Should You Disable Client Steering on eero? Pros and Cons Explained
TL;DR: Disabling client steering on eero can improve stability for devices like HomePods and smart home systems, but it may reduce automatic network optimization. If you’re experiencing disconnects, it’s worth testing.
If you’re using an eero mesh WiFi system and running into issues like devices disconnecting, HomePods cutting out, or smart home devices going offline, you may have come across a setting called “client steering.”
So the question is: should you disable it?
The answer depends on your setup — and what problems you’re trying to solve.
What Is Client Steering on eero?
Client steering is a feature in eero that automatically moves devices between different WiFi nodes and frequency bands (like 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz).
The goal is simple:
Improve performance
Balance network load
Keep devices connected to the strongest signal
In theory, this makes your network faster and more efficient.
Why Client Steering Can Cause Problems
While client steering works well for many devices, it can cause issues for certain types of connections.
Some devices don’t handle being moved between nodes very well.
This can result in:
Devices randomly disconnecting
Streaming interruptions (like HomePods or AirPlay)
Smart home devices appearing offline
Apps losing connection even when WiFi signal is strong
This is especially common with:
Smart speakers
IoT devices
Older or simpler WiFi hardware
When You SHOULD Disable Client Steering
You should consider turning off client steering if:
Your HomePod keeps cutting out
Smart home devices randomly disconnect
Devices frequently go offline and reconnect
You have a stable setup but inconsistent performance
In my case, disabling client steering:
Stopped HomePod interruptions immediately
Fixed connection drops on a Zoeller smart sump pump system
Made the network more stable overall
When You Should KEEP Client Steering Enabled
Client steering is still useful in many situations.
You may want to leave it on if:
You have a large home with many nodes
Your devices move frequently (phones, laptops, tablets)
You’re not experiencing any connection issues
You want automatic optimization without manual setup
For general browsing and mobile devices, client steering often works well.
Pros of Disabling Client Steering
More stable connections for smart home devices
Fewer random disconnects
Better performance for streaming (AirPlay, HomePod, etc.)
Predictable device behavior
Cons of Disabling Client Steering
Devices won’t automatically switch to the strongest node
Possible reduced performance for mobile devices
Less network optimization overall
May require better node placement
How to Disable Client Steering on eero
Open the eero app
Go to Settings
Find “Client Steering”
Toggle it off
The change takes effect immediately — no restart required.
Final Thoughts
Client steering is designed to improve your network — but it’s not perfect for every device.
If you’re experiencing random disconnects, especially with smart home devices, disabling it is one of the easiest and most effective fixes to try.
For me, it resolved multiple issues across different devices almost instantly.
Related: Devices Keep Disconnecting on eero?
If you’re troubleshooting HomePods cutting out or smart devices dropping connection, I wrote a full breakdown of what caused the issue and how I fixed it here:
Devices Keep Disconnecting on eero? Here’s What Fixed My HomePod + Zoeller System
To understand the underlying issue with mesh WiFi and smart devices, see this breakdown:
Why Smart Home Devices Disconnect on Mesh WiFi (eero, HomeKit, and More)