Fix 1 — Disable Wi-Fi Power Saving Mode Most common
Open Device Manager > Network adapters > right-click Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 > Properties > Advanced tab. Find Power Management or Preferred Band settings. Set Roaming Aggressiveness to Lowest and Transmit Power to Highest. Also open Properties > Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. These settings prevent the Intel AX211 from throttling transmit power to save battery, which causes slow speeds.
Fix 2 — Set Preferred Band to 5 GHz or 6 GHz
In the Intel AX211 Advanced tab, find Preferred Band and set it to 5.2 GHz or 6 GHz. If your router supports Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz), the AX211 in the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 can use the uncongested 6 GHz band for speeds significantly higher than 2.4 GHz. Auto selection sometimes defaults to 2.4 GHz when signal strength is marginal on higher bands.
Fix 3 — Update Intel Wi-Fi Driver
Visit Lenovo Support and download the latest Intel Wi-Fi driver for the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9. Lenovo validates specific Intel driver versions for the Core Ultra 7 155H platform. After updating, run a speed test to verify improvement. Driver updates often include firmware improvements that address throughput limitations.
Fix 4 — Check Router Channel Width
The Intel AX211 supports 160 MHz channel width on 5 GHz and 6 GHz for maximum throughput. Log into your router admin panel and verify that 5 GHz or 6 GHz is configured for 80 MHz or 160 MHz channel width. A router set to 20 MHz channels significantly limits the bandwidth available to the IdeaPad Pro 5i.
“My IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 Wi-Fi topped out at 50 Mbps despite having gigabit fiber. Setting Transmit Power to Highest and Preferred Band to 5 GHz in the Intel AX211 properties jumped speeds to over 400 Mbps.” — Norfazlina Shukor, software QA engineer
Quick Answers
Does the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 support Wi-Fi 6E?
Yes. The Intel AX211 in the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. The 6 GHz band requires a Wi-Fi 6E router to utilize.
What is the max Wi-Fi speed of the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9?
The Intel AX211 supports up to 2.4 Gbps theoretical maximum on 160 MHz channels. Real-world speeds are typically 500-900 Mbps on a Wi-Fi 6E gigabit network at close range.
Does distance from the router affect Wi-Fi speed on the IdeaPad Pro 5i?
Yes significantly. The 6 GHz band has shorter range than 5 GHz. At the edge of the 6 GHz coverage area the IdeaPad Pro 5i may fall back to 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz. Use a Wi-Fi mesh network or move closer to the router for maximum speed.
Is the Intel AX211 replaceable in the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9?
The Intel AX211 uses an M.2 2230 PCIe slot accessible via the bottom panel. The Intel AX210 (Wi-Fi 6E) and AX211 are pin-compatible if a replacement is needed, though the AX211 already represents the latest Intel Wi-Fi generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has spent over 15 years troubleshooting Windows hardware and driver issues across major laptop brands. He writes practical, step-by-step guides for everyday users at softwaredriverdownload.com.
Why is the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 Wi-Fi slow?
The most common causes are Wi-Fi power saving mode throttling transmit power, Preferred Band set to 2.4 GHz, or the router not configured for wide 80/160 MHz channels. In Device Manager, set Intel AX211 Transmit Power to Highest and Preferred Band to 5 GHz or 6 GHz. Also disable the Allow the computer to turn off this device power saving option.
What display does the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 have?
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 features a 14-inch or 16-inch display (depending on configuration) with OLED or IPS options at resolutions up to 2880×1800 (2.8K) with 120Hz refresh rate. The OLED variant offers exceptional color accuracy and contrast for creative work.
How do I test Wi-Fi speed on the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9?
Use a browser-based speed test at a reputable testing service, or use the Windows built-in network diagnostics. For more detailed results, open PowerShell and run netsh wlan show interfaces to confirm the connected band, channel, and link speed. Compare link speed against your router maximum to identify if the connection is negotiating at less than full bandwidth.
Does the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 support Ethernet via USB-C?
Yes. The IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 supports Gigabit Ethernet via a USB-C to RJ45 adapter or a compatible Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 dock. For tasks requiring consistent high-speed connectivity, wired Ethernet via a USB-C adapter eliminates Wi-Fi variability entirely.
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