How to Fix Wi-Fi That Keeps Disconnecting

Wi-Fi disconnections disrupt productivity and cause frustration across all connected devices. These systematic troubleshooting steps will identify and resolve the most common causes of unstable wireless connections.

1. Check signal strength and proximity to router. Move within 30 feet of your router and check if disconnections stop. Walls, floors, and electronic devices weaken Wi-Fi signals. If connectivity improves with proximity, your device is operating at the edge of your network's range.
2. Restart your router and modem. Unplug your router and modem from power for 30 seconds. Plug in the modem first and wait 2 minutes for full startup. Then plug in the router and wait another 2 minutes. This clears temporary glitches and refreshes your network connection.
3. Update your device's network drivers. Open Device Manager on Windows (Windows key + X, then M) and expand Network adapters. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Update driver. On Mac, go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Software Update. On mobile devices, check for system updates in Settings.
4. Reset network settings on your device. On Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator and run 'netsh winsock reset' then 'netsh int ip reset'. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Network, select Wi-Fi, click Advanced, then Remove to delete the network and re-add it. On iOS, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
5. Switch to a less congested Wi-Fi channel. Access your router's admin panel by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser. Navigate to Wireless Settings and change the channel to 1, 6, or 11 for 2.4GHz networks. For 5GHz networks, try channels 36, 44, 149, or 157. Save settings and restart the router.
6. Disable power management for your Wi-Fi adapter. In Windows Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties. Go to Power Management tab and uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and adjust settings to prevent Wi-Fi from sleeping.
7. Update router firmware. Log into your router's admin interface and check the firmware version against the latest available on the manufacturer's website. Download and install updates if available. Most modern routers have automatic update options in the administration settings that you can enable.