Technology
How does Wi-Fi work?
Wi-Fi works by sending data over radio waves between your device and a wireless router that's connected to the internet. The router and device take turns transmitting tiny encoded radio signals that carry your data.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how Wi-Fi works.
Step by step
- 1Your router converts internet data into radio waves at set frequencies (2.4 and 5 GHz).
- 2Your device's antenna receives those waves and decodes them back into data.
- 3It's two-way: your device transmits back to the router the same way.
- 4Walls, distance, and interference weaken the signal and slow the connection.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Wi-Fi the same as the internet?
- No. Wi-Fi is the wireless link to your router; the router connects to the internet over a wired or cellular line.
- What's the difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz?
- 2.4 GHz reaches farther and through walls better; 5 GHz is faster but shorter-range.
- Why does Wi-Fi get slower far from the router?
- Radio signals weaken with distance and obstacles, so less data gets through reliably.