UniFi G Switches are the unsung heroes in many small-to-medium business networks. They power access points, VoIP phones, and security cameras, and let you fine-tune how traffic moves through your network. But understanding how to use them properly—and when they’re the right tool—can save you time, money, and headaches.

This guide walks you through everything: what G Switches are, how to use them, how to configure them, and where they fit in real-world networks.

Let's dive in !!

Before we dive in, please don't self-host your UniFi Controller if you take care of client networks. Sooner or later this will cause issues! It's fine for home users, but definitely not recommended for IT service businesses and MSPs. If you want secure, reliable and a scalable hosting solution check out UniHosted.

1. What are UniFi G switches?
2. Why should you use one?
3. When G Switches are a perfect fit
4. Adopt and configure your G Switch
5. VLANs and port profiles: why they matter
- VLANs
- Port profiles
6. Real-world setup examples
- Small office with VoIP and Wi-Fi
- Smart home setup
7. Monitoring and troubleshooting
8. Advanced tips
9. Choosing the right model
10. Don’t forget to back up your config
11. Final thoughts

1. What are UniFi G switches?

The “G” in G Switches usually refers to “Gigabit.” These are Layer 2 managed switches with gigabit Ethernet ports, built to slot into your UniFi ecosystem. They can deliver PoE to connected devices and be fully managed via the UniFi Controller—either self-hosted or through a cloud provider like us at UniHosted.

You’ll find models like the USW-Lite-8-PoE or the USW-24, each with different port counts and power budgets.

2. Why should you use one?

Here’s what you get from deploying a UniFi G Switch:

PoE support: Power devices like access points and IP cameras with no extra cables.
Managed switching: Tag VLANs, monitor traffic, and tweak configurations from your UniFi dashboard.
Centralized control: Manage everything from one place with the UniFi Controller.
Reliability: Solid gear. These switches just work.

3. When G Switches are a perfect fit

If you’re managing networks with access points, security cameras, and VoIP phones, a G Switch is probably what you need. Some common setups:

Offices: G Switches let you isolate Wi-Fi, phones, and desktop machines onto different VLANs.
Retail stores: Connect POS systems, security cams, and staff devices to different network segments.
Schools: PoE makes it easy to power APs in hallways or classrooms without running new electrical lines.

G Switches also work great in homes with more demanding network setups—especially if you’re trying to segment traffic between family, work, and smart devices.

4. Adopt and configure your G Switch

Here’s how to get one running:

a. Plug it in and power it

Connect it to your router or gateway using an Ethernet cable. If it’s a PoE-powered switch, it might not need a power adapter—just plug it into another PoE port. Watch for the LED to light up.

b. Find it in UniFi Controller

Go to your controller dashboard. If it’s a new switch, it’ll show up as “Pending Adoption.”

c. Adopt the switch

Click “Adopt.” The controller sends config info to the switch. It’ll reboot and come back online.

If it doesn’t work, SSH into the switch and use:

set-inform http://<controller-ip>:8080/inform

Default login:

Username: ubnt
Password: ubnt

Once adopted, it’ll show up in your controller interface as “Connected.”

d. Upgrade firmware

Right after adoption, check for a firmware update. This keeps the switch stable and secure. You can push updates from the controller directly.

5. VLANs and port profiles: why they matter

You’ll want to configure VLANs and port profiles right away. These help keep your network organized and secure.

VLANs

Let’s say you want to separate your staff Wi-Fi from your cameras. You’d create two VLANs—say, VLAN 10 for staff and VLAN 20 for cameras.

In UniFi Controller:

Go to Settings > Networks
Add a VLAN-only network
Assign an ID (10, 20, etc.)

Now you can use that VLAN ID on switch ports.

Port profiles

These are reusable configs for switch ports. Define VLANs, PoE settings, and bandwidth limits.

To create a profile:

Go to Settings > Profiles > Port Profiles
Set the VLAN, enable/disable PoE
Name the profile something memorable

Now just assign it to a port in the “Devices > [Your Switch] > Ports” tab.

6. Real-world setup examples

Here are some popular setups that make the most out of your G Switch.

Small office with VoIP and Wi-Fi

Ports 1–4: VoIP phones, VLAN 30, PoE enabled
Ports 5–8: Desktops, VLAN 10
Port 9: Access Point, VLAN 20 (Wi-Fi), PoE enabled
Port 10: Uplink to the router

Set up these VLANs in UniFi Controller. Use port profiles to simplify future changes.

Smart home setup

Ports 1–4: Cameras (VLAN 40), PoE enabled
Port 5: Access Point (VLAN 50), PoE enabled
Port 6: Home server
Port 7: Uplink
Port 8: Spare

This keeps cameras off your main network, isolates smart devices, and lets you run everything from one spot.

7. Monitoring and troubleshooting

Once everything’s live, you can monitor traffic from the controller. You’ll see bandwidth graphs, port status, and power usage per port. Useful things to keep an eye on:

PoE budget: Don’t overload your switch. Check the max wattage and stay under.
Port traffic: Identify bottlenecks or rogue devices hogging bandwidth.
Link speed: Make sure devices negotiate at 1 Gbps, not 100 Mbps.

If something’s acting weird:

Try restarting the port
Swap cables
Recheck your VLAN assignments

8. Advanced tips

a. Use LAG for uplinks

Link Aggregation (LAG) lets you bond two ports into a faster, redundant connection. Great for connecting to core switches or a NAS.

Set it up in the UniFi Controller under the Switch > Ports tab.

b. Schedule PoE

Save power by turning off PoE overnight on ports you don’t use 24/7. This is ideal for VoIP phones or cameras in a closed office.

Go to Settings > Schedules and create a schedule. Then apply it to the switch port profile.

c. Restrict access with port isolation

If you’ve got public devices on the same switch (guest Wi-Fi, for example), enable port isolation. It prevents devices from talking to each other, even on the same VLAN.

d. Rate limiting

You can throttle a port’s bandwidth. This is handy if someone is hogging the network or you’re trying to manage limited bandwidth in a shared office.

9. Choosing the right model

Here’s a quick breakdown of some popular G Switches:

Model	Ports	PoE Ports	PoE Budget	Notes
USW-Lite-8-PoE	8	4	52W	Good for small setups
USW-16-PoE	16	8	120W	Office and retail setups
USW-24	24	0	0W	Non-PoE environments
USW-24-PoE	24	16	95W	High-density AP and camera installs

Choose based on how many devices you need to power and your budget. If you need 10G uplinks, you’ll want to jump to UniFi’s Pro series.

10. Don’t forget to back up your config

Once your switch is running smoothly, back it up from the UniFi Controller. This way, if something breaks or you need to replace a device, you're covered.

You can schedule automatic backups in the controller settings. Do it. Future-you will be grateful.

11. Final thoughts

G Switches are an easy win for most network setups. They’re powerful enough for pros but simple enough that even network rookies can use them. From PoE support to VLAN management and remote monitoring, they pack a lot of features into an affordable, reliable package.

And if you want to skip the hassle of hosting your own controller, give our UniFi hosting service at UniHosted a shot. We keep your controller online, up to date, and backed up—so you can focus on running your network, not babysitting it. If you would like me to personally walk you through UniHosted, you can schedule a call with me here.

Complete guide to G switches for network configuration

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