The ultimate guide to setting up UniFi smart queues
Published onby Iron (edited on )
If you’ve ever experienced sluggish Wi-Fi speeds, choppy video calls, or lag during online gaming, you know how frustrating it can be. But guess what? There’s a simple fix — UniFi Smart Queues.
Let's dive in!

Table of Contents
- What Are UniFi Smart Queues?
- Why Do You Need Smart Queues?
- How Do UniFi Smart Queues Work?
- What You Need to Set Up UniFi Smart Queues
- How to Set Up UniFi Smart Queues
- Best Practices for Smart Queues
- How to Troubleshoot UniFi Smart Queues
- Smart Queues vs Quality of Service (QoS)
- Real-World Example
- Final Thoughts
What Are UniFi Smart Queues?
Imagine your home Wi-Fi like a pizza delivery service. Without organization, all delivery drivers rush out at once, causing traffic jams. But with a smart delivery manager, orders are prioritized so urgent orders (like Zoom calls) go out first, and less urgent ones (like that 15GB game download) wait their turn.
That’s what UniFi Smart Queues do for your internet. They control how bandwidth is shared across your devices, giving priority to important traffic like video calls, gaming, and streaming. Background activities like system updates, cloud backups, and file downloads get lower priority.
The result? Smooth video calls, lag-free gaming, and uninterrupted streaming.
Why Do You Need Smart Queues?
In a modern home or office, dozens of devices fight for bandwidth. Smart Queues are your peacekeeper, ensuring nobody gets to hog the whole connection. Here’s why you’ll want them active:
- Eliminate lag on video calls — No more "Can you hear me?" during Zoom.
- Boost online gaming performance — Keep your ping low and your gaming smooth.
- Buffer-free streaming — Watch Netflix in 4K without interruptions.
- Fair bandwidth allocation — Nobody can "hog" the internet for themselves.
- Automatic congestion control — No need to micromanage devices.
How Do UniFi Smart Queues Work?
UniFi Smart Queues are powered by FQ-CoDel (Fair Queuing with Controlled Delay). It sounds technical, but it’s pretty simple. It works by splitting traffic into "fair" queues and prioritizing data in real-time. Here’s a quick look at how it works:
- Traffic Prioritization — Essential traffic like Zoom and gaming is prioritized.
- Bandwidth Sharing — Everyone gets their fair share of bandwidth.
- Real-Time Adjustments — Smart Queues adapt on the fly as more users and devices come online.
What You Need to Set Up UniFi Smart Queues
Before diving into setup, you’ll want to check a few things off your list:
- A UniFi Console (like UniFi Dream Machine, Dream Router, or Cloud Key)
- Access to UniFi Network Controller (local or cloud-based)
- Familiarity with your ISP bandwidth (like 100 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload)
If you don’t have a controller, you can use UniHosted's cloud-based hosting to get it up and running easily. Check out the UniHosted Controller service.
How to Set Up UniFi Smart Queues
Alright, let's jump into the step-by-step process. This is easier than you think, and it takes less than 15 minutes.
Step 1: Log in to Your UniFi Controller
- Open a web browser and navigate to unifi.ui.com.
- Log in using your UI account.
- Select your UniFi Console (like Dream Machine, Dream Router, etc.).
Note: If you’re self-hosting, you’ll need to enter the local IP address of your UniFi Console (like "192.168.1.1").
Step 2: Navigate to Settings
- On the left sidebar, click the gear icon to open Settings.
- In the settings menu, select Internet.
- Scroll down to find Bandwidth Profiles or Smart Queues.
Step 3: Enable Smart Queues
- Toggle the Enable Smart Queues option to "ON."
- Enter your download and upload speed (slightly lower than your ISP speeds):
- Example: If you have 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up, set Smart Queues to 90 Mbps download and 18 Mbps upload.
- Click Save Changes.
Why set lower speeds? This avoids overloading the queue system, especially when your ISP’s advertised speed is slightly higher than what you actually get.
Step 4: Apply Traffic Rules (Optional)
If you want to get fancy, you can set up specific traffic rules.
- Click Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced.
- Look for Bandwidth Profiles.
- Set custom rules to prioritize devices like work laptops, gaming consoles, and smart TVs.
Example: Give your work laptop priority during office hours, then boost your gaming console in the evenings.
Step 5: Verify Your Setup
- Go to Insights in the UniFi Controller.
- Check the Real-Time Traffic graph.
- Run a speed test on speedtest.net.
- Download a large file and make a Zoom call — you should see the call get priority.
Best Practices for Smart Queues
- Use Cake Algorithm (if supported) instead of FQ-CoDel for even smarter traffic management.
- Don’t set bandwidth to 100% — Set it 10-15% lower than ISP speed for better performance.
- Check for device support — Not all UniFi devices have Smart Queues, so update your firmware.
- Enable QoS on important devices — Apply traffic rules for work laptops or gaming consoles.
How to Troubleshoot UniFi Smart Queues
Things don’t always go as planned. Here are common problems and how to fix them.
Problem 1: "My Internet Feels Slower!"
- Cause: Bandwidth limit set too low.
- Solution: Increase bandwidth in Smart Queues settings.
Problem 2: "Zoom is still choppy!"
- Cause: Your Zoom call isn’t getting priority.
- Solution: Go to Settings > Bandwidth Profiles and create a traffic rule for your work laptop.
Problem 3: "I don’t see the Smart Queues option."
- Cause: Your device may not support it or you have outdated firmware.
- Solution: Update your UniFi Console firmware. Follow this update guide.
Smart Queues vs Quality of Service (QoS)
Aren’t they the same? Nope. Smart Queues are much smarter than basic QoS. Here’s why:
Feature | QoS | Smart Queues |
---|---|---|
Setup | Manual | Automatic |
Traffic Control | Static | Real-time adjustments |
User Priority | User-set priorities | Automatic & fair queues |
Who Wins? | Set devices win | Real-time devices win |
Verdict: Smart Queues win every time.
Real-World Example
Here’s a real-world example of Smart Queues in action.
Problem: A home with 4 family members all using Wi-Fi for gaming, Zoom, and Netflix.
Solution:
- Set Smart Queues to 90% of ISP speed (90 Mbps down, 18 Mbps up).
- Prioritize the parent's laptop for Zoom calls.
- Apply a bandwidth profile to reduce video streaming quality for the TV during work hours.
Results: Zoom calls stay clear, Netflix buffers only slightly, and gamers avoid lag.
Final Thoughts
UniFi Smart Queues are like having a VIP lane for your Wi-Fi. Important traffic (like video calls) goes first, and less urgent traffic (like game downloads) waits its turn.
If you want to avoid all the setup, UniHosted can handle it for you. Our cloud-hosted UniFi controllers offer 24/7 monitoring, daily backups, and automatic updates. Your network will run like a well-oiled machine — no lag, no hassle.If you would like me to personally walk you through UniHosted, you can schedule a call with me here.
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