nest wifi pro 6e keeps dropping the 5ghz band, all my devices get kicked to the slower 2.4

Diagnosis

The Google Nest WiFi Pro 6E utilizes a feature called "Band Steering," which is designed to automatically push devices to the most efficient frequency. However, the Pro 6E is hyper-sensitive to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) fluctuations. If the router detects a momentary dip in 5GHz signal strength—often caused by physical obstructions like drywall or interference from a neighbor's high-powered router—it will aggressively "steer" the device to the 2.4GHz band. Because 2.4GHz has longer wavelengths and better penetration, the system views it as the "stable" choice, even though it offers significantly lower throughput and higher latency.

This issue is exacerbated by the 6GHz band's presence in the Pro 6E. The system is constantly calculating whether to move a compatible device to 6GHz, 5GHz, or 2.4GHz. When the 5GHz band becomes congested or suffers from DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) events—where the router must vacate a channel due to detected radar signals—the system defaults all clients to the 2.4GHz "safety" band. You can confirm this is happening by checking the "Device" list in the Google Home app; if a device that is physically close to a node is showing as 2.4GHz, the band steering algorithm is malfunctioning or overreacting to interference.

How to Fix It

Since the Google Nest WiFi Pro 6E does not allow for the creation of separate SSIDs for different bands (a limitation of the Google Home ecosystem), you must optimize the environment and the software handshake to prevent the drop. Follow these steps precisely:

1. Open the Google Home app on your mobile device.
2. Navigate to the Wi-Fi tile on the main dashboard.
3. Tap on Network settings and then select the Advanced networking menu.
4. Locate the Preferred Band or Band Steering toggle. If your specific firmware version allows it, toggle this to "Prefer 5GHz." Note: If the toggle is missing, it means your current firmware has locked this to "Automatic," and you must proceed to the hardware optimization steps.
5. Perform a Network Restart via the app (Wi-Fi > Settings > Restart network). This clears the ARP cache and forces the router to re-scan for the cleanest 5GHz channel, avoiding DFS-impacted frequencies.
6. Relocate your mesh nodes. Ensure that the primary router and any points are at least 15 to 30 feet apart. If they are too close, the "overlap" causes the system to constantly bounce devices between bands, triggering the drop to 2.4GHz.
7. Ensure the nodes are placed on open surfaces. Avoid placing the Pro 6E inside cabinets or behind TVs, as the 5GHz and 6GHz signals are easily absorbed by metal and dense wood, triggering the automatic failover to 2.4GHz.

If That Didn't Work

• Change the DNS Provider: Sometimes "drops" are actually DNS resolution failures that look like band switches. In the Google Home app, go to Wi-Fi > Settings > Advanced Networking > DNS. Switch from "Automatic" to "Custom" and enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. This stabilizes the connection handshake for many devices.
• Disable "Cloud Services" on specific devices: For smart home devices (IoT) that are forcing other devices to 2.4GHz, move them to a separate Guest Network. The Pro 6E handles guest traffic on a different priority queue, which can prevent IoT "noise" from triggering band steering on your primary laptops and phones.
• Update Firmware manually: Check for a "System Update" in the Google Home app. The Pro 6E has received several patches specifically addressing "6E stability" and "Band Steering logic" that resolve the aggressive 2.4GHz fallback.
• Hard-wire the Backhaul: If you have Ethernet ports in your walls, connect the mesh points via Cat6 cable. This removes the wireless overhead for the nodes, freeing up the 5GHz and 6GHz airtime exclusively for client devices, which drastically reduces the likelihood of a band-drop.

Heads Up

• Avoid "Daisy Chaining": Always set up your nodes in a "Star" configuration (Router -> Node 1, Router -> Node 2) rather than a chain (Router -> Node 1 -> Node 2). Daisy chaining weakens the 5GHz signal at the end of the chain, forcing devices into 2.4GHz mode.
• Heat Management: The Pro 6E can run hot. If the unit is overheating, the radio chips may throttle, causing the 5GHz band to drop. Ensure there is at least 3 inches of clearance around all vents.
• Device Compatibility: Remember that older 802.11n devices can sometimes "pollute" the 5GHz band, causing the router to kick all devices to 2.4GHz to maintain compatibility. If you have very old legacy hardware, consider replacing it or isolating it on the Guest network.