHz Wi-Fi networks. There is also the restriction of such frequency in some regions, like the US. Some regulations previously prohibited smartphones from creating 6 GHz Wi-Fi hotspots.
That isn’t the case anymore. Many devices now use 6 GHz Wi-Fi. Even regulations that once restricted the usage have been altered to allow the use of this frequency for mobile hotspots in the US. With these changes, Google recently launched an update to Pixel phones that unlocked the 6 GHz frequency for Wi-Fi hotspots. Pixel owners can now adjust their WiFi speed to a 6 GHz Wi-Fi hotspot. They can do this by going to Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot > Speed & compatibility and choosing the “6 GHz” option under “Preferred frequency.”
The 6 GHz band delivers faster speeds than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands because of its wider channels, but it still has its limitations. It suffers from a shorter range because the higher-frequency waves are more easily blocked by objects. Another is the lack of 6 GHz frequency WiFi support for many devices, so they can’t even connect to the hotspot. Pixel users using the 6 GHz option will have to accept these limitations.
Google has found a way around these drawbacks by introducing a new Wi-Fi hotspot option that combines the 2.4 GHz band’s broad compatibility with the 6 GHz band’s superior throughput. As seen in the latest Android Canary release, the company has added a “2.4 and 6 GHz” option to the ‘Speed & compatibility’ settings page. With this dual-band mode, users get the benefits of both options — fast speeds of the 6 GHz option and compatibility with legacy devices through the 2.4 GHz band.
We expect to see the option live in the beta release soon, since it’s already in the latest Canary build. It might roll out in the next beta update for the Android 16 QPR3 release.
