How To Stop Your Wi-Fi From Disconnecting (Step-by-Step)

We all know that familiar frustration — you are trying to stream your favorite show and the episode keeps playing and then stopping every few minutes due to your Wi-Fi repeatedly dropping. Don’t fret! This can be remedied. There are several ways you can troubleshoot any potential errors that could be causing this connectivity issue, from router issues to a weak Wi-Fi signal. The steps below address the most common causes of Wi-Fi dropping. Following these steps can help you find what’s going wrong with your connection.

The step-by-step guide below will help you troubleshoot your Wi-Fi issue to determine which level your connection is dropping.

Where to start:

• Does your Wi-Fi drop on all connected devices? Troubleshoot your router first.
• Does your Wi-Fi drop on a particular device? Troubleshoot the device first.

Fix Wi-Fi Dropping In and Out Due to Router

When troubleshooting your Wi-Fi, you should first question whether your router is the issue or if something else is going on. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot potential issues with your router and fix them.

Step 1: Reboot Your Router

If your Wi-Fi keeps dropping, your first step in troubleshooting should be rebooting your router. This allows your router to reset and may fix any any potential issues your router is having once it restarts.

Every router is different, but it should be user-friendly to reboot your device. Most routers can be rebooted with the following method:

1. Unplug the device from its power source or outlet.
2. Wait 5-10 seconds.
3. Plug the device back in.

Or, if your device has a reset button, you can press this instead.

Step 2: Update or Reset Router Firmware

Routers are like computers in that they need to be updated regularly. Most firmware updates include bug fixes and security updates that are necessary to keep your network safe and optimized. Check to see if your router is in need of a firmware update. To do this you will need to visit the device’s control panel and look for an option that says Router Update. You will then need to follow the provided directions to assure that your router has the latest firmware.

Step 4: The Router Is in a Bad Spot

If you have a strong signal, your Wi-Fi should be working properly. If it’s not, your router likely needs to be relocated. Believe it or not, routers can be extremely picky when it comes to location. Routers should be placed off the ground, in a central location in your home, away from large electronics.

Experiment with moving your router until you find a sweet spot where it can send signals from full strength to all areas where you need Wi-Fi. If you do not find this to be successful, instead you can opt to purchase extenders or mesh networks that will expand your router's reach to every room in your home.

Step 5: Check if Unwanted Devices Are Hogging Your Bandwidth

Unless your router is made to host a lot of devices, having devices that you do not use connected to your Wi-Fi could be slowing down your connection and creating disruptions. Depending on your router, unwanted devices can fill the device list and put more load on the router than it can handle. These days, many of your home devices and appliances are Wi-Fi-compatible, meaning you may not even realize how many of your devices are connected to your router.

Step 6: You Need New Equipment

If you troubleshoot your router and find that it is the issue, it may be time for a new router, or even better, a mesh network. Routers typically have a lifespan of five years. It is not uncommon for older routers to become unreliable and cause connectivity issues such as dropping in and out. Mesh networks have access points that are easy to install and extend your Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. Review your options and consider purchasing a new router for your home.

1. Click on Start and type “device manager” in the search bar
2. Click on “Network Adapters”
3. Find your adapter and click “update driver”
4. Click “search automatically for drivers”

This will reset the connection between your Windows 10 device and your router. If you still have connectivity issues after updating this connection, continue troubleshooting.

Step 3: Try Network Reset

Just like rebooting your device can give the software a chance to remedy any issues while turned off, resetting your network is a potential fix to poor connection issues.

To do this on a Windows 10 device:

1. Open the “Network and Internet” setting
2. Click on “Network Reset” and restart the system

Step 4: Make the Wi-Fi Network Private

If your Wi-Fi is dropping in and out, the fix may be simpler than you think! Often Wi-Fi settings are the cause for poor connection. For example, having your home network classified as a public network may cause connectivity issues. Open the settings of your Windows 10 device and change your network to a private connection. This could potentially fix your issue — and it is also more secure!

Step 5: Turn off Wi-Fi Sense

If you have an older Windows 10 device that you do not keep updated, your device may be equipped with Wi-Fi Sense. Wi-Fi Sense was originally included on Windows devices as a way to connect to your friends’ and colleagues’ Wi-Fi connections. However, this feature can cause connectivity problems when not being utilized.

To disable this feature, you can either open settings, search for Wi-Fi sense and disable the feature or you can update your device to the newest software update.

If you have a newer device or keep your device updated, this issue will not be what is affecting your poor connection, since Windows devices equipped with version 1803 or newer no longer have the feature.

To run the troubleshooter:

1. Click the internet icon in the bottom-right corner and open the troubleshooter. Or, open the control panel and click “Troubleshooting”
2. Click “Network and Internet” and choose “Network Adapters”
3. Evaluate the results and follow the prompts to fix any issues that the troubleshooter finds

Step 8: Reset the Wi-Fi AutoConfig service

If you have changed your Wi-Fi AutoConfig settings, it is possible that the setting has been disabled. Wi-Fi AutoConfig is the setting that searches for connections, connects you to your usual network or the network that is strongest and open and creates automatic settings for your device. This setting is extremely useful because it means you do not have to manually connect and select settings. However, if this setting has been altered it is possible that it could cause connectivity issues, such as Wi-Fi dropping in and out.

To reset your Wi-Fi AutoConfig service:

1. Type in Windows + R and type in “services.msc”
2. Right-click “WLAN AutoConfig” and select “Properties”
3. Change startup type to “Automatic” and click apply

Step 9: Forget Your Old Networks

If you have a connection you no longer need to connect to, it is best to select these connections and try to “forget” them. This will prioritize the connections you actually use and keep your device from trying to connect to other networks that may not be the strongest.

Step 10: Switch DNS Server

If your connection keeps “hanging” or “stalling out,” this solution is worth trying.

Go to the Settings>Network and Internet>Change Adapter Options in Advanced network settings>Changing Adapter Options Settings in Windows 10 >Select your network adapter from the available options> Properties and double-tap on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)>Check the circle for Use the following DNS server addresses>Set 8 8 8 8 and 8 8 4 4 in Preferred and Alternate DNS servers.

Step 11: Reset TCP/IP

TCP/IP is a form of communication between devices that are interconnected on the same network. If there is an error with how your device is communicating with your router, it could be causing dropped connection.

Use the following steps to reset TCP/IP

• Right click “Start” then click “Command Prompt”
• Type “netsh winsock reset” and hit the Enter key

Fix Internet Connection Issues on Android

Step 1: Toggle Airplane On/Off

On Android, resetting your network connection is as simple as turning airplane mode on and then off again. This is one of the simplest ways to troubleshoot connectivity issues. If you reset your connection and still experience Wi-Fi dropping in and out, continue troubleshooting to find other errors.

Step 2: Check the Signal Strength

Checking your signal strength is one of the best ways to determine why your connection might be spotty. If you have a weak signal, you probably won’t experience a continuous and reliable connection. Checking your connection is easy on Android: you can simply see if all three bars are full on the Wi-Fi icon on your home screen. If you notice that you are not receiving a strong signal, follow the steps above on how to troubleshoot potential issues with your router.

Step 3: Forget and Re-add Network

If turning airplane mode on and off isn’t enough to reset your Wi-Fi connection, try forgetting the network entirely. To do this go into your settings and select your connection and then click “Forget Network.” This will completely remove your connection from your device. You will then have to go through the process of connecting to a new network again. This acts as a reboot of the connection entirely, and could potentially fix connectivity issues.

Step 4: Remove Obsolete Wi-Fi Networks

Although public Wi-Fi connections are convenient and useful, once you no longer use them they can be a detriment to your most-used connections. Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks or others that you do not use often leaves behind a graveyard of connections. You can clean up your saved networks by removing connections you no longer use. This will prioritize the connections that you use most often

Step 7: Enter Safe Mode

Android devices are equipped with a feature called Safe Mode. This setting detects when apps on your phone might be having issues. This setting allows you to troubleshoot why your device is not working properly. If you turn Safe Mode on and your phone starts functioning properly, this means that any issues you are experiencing are the fault of an app that you have downloaded to the device.

If you utilize Safe Mode and you still experience connectivity issues such as your Wi-Fi dropping in and out, then the issue is likely with the hardware of your device or your router. This step is good to take if you suspect that the issue might be at the device level.

Step 8: Update Your Android

If you suspect that you are experiencing Wi-Fi unreliability because of an error at the device level, one of the ways you can troubleshoot is by ensuring that your Android device is updated to the newest software version. Devices running on older versions of software are more likely to experience functionality issues. Updating your device can eliminate simple processing errors that may be taking place on your phone.

Step 9: Reset Network Settings

Another way that you can troubleshoot errors at the device level is to reset the network settings on your device. This will delete your current network connection and you will have to re-connect. This can reset your connection and potentially fix minor processing errors.

You can do this by following these steps:

• Settings > System > Reset options and tap Reset Wi-Fi, then mobile & Bluetooth > Reset settings

Get Rid of Wi-Fi Connection Issues for Good

We all know how frustrating an unreliable connection can be, especially when your Wi-Fi is constantly dropping in and out. Various errors can take place that cause these issues, usually at one of two levels: router or device. Following the steps above will help you thoroughly troubleshoot all the potential issues that could be the cause of your frustration. Placing your router in an ideal location and maintaining good signal strength should keep Wi-Fi issues at a minimum.

If your Wi-Fi continues disconnecting and you’re an EPB customer, you can always sign up for EPB Smart Net Plus to power all your devices flawlessly at once with warp-speed Wi-Fi in every corner of your home. Our EPB Tech ProsSM will install your network, set up your devices and offer around-the-clock, no-charge technical support anytime.