If all your work depends on your Wi-Fi connection, then having an unstable connection that goes on a blink very often can be extremely annoying. A dropping or disconnecting Wi-Fi may have several reasons, right from sluggish internet speeds, an outdated router, an outage at the internet service provider, or incorrect computer settings.
So, whatever the reason may be, here is a complete lowdown of the reasons why your Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting and what steps you can take to restore its stability.
Why Is My Wi-Fi Getting Disconnected Often?
The first thing to understand is why your Wi-Fi may be getting disconnected, which may include:
- Wi-Fi driver software being outdated
- Damaged or outdated router
- The router is in airplane mode
- Slow internet speeds because of slow DNS server, signal, or packet loss
- Wireless adapter being poorly configured
- Wi-Fi router placed very far away from your device or damaged
- Power problems
- Service outage
- Interference on the network
- The area has limited/no internet connection
- A recent update disrupting your Wi-Fi connection
- The driver of the Wi-Fi router not compatible with the latest OS version
Ways to Resolve Your Disconnecting Wi-Fi
So, as you can see, there may be several reasons as to why your Wi-Fi connection may be dropping or getting disconnected. Here are some quick checks that you can follow, which can help to troubleshoot most Wi-Fi problems. And, if these don’t work, then there are more complex methods to get your Wi-Fi connection back to stable ground.
Quick Fixes
- Check if the router is connected properly and that the Wi-Fi is turned on.
- Make sure that the Wi-Fi connection you’re using is correct.
- Check the router lights and see if they are any other color than green. Refer to the router manual to understand what each of the lights means and how to resolve any problem.
- In case you have many devices, there may be lots of interference. So, try and move your device closer to the Wi-Fi router.
- Use a Wi-Fi range booster/extender to improve the signal strength of your Wi-Fi.
- Check if there is any service outage in your area.
- Remove all electronics or objects that may be interfering with the Wi-Fi signal.
- Restart your router, computer, or mobile to reset the network settings before connecting to the Wi-Fi.
- Remove the wireless network and re-add it.
- Update the Wi-Fi router’s firmware.
- You can troubleshoot the issue by running a network diagnostic. You can do this by right-clicking on the Wi-Fi icon on the Windows 10 taskbar and then select “Troubleshoot problems”. On a Mac, use the Network Diagnostics tool by selecting “Menu”, “System Preferences”, “Assist Me” and “Diagnostics”.
Other Ways to Fix Your Disconnecting Wi-Fi
Update Your Device
Often, a whole lot of issues, including your Wi-Fi getting disconnected, maybe because the OS of your devices is outdated. Make sure to update your system:
- Android: Open Settings and select “Software Update” under “System” or “Update”
- iOS: Open Settings, “General” and select “Software Update”
- Windows: Select “Start” and go to “Settings”, “Update & Security”, “Windows Update”
Set Your Wi-Fi Router to a Specific Channel
If you’re using a dual-band router, then under the router “Setup” go to the “Wireless Settings” and choose a channel. Use a different channel to the default channel and use this setting for both the bands i.e., 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Avoid using the “Auto” setting.
Try using a higher channel and if this still does not work, then try various channels. There may be a possibility that there are many networks in your neighborhood on the same channel, which are conflicting with one another, causing your Wi-Fi router to drop the internet.
Remove Your Antivirus Software
Your antivirus software may be the cause for your Wi-Fi getting disconnected often. Typically, 3rd-party antivirus software interferes with Windows causing several problems including the disconnection of your Wi-Fi. Disable your antivirus and check if this solves the problem.
If the issue is not resolved, then you may have to remove the antivirus software. Use a removal tool that will remove your antivirus software and all the associated files. Once you do this, install the updated version of the antivirus software or use completely different antivirus software.
Update/Reinstall the Wi-Fi Adapter Driver
Your device will keep disconnecting repeatedly from your Wi-Fi in case the adapter driver of the Wi-Fi router is outdated. To fix the issue, you must reinstall or update the adapter driver.
You can update the driver by:
- Right-clicking on “Start”, “Device Manager” and select “Network Adapters”
- Right-clicking the “Wi-Fi adapter” and selecting “Update Driver”
You can reinstall the driver by:
- Right-clicking the “Wi-Fi Adapter” and then selecting “Uninstall Driver”
Then restart your device, download and install the driver’s latest version. You can also download the latest driver and install it on your device.
Adjust the Wi-Fi Router Settings
Adjust the maximum transmission units (MTU) of your Wi-Fi router and reduce it from 1500 to 1492 or less. The MTU is usually located on your Wi-Fi router’s basic or main setup page. Also, adjust the advanced Wi-Fi settings by lowering the following:
- Beacon Interval: From 100 to 50
- RTS Threshold: From 2347 to 2304
- Fragmentation Threshold: From 2346 to 2306
Doing this can help to solve your Wi-Fi connectivity issues and prevent the Wi-Fi connection from dropping.
Make sure you read our article on Best Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range, upgrading your router is most likely the easiest and best fix for in the long run.
Check the Power Management Settings
Sometimes, the Power Management settings of your computer may be disabling your Wi-Fi adapter, causing it to disconnect frequently. You can resolve this issue by:
- Right-clicking on “Start”, “Device Manager” and expanding the “Network Adapters” section
- Double-clicking on the Wi-Fi adapter’s name and selecting “Power Management”
- Unchecking the “Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power” option
- Restarting the computer and checking if the Wi-Fi is working
Check DHCP Settings
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) distributes IP addresses automatically across the network. This enables your devices to connect and communicate. Your Wi-Fi will not work properly if there is an issue with the DHCP. You can check the DHCP settings:
On Windows 10
- Select “Start”, “Settings”, “Network and Internet” and “Wi-Fi”
- Choose your connection and go to “IP Settings”
- Check if the “IP Assignment” is “Automatic (DHCP)”
- If this has been selected, then it means that the DHCP is enabled, otherwise, select “Edit”, “Automatic DHCP” and check the Wi-Fi
On Mac
- Choose “Menu”, “System Preferences” and “Network” and ensure that there is a green dot next to your network
- Select “Advanced”, “TCP/IP” and check if the “Using DHCP” is showing under “Configure IPv4”
- If this does not show, then choose the dropdown menu and select the option
- Check if the Wi-Fi is working
Disabling/Re-enabling the Network Adapter
This method can also help to refresh your Wi-Fi connection, especially if it keeps getting disconnected.
For Windows 7
- Go to the Control Panel > “Network & Internet” > “Network & Sharing Center”
- Left-click the “Change Adapter Settings” to make the required change
For Windows 10
- Click on the Windows icon and then select “Settings”
- Click “Network & Internet”
- Under the “Advanced Network Settings”, click on “Change Adapter Settings”
- All the wireless and wired internet connections that are configured on your computer will appear
- Right-click on the current option and click “Disable”
- Wait for a few seconds and then click “Enable”
- Check if the Wi-Fi is restored and the connection is stronger now
Change the DNS Servers
Sometimes, when the DNS servers are not working properly, it delivers a poor internet connection and low speeds, which appears as if your Wi-Fi is weak. By changing the DNS servers manually, you may be able to fix the problem. Here are the steps to change the DNS server:
For Windows 7
- Go to the Control Panel > “Network & Internet” > “Network & Sharing Center”
- Left-click on the “Change Adapter Settings”
For Windows 10
- Click on the Windows icon option and go to “Settings”
- Click “Network & Internet”
- Under “Advanced Network Settings”, click on “Change Adapter Settings”
- All the wireless and wired internet connections that are configured on your computer will appear
- Right-click on the current option and click on “Properties”
- Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP)” and then click on “Properties” again
- Select the “Use the following DNS Servers” option
- Enter Google’s DNS servers (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4)
- Save the settings by selecting “Ok”
Final Thoughts
If your Wi-Fi connection keeps dropping or shutting off from your device, this can be extremely annoying. However, as you can see from our article, there are several ways by which you can fix your wireless connection. And, after following one or a combination of methods that we have discussed above, your Wi-Fi connection should be much more stable.
However, despite this, if your Wi-Fi is still disconnecting, then you can try resetting your Wi-Fi router to the factory settings. Once you reset the router, allow it to reset itself and then check the Wi-Fi connection.
If there is no improvement, then there may be a problem with your hardware and it may be a good idea to contact your ISP provider for assistance.
Lorenzo has been using the internet for as long as he can remember. He was there for the early days of message boards, he watched social media take over, and he’s excited to see what comes next.
