There are a few things that might be as frustrating as your WiFi signal dropping out of nowhere when you are in the middle of an important Zoom meeting, an online class, or a gaming session. A constantly disconnecting WiFi network makes streaming, browsing, and communication feel impossible and ruins productivity. While many people blame their internet service provider (ISP) for WiFi network dropping, the culprit is often something with their own internet setup.
If your WiFi keeps dropping, you shouldn’t panic. Instead, here are some things that you can try to troubleshoot and fix the issue.
1. Check for Simple Hardware Glitches
Before you dive into complex fixes, start with the basics. The most basic reason why WiFi may be dropping is because of hardware glitches. Unplug your router and modem, wait for about 30 seconds, and then plug them back in. This is a simple power cycle reset, yet it clears minor glitches and reestablishes a stable connection that fixes this issue.
Loose cables and power surges can also cause WiFi to drop occasionally. Check all the wires and ensure that they are not damaged and properly plugged in. If your WiFi drops occasionally but works fine after it is rebooted, the issue might be because of an overheating router or a memory cache overload, which are both fixed easily by rebooting the router once in a while.
2. Reposition Your Router and Use a WiFi Extender or Mesh Network
A weak WiFi signal can make the WiFi network seem unstable and cause the connection to drop. Most of the time, the reason behind a weak WiFi signal is a poorly placed router. WiFi routers should be placed in a central, elevated area (not behind walls, furniture, or near metallic objects) for optimal coverage. Avoid placing the router in a corner or on the floor. Plus, keep the router away from other electronic devices like microwaves or Bluetooth speakers that can cause signal interference.
To improve the WiFi signal in a large home or multi-story building, use a WiFi extender or mesh system. Extenders amplify your existing WiFi signal to cover weak zones, while Mesh systems create a network of multiple routers that provide seamless coverage throughout the building.
3. Identify and Limit Interference Sources
People living in apartment buildings and densely populated areas face the issue of WiFi dropping, despite the router being close to user devices. The reason behind this issue is that other WiFi networks in the area can interfere with your network, leading to connection drops. To fix this issue, access your router’s admin panel (usually by typing http://192.168.0.1/ in your browser) and change the WiFi channel to a less crowded one to avoid interference from nearby networks.
Modern WiFi routers come with dual-band or tri-band support that you should enable so that your router transmits signals using both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Switching your devices to the 5 GHz band can reduce interference and provide faster, more stable connectivity, although with a slightly shorter range.
4. Update Device Network Drivers
If you are facing the issue of WiFi connection dropping on one particular device, like a laptop or PC, the issue could be because of outdated network drivers. Access the device manager on your PC and check for driver updates, and install any updates that are available. You can also visit your device manufacturer’s website to download the latest version. This issue is mostly faced on PCs and laptops, as mobile devices often fix connectivity issues with a simple OS update or network reset.
5. Change Your DNS Settings
Your WiFi signal can also drop because of your DNS (Domain Name System) servers. By default, your internet network is configured to use the DNS servers provided by your ISP, but slow and unreliable DNS servers can lead to dropped connections and laggy browsing. You can change your DNS settings via http://192.168.1.1/ and switch to free, faster, and more reliable DNS providers like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) and Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) for improved connection stability.
6. Reset Router and Network Settings
If you have tried most of the things and your WiFi keeps dropping, you should consider a full network reset. You should reset both your router and device to fix this issue.
- On your router: Press and hold the small reset button (usually on the back) to restore factory settings, then reconfigure the router.
- On your device: Go to Settings and choose Reset Network Settings.
Resetting network settings and the router will clear outdated data, incorrect configurations, and hidden bugs that could be disrupting your connection.