WiFi Keeps Disconnecting
A WiFi connection that drops every few minutes and reconnects is worse than one that doesn't work at all. At least when it's completely dead, you know something is wrong. Intermittent drops could be your device, your router, interference, or a combination. The key is figuring out the pattern.
Find the Pattern First
| Pattern | Likely Cause |
|---|---|
| One device drops, others are fine | Device driver or power management |
| All devices drop at the same time | Router issue (overheating, firmware, overload) |
| Drops at specific times (evenings, weekends) | Channel congestion from neighbors |
| Drops when microwave runs or phone rings | 2.4 GHz interference |
| Drops after exactly the same interval | DHCP lease renewal failure |
| Drops when moving around the house | Weak signal / need mesh system |
Fix 1: Stop Windows From Turning Off WiFi
Windows has a power management setting that lets it turn off your WiFi adapter to save battery. This is the single most common cause of random WiFi drops on laptops:
- Right-click Start → Device Manager
- Expand Network adapters
- Right-click your WiFi adapter → Properties
- Go to Power Management tab
- Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
- Click OK
Also check: Settings → System → Power → change to Best Performance when plugged in.
Fix 2: Update WiFi Driver
Outdated or buggy WiFi drivers cause drops, especially after Windows updates. Don't use Windows Update for drivers — go directly to your laptop manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) and download the latest WiFi driver for your exact model.
For Intel WiFi adapters (most common in laptops), download directly from Intel's download center.
Fix 3: Router Overheating or Overloaded
Routers are small computers. They overheat, especially if they're enclosed in a cabinet, stacked on top of other electronics, or covered in dust. An overheating router drops connections intermittently as the processor throttles.
- Feel the router — if it's hot to the touch, it needs better ventilation
- Don't stack it on top of your modem or other devices
- Don't put it inside a closed cabinet
- Check how many devices are connected — consumer routers start struggling around 20-30 simultaneous connections. Smart home devices (bulbs, plugs, cameras) add up fast
Log into your router (find your router IP) and check the connected devices list. If you're at 30+ devices on a consumer router, that could be the bottleneck.
Fix 4: Change WiFi Channel
If drops happen mostly in the evening (when neighbors are home and streaming), channel congestion is the likely cause. Your router and your neighbors' routers are fighting for the same radio frequency.
Log into your router and change the 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11 (these are the only non-overlapping channels). For 5 GHz, try channels in the DFS range (52-144) — these are less congested because weather radar has priority and some devices avoid them, but they're usually fine for home use. See our slow WiFi guide for details.
Fix 5: DHCP Lease Issues
Your router assigns IP addresses to devices using DHCP, with a "lease" that expires after a set time (usually 24 hours). When the lease renews, some devices momentarily lose connection. If the renewal process is buggy, the device drops off entirely.
Fix: In your router's DHCP settings, increase the lease time to 7 days (604800 seconds) or assign a static IP to the device that keeps disconnecting. Most routers have an "IP Reservation" or "Address Reservation" option in the DHCP section — this permanently assigns a specific IP to a device's MAC address.
Fix 6: Forget and Rejoin
Sometimes the saved network profile becomes corrupted. The fix is simple: forget the network and rejoin fresh.
- Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi → Manage Known Networks → select your network → Forget
- Mac: System Settings → Network → WiFi → (i) next to your network → Forget This Network
- iPhone: Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) next to network → Forget This Network
- Android: Settings → Wi-Fi → long-press network → Forget
Then reconnect with the WiFi password. If you don't know it, check your router's label or see default passwords.
Fix 7: Disable Band Steering
Band steering is a router feature that automatically pushes devices between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It works well when implemented properly, but on some routers it causes frequent disconnections as the device bounces back and forth between bands.
If your router uses the same WiFi name for both bands, try separating them: log into the admin panel and give each band a different name (e.g., "HomeWiFi-2G" and "HomeWiFi-5G"). Then manually connect your problem device to the 5 GHz network.
Fix 8: Factory Reset the Router
If nothing else works, reset the router to factory defaults. This clears any accumulated configuration issues or firmware corruption. Hold the reset button (usually a tiny recessed button on the back) for 10-15 seconds until the lights flash.