Wi-Fi 7 and MLO (Multi-Link Operation)

The box of your new router says MLO, your laptop's spec sheet says Wi-Fi 7, and the connection still runs over a single band. MLO only works when both ends speak it – and when the settings play along.

The short answer

Wi-Fi 7 stands for devices based on IEEE 802.11be, the amendment for "Extremely High Throughput" [1][3]. What is MLO? Multi-Link Operation, its headline feature, lets devices transmit and receive data simultaneously over multiple links, for example in the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands, for more throughput, lower latency and better reliability [2][3]. It only works when the router and the client both support it [4]. Our assessment: MLO is a welcome extra when you buy new hardware anyway, not a reason to replace a well-placed Wi-Fi 6 router or a network cable.

How it works

1. The standard. IEEE 802.11be-2024 was approved on 26 Sep 2024 and published on 22 Jul 2025. It defines at least one mode for a maximum throughput of at least 30 Gbit/s and one with improved worst-case latency and jitter [1]. These are limits of the standard, not speeds to expect at home.
2. The certification. The Wi-Fi Alliance introduced Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 on 8 Jan 2024. Besides MLO, it lists 320 MHz channels in countries that open the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi, 4K QAM with 20% higher transmission rates than 1024 QAM, and other efficiency features [2].
3. Several links, one connection. Without MLO, a client uses one band at a time. With MLO, it keeps links on several bands to the same router and can switch between them without registering again [4]. The Wi-Fi Alliance describes this as more efficient load balancing of traffic among links [5].
4. Both ends must support it. FRITZ! notes that router and wireless device must support Wi-Fi 7 on at least two bands, and that MLO connections are then set up automatically [4]. On Windows, Wi-Fi 7 is available starting with Windows 11, version 24H2; Microsoft lists an adapter and a router that support Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6/6E and WPA3 [3].
5. Settings matter. For the FRITZ!Box 7690, the manufacturer requires the same network name on all bands, the WPA mode WPA2+WPA3 and no MAC address filter; restricting a band to Wi-Fi 6 switches MLO off [4]. Other manufacturers may set other conditions.
6. No miracle. MLO cannot add range: a band that doesn't reach your room adds nothing. We have not measured MLO ourselves and therefore give no figure for the gain.

A practical example

On a Windows 11 laptop, open a command prompt and run:

netsh wlan show drivers

If "Radio types supported" lists 802.11be, adapter and driver handle Wi-Fi 7 [3]. Then open the properties of your Wi-Fi network: if "Network band (channel)" shows more than one band, the connection uses MLO [3]. If you see only one, check the router's conditions, such as identical network names on all bands [4]. This is a generic walk-through, not a measurement from our network.

Checklist

• Check that router and client both support Wi-Fi 7 on at least two bands before you count on MLO [4].
• Update the PC to Windows 11, version 24H2 or later, and check with netsh that the adapter reports 802.11be [3].
• Use the same network name on all bands if your router requires it [4].
• Switch on WPA3 on the router; Microsoft lists it for router and adapter alongside Wi-Fi 7 [3].
• Look at "Network band (channel)" to see whether MLO is actually in use [3].
• Keep the network cable for the gaming PC if you need the lowest latency, because MLO does not fix poor placement.