How to Fix Wi-Fi That Keeps Disconnecting
Wi-Fi dropping again and again? Try these fixes in order, from the router restart to driver and channel settings.
Start with the simplest fix
Most Wi-Fi drops are caused by the router, interference, or a driver glitch, not by a broken laptop. Work through the steps below in order, and test your connection for a few minutes after each one.
1. Restart your router and device
Unplug your router for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait two minutes. Restart your phone or laptop too. This clears temporary glitches and gives you a fresh connection.
2. Move closer and reduce interference
Walls, microwaves, baby monitors and neighbouring networks can interfere, especially on the 2.4 GHz band. Move closer to the router, and if your router offers a 5 GHz network, try that for less crowding.
3. Forget and reconnect to the network
On your device, forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect with the password. This removes a corrupted saved profile, which is a common cause of repeated drops.
4. Update your Wi-Fi driver
On Windows, open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and choose Update driver. On a phone, install the latest system update.
5. Change the Wi-Fi channel
If many neighbours use the same channel, log in to your router settings, usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, and switch the 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6 or 11. Pick the least crowded one if your router shows a scan.
6. Reset network settings as a last resort
If nothing else works, reset network settings on your device. You will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords, but this often fixes deep configuration problems. If the problem affects every device, contact your internet provider, as the fault may be with the line or router itself.