Unlock Faster Mac Wi-Fi Speeds with macOS Tahoe 26.2's Hidden 160MHz Upgrade

Apple slipped a significant Wi-Fi performance boost into macOS Tahoe 26.2 without making any announcement about it. Macs with Wi-Fi 6E can now use 160MHz channel bandwidth on 5GHz networks, which is double the previous 80MHz limit. This translates to faster file transfers, smoother video streaming, and quicker cloud syncs.

The change went unnoticed until tech documentation spotted the updated specifications. For users with compatible hardware, this means the software update alone just made your Mac's wireless connection substantially faster without requiring any new equipment.

What Changed in macOS Tahoe 26.2

Before this update, Wi-Fi 6E Macs could only use 160MHz channels when connected to the newer 6GHz band. The 5GHz band was limited to 80MHz wide channels, which restricted the maximum data throughput. macOS Tahoe 26.2 removes that limitation.

Think of Wi-Fi channels like highway lanes. Doubling the channel width from 80MHz to 160MHz is similar to expanding from four lanes to eight lanes. More data can move simultaneously, which reduces congestion and speeds up everything that depends on your wireless connection.

This matters because 5GHz networks are far more common than 6GHz networks right now. Most routers in homes and offices support 5GHz, but 6GHz requires newer Wi-Fi 6E hardware. The update makes your existing 5GHz setup work significantly better.

Which Macs Qualify

Not every Mac gets this performance upgrade. You need a Mac with a Wi-Fi 6E chipset to take advantage of 160MHz bandwidth on 5GHz.

Here are the Mac models that support this feature:

MacBook Pro with M2 Pro or M2 Max chips and later, MacBook Air with M3 chip and later, iMac with M3 chip and later, Mac mini with M2 chip and later, and Mac Studio with M2 Max or M2 Ultra chips and later.

If you have a standard iPad or a Mac Pro, you miss out on this particular upgrade. The iPad doesn't include Wi-Fi 6E, and the Mac Pro still uses the older Wi-Fi standard. Most Mac Pro users connect via Ethernet anyway, so the wireless limitation isn't typically a concern for that audience.

Router Requirements Matter

Having a compatible Mac is only half the equation. Your router also needs to support 160MHz wide channels on the 5GHz band. Many Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E routers include this capability, but not all do.

To check if your router supports 160MHz channels, you'll need to dig into your router's admin interface. Look for settings related to channel width or channel bonding. If you see options for 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, and 160MHz, your router can handle the wider channels. If it only goes up to 80MHz, you won't see the speed improvement.

Some routers ship with 160MHz disabled by default because wider channels can sometimes cause interference in crowded wireless environments. You might need to manually enable the feature in your router settings.

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Why Upgrading Your Router Makes Sense

If your current router doesn't support 160MHz channels, or if you want to maximize the benefits of this macOS update, upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6E mesh system delivers the best results. The extra bandwidth on both 5GHz and 6GHz bands gives you room to grow as more of your devices support the newer standard.

The TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro stands out as a strong choice for Mac users. It supports 160MHz bandwidth on both the 5GHz and 6GHz bands, which means you get the full benefit of the macOS Tahoe 26.2 update. The mesh design eliminates dead zones throughout your home, and the AI-driven optimization automatically manages which band your devices use for the best performance.

Each unit includes a 2.5 Gbps WAN port, which handles multi-gigabit internet plans without becoming a bottleneck. The system covers up to 5,500 square feet with a two-pack configuration, and you can add more units if you need extended coverage. Setup happens through the Deco app, which walks you through configuration in just a few minutes.

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How to Enable the Faster Speeds

The good news is that macOS Tahoe 26.2 enables the 160MHz capability automatically. You don't need to adjust any settings on your Mac.

Here's what you do need to verify: Make sure you've updated to macOS Tahoe 26.2 or later, confirm your router supports 160MHz channels on 5GHz, enable 160MHz channel width in your router's settings if it's not already active, and position your Mac within range of a strong signal from your router.

To check your macOS version, click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select About This Mac, and look at the version number. If you're on macOS Tahoe 26.2 or later, you already have the updated Wi-Fi capabilities.

For the router configuration, you'll need to access your router's admin panel. This usually involves typing your router's IP address into a web browser and logging in with your credentials. The exact steps vary by router brand, but look for wireless settings and channel configuration options.

Real-World Performance Impact

The speed improvement from 160MHz channels depends on several factors. Your distance from the router, the number of devices competing for bandwidth, and physical obstacles like walls all affect the actual throughput you'll see.

In ideal conditions, 160MHz channels on 5GHz can deliver speeds close to what you'd get on a wired Gigabit Ethernet connection. For large file transfers between devices on your local network, the difference is substantial. Backing up your Mac to a network-attached storage device becomes notably faster. Streaming 4K video from a local media server works with less buffering.

Cloud-based tasks see benefits too, assuming your internet connection can keep up. Syncing large photo libraries to iCloud Photos happens more quickly. Downloading macOS updates or large app installations from the Mac App Store completes sooner.

The real advantage shows up in multi-device scenarios. When you have multiple people working from home, streaming video, and transferring files simultaneously, the wider channel bandwidth prevents the network from getting congested as easily.

What About 6GHz

macOS Tahoe 26.2 doesn't change anything about 6GHz performance. Wi-Fi 6E Macs already supported 160MHz channels on 6GHz before this update. The significant change is that 5GHz networks now offer the same channel width.

For most users, 5GHz remains the more practical choice. More devices support it, the signal travels through walls better than 6GHz, and your existing router probably already has 5GHz capability. The 6GHz band is cleaner because fewer devices use it, but that advantage matters less in typical home environments.

If your router supports both 5GHz and 6GHz with 160MHz channels, your Mac will automatically choose the best band based on signal strength and network conditions. You don't need to manually select which one to use.

Future-Proofing Your Network

This macOS update represents Apple's ongoing effort to extract more performance from existing hardware through software improvements. It's also a signal that Wi-Fi 6E adoption is accelerating.

As more of your devices gain Wi-Fi 6E support, having a router that can handle 160MHz channels on both 5GHz and 6GHz positions your network well for the next several years. The TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro delivers that capability while maintaining compatibility with older Wi-Fi standards.

The mesh architecture also matters for long-term reliability. Traditional single-router setups create coverage gaps in larger homes. Mesh systems eliminate those gaps by using multiple units that work together. As you add more smart home devices, streaming clients, and work-from-home equipment, the mesh topology scales better than trying to extend a single router's range.

Getting Started

If you've already updated to macOS Tahoe 26.2 and you have a compatible Mac, you might already be experiencing faster Wi-Fi without realizing it. The feature activates automatically.

To verify everything's working, run a speed test from your Mac while connected to Wi-Fi. Compare the results to what you were getting before the update. You can also check your Mac's Wi-Fi connection details by holding the Option key and clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. Look for the channel width information, which should now show 160MHz when connected to a compatible 5GHz network.

For users who don't have Wi-Fi 6E router hardware yet, the macOS update still provides value. When you eventually upgrade your router, your Mac will immediately take advantage of the faster speeds without needing any additional software updates.