Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting: find the pattern, then fix the cause
"The Wi-Fi keeps dropping" can mean a dozen different faults, and the usual advice (restart the router) fixes only some of them. The quickest route is to notice <i>when</i> it drops and <i>which</i> devices it happens to, because each pattern points to a different cause.
Match the pattern to the cause
| When it drops | Most likely cause | Try first |
|---|---|---|
| Every device at the same moment | Router crash or overheating, line drop, DFS radar move, firmware bug | Check the router's lights or log at the time; update firmware; move it into open air; use a non-DFS 5 GHz channel |
| One laptop, often after it sits idle | Adapter power saving, old driver | Turn off power saving (below); install the maker's latest Wi-Fi driver |
| Phone when the screen locks | Battery saving holds Wi-Fi off while asleep | Usually harmless; if messages arrive late, turn off battery optimisation for that app |
| Walking between rooms, mesh or extender | Roaming between units or bands | Turn off 802.11r / fast transition; test with separate 2.4 and 5 GHz names |
| Same time each evening in flats | Crowded channels | See best Wi-Fi channel |
| When the microwave or a baby monitor runs | 2.4 GHz interference | Move that device to 5 GHz |
| Every few hours, or when another device joins | Address conflict or a very short DHCP lease | See DHCP and IP address conflicts |
| Wi-Fi stays connected but pages stop loading | Not a Wi-Fi drop at all: the internet or DNS | See connected but no internet |
Windows: power saving, driver and the Wi-Fi report
- Power saving: open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, open your Wi-Fi adapter, and on the Power Management tab untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Some adapters also have MIMO power save mode or Roaming aggressiveness on the Advanced tab.
- Driver: install the latest Wi-Fi driver from the laptop maker or chip maker (Intel, Realtek, MediaTek, Qualcomm). The one Windows Update offers is often older.
- Forget and rejoin: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → Forget, then reconnect. This clears a stale saved security setting after a router change.
- See exactly when it dropped: run
netsh wlan show wlanreportin an administrator Command Prompt. It writesC:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WlanReport\wlan-report-latest.html, a timeline of the last three days with every disconnect and its reason code. - Last resort: Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset reinstalls all adapters (you will need to rejoin every network).
iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Forget this network (tap the ⓘ next to the network) and join again, especially after the router or its password changed.
- Private Wi-Fi Address: in the same ⓘ screen. With Rotating, the device can appear as a new device now and then; if your router limits devices or filters by address, set it to Fixed or Off for your home network only. On a Mac it is under System Settings → Wi-Fi → Details.
- Low Data Mode on the network pauses some background activity; it doesn't disconnect you, but can look like it.
- On a Mac, Option-click the Wi-Fi icon to see the signal (RSSI) and noise: an RSSI worse than about -75 dBm is simply too weak.
Android
- Open the network's settings (the gear next to it) and look for Privacy: Use randomised MAC vs Use device MAC. Try the device address for your home network if drops started with a phone update. See finding your MAC address for what that is.
- Turn off any switch to mobile data automatically or adaptive Wi-Fi option while testing; it can leave Wi-Fi when the signal dips and looks like a drop.
- Forget and rejoin, and check battery saving isn't set to the most aggressive level.
Router settings that make devices fall off
- One name for both bands (band steering): the router pushes devices between 2.4 and 5 GHz, and some older devices drop each time. To test, give the bands different names for a day.
- 802.11r (fast transition / fast roaming): speeds up moving between mesh units but older laptops, printers and smart plugs can't handle it. Turn it off if those devices keep dropping.
- WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode: some older devices fail to reconnect in transition mode. Plain WPA2 for a separate older-devices network is a common fix.
- DFS channels and radar: when a router on 5 GHz channels 52 to 144 detects radar it must leave the channel, and every device drops for a moment. A fixed channel 36 to 48 avoids it.
- Device limit or address filtering: a list of allowed device addresses breaks with randomised addresses; a full DHCP pool refuses newcomers.
- Firmware and heat: a router that reboots on its own (its uptime resets) needs an update, a cooler spot, or replacing. Check uptime on its status page: see how to log in to your router.
Moving between mesh units is called roaming: the device, not the router, decides when to switch, which is why one phone can cling to a far-away unit. Wirebook, our sister site, explains it simply: What is Wi-Fi roaming?, or play the hand-over as a relay race in Why does the video call freeze when you walk to the kitchen?
Related
Wi-Fi calling not working or dropping · Lag spikes rather than drops? Test ping, jitter and loss · Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 names explained · Mbps vs MB/s: internet speed explained · Best Wi-Fi channel (1, 6, 11 and 5 GHz) · 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz Wi-Fi · Mesh Wi-Fi backhaul and placement
Questions
Why does my Wi-Fi keep disconnecting every few minutes?
If every device drops together, it is the router, the line or interference: restart and update the router and avoid DFS channels. If only one device drops, turn off Wi-Fi power saving, update its driver, and forget and rejoin the network.
Why does only my laptop keep losing Wi-Fi?
Usually adapter power saving or an old driver. In Device Manager untick 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' for the Wi-Fi adapter and install the maker's latest driver.
How do I see when my Wi-Fi disconnected on Windows?
Run netsh wlan show wlanreport as administrator. It creates an HTML report with a timeline of connections and disconnects for the last three days.
Can a private or random Wi-Fi address cause drops?
Sometimes. Routers that filter or limit devices by address can treat a rotating address as a new device. Set the address to fixed or off for your home network only.
Why does Wi-Fi drop when I walk between rooms with mesh?
That is roaming between units. Older devices can fail with fast roaming (802.11r) or band steering, so turn those off or give the bands separate names to test.
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