Fix WiFi That Keeps Disconnecting

The most common cause people miss: your device is aggressively turning off the WiFi adapter to save power — not a router problem at all. Work through these in order from free to hardware fix.

Step 1 — Free Fixes (Do These First)

1. Disable WiFi power saving (Windows): Device Manager → Network Adapters → right-click your WiFi adapter → Properties → Power Management → uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
2. Change your router channel: Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) → change WiFi channel from Auto to channel 1, 6, or 11 (2.4GHz) or a fixed channel on 5GHz. Neighbour routers competing on the same channel is a top culprit.
3. Update your WiFi adapter driver: Device Manager → Network Adapters → right-click → Update Driver. An outdated driver causes random drops constantly.
4. Forget and reconnect: Forget the network entirely, then reconnect fresh — corrupted session data causes drops.
5. DNS flush: Open CMD as admin → type ipconfig /flushdns and netsh winsock reset → restart.

Step 2 — Router-Side Fixes

1. Restart your router properly: Unplug for 60 full seconds (not 10). Capacitors need time to drain.
2. Check for overheating: If your router is in an enclosed cabinet or has vents blocked, it will throttle and drop connections. Move it to open air.
3. Switch bands: If on 2.4GHz, try 5GHz (faster, less interference) — or vice versa if you are far from the router (5GHz drops off faster with distance).
4. Check connected devices: Too many devices hammering bandwidth (smart TVs, cameras) can starve your connection.

Step 3 — Hardware Fixes

1. Try a USB WiFi adapter: Bypasses your internal card entirely — if drops stop, your internal adapter is dying.
2. Powerline or MoCA adapter: Runs your internet through your home's electrical wiring — eliminates WiFi drops entirely for desktop setups.
3. Router replacement: Consumer routers have a lifespan of 3-5 years. Firmware corruption and hardware fatigue cause random drops on older units.

Quick diagnostic: Open CMD and run ping -t 8.8.8.8 — leave it running. If you see "Request timed out" during a drop, your internet is actually cutting out. If ping stays up but browsing dies, it is a DNS or device issue, not the connection itself.

Pro tip: If the drops happen every 20-30 minutes exactly, it is almost certainly the power management setting on your WiFi adapter — Windows resets it aggressively, especially after updates. It is the #1 cause of "mysterious" WiFi drops and the easiest 10-second fix.