The FRITZ!Box supports the Wi-Fi encryption standard WPA3 with the WPA3 transition mode "WPA2 + WPA3". This mode allows the FRITZ!Box to establish simultaneous connections with WPA3 and WPA2 using the same Wi-Fi network name and the same network key. Since many devices do not support WPA3 yet and many older devices will not receive an update for WPA3, WPA3 transition mode simplifies the transition from WPA2 to WPA3.

In the case of WPA3 connections, it does not matter whether a wireless access point supports WPA3 or is used in WPA3 transition mode. WPA3 connections are equally secure in both cases.

With WPA2 connections, however, WPA3 transition mode has higher security requirements than usual for WPA2 (CCMP). For example, this means that WPA2 devices must use PMF (Protected Management Frames) when logging in, which was only optional for WPA2.

WPA3 transition mode "WPA2 + WPA3" is already enabled in the FRITZ!Box's factory settings, however some older wireless devices do not support it. To ensure that these wireless devices can also connect to the FRITZ!Box, the Wi-Fi security settings are already optimized in the factory settings of the FRITZ!Box. You can disable the corresponding option "Optimize the security settings for Wi-Fi access for increased compatibility with older wireless devices" under "Wi-Fi > Security > Encryption" in the FRITZ!Box user interface if Wi-Fi connections cannot be established with different frequency bands (Multi Link Operation (MLO)).