Embodiments of a WiFi system and method for time-sliced associations for make-before-break handover in the WiFi system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the method monitors metrics of a serving channel of the WiFi system to determine whether to increase a channel scanning rate of target channels of the WiFi system. The channel scanning rate of the target channel may be increased in response to the metrics. A time-sliced association with one or more target cells on the target channel may be performed while an association with a serving cell on the serving channel may be maintained. The wireless client may be transitioned from the serving cell to the target cell in response to the metrics while obscuring the complexity from the device operating system and active applications.