Top 10 Reason: Why Wi-Fi Disconnection?

Are you looking for unlimited wireless internet service for remote areas? Let’s be honest. These days, the engine of the world runs on Wi-Fi connections. Everything from schools to agriculture, from healthcare to politics, has transitioned online, and Wi-Fi plays a fundamental role in this widespread Internet access. Not only that, but Wi-Fi supports multiple devices simultaneously, freeing you from the hassle of relying on cables. What is Wi-Fi, you ask? Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity Technology. It is a family of networking protocols connecting your computers, smartphones, automation systems, and gadgets to the Internet via radio frequency transmission.

Depending on the best Internet provider you have subscribed to, you can rely on Wi-Fi to take you to the Internet from any corner of the house. However, there are times when your Wi-Fi may not connect, leaving you wondering why your Internet keeps going down? Let’s explore the top 10 reasons why your wireless network keeps disconnecting so you can fix these problems as soon as possible and enjoy uninterrupted Wi-Fi access in your home. Stay tuned and read on.

1. External Interference

Wi-Fi transmits Internet signals and data packets wirelessly between your connected devices and the network server. While this “wireless” quality is undoubtedly beneficial, as it enables mobility and multitasking, it also makes your home network quite susceptible to external interference. This interference in the Wi-Fi signal channel can disconnect you from the World Wide Web. In addition, it can be caused by anything from distance to location to objects. For example, you may be sitting too far away from your router. The longer these signals need to travel, the less effective they are at staying connected to the network.

How can you fix this problem?

Move closer to the router. Change your location so that your computer is close to the router to shorten the transmission distance of the Wi-Fi signal and get a more stable connection.

Clear the signal channel. Change the location of your router. Place it centrally and away from walls, windows, cabinets, shelves, floors, or any other source of physical obstruction.

Keep the router away from wireless competitors. Most routers transmit Internet signals by default on the 2.4GHz band, a crowded bar already being used by other wireless devices such as baby monitors nearby. If your router is too close to such a device, its signal will be corrupted. Therefore, make sure to place your router far away from these wireless mechanisms.

Switch the frequency band. Try changing the wireless band from the usual 2.4GHz to the less crowded 5GHz from your router’s settings to experience better signal reception.

2. Too many users, too slow

What is the sign of a good unlimited home wireless internet? High speed, right? The faster your home Wi-Fi is, the quicker you’ll be able to access the Internet and get your tasks done on time. Internet speed is indeed an essential indicator of the quality of your online experience. However, another critical metric here regarding speed is your collective home-usage. Yes, if you have too many Internet users in your home and they are all surfing the Internet simultaneously, your Wi-Fi will drop out due to lack of speed.

Let’s say your Internet plan gives you 50Mbps download capacity. It seems more than enough. However, suppose everyone is at home playing games, streaming Netflix, and downloading large files at the same time while you’re taking your online classes. In that case, your Wi-Fi is bound to slow down or, in the worst-case scenario, disappear altogether.

How can you fix this problem?

Run a speed test. Chances are you’ve subscribed to a reliable plan but aren’t receiving the advertised speeds. With a speed test, you know precisely your connection’s download, upload, and ping rates. If the delivered speed is not enough, call your ISP, ask why, and immediately fix the discrepancy to enjoy stable Wi-Fi access.

Upgrade to a faster network tier. Start by assessing your home’s collective speed requirements. Calculate the level of speed that will complement the Internet usage of all users in your household. If your current Internet plan seems inadequate, then call your ISP to upgrade your subscription to a faster speed tier to ensure all-around Wi-Fi connectivity.

Bandwidth is not enough

In addition to speed, data is also essential. This Internet data or bandwidth is the tool that carries your Internet access. It is provided by your Internet service provider and consumed by your data-hungry devices as fuel for your web access. Suppose you don’t have enough energy, but there is a considerable demand anyway. In that case, this situation will create an Internet deficit in your home, causing you to suffer from Wi-Fi disconnections.

Data shortages are more often than not caused by data caps. A considerable number of ISPs impose data limits on their services to avoid network failures during peak traffic periods. Data caps act as a noose around your Internet plan, and once a user exceeds the limit, the noose tightens, and your bandwidth is cut off by the provider, leaving you with a lot of buffering, browser crashes, and loading bars.

How do you fix this problem?

Check your data caps and adjust your Internet usage. Most consumers don’t even know when they’ve reached their data cap, and that’s making them more frustrated than ever. So, first, verify the exact data limit on your plan. Then, plan your Internet activity accordingly to ensure that your data lasts the entire month.

Disable unnecessary connections. Some devices, apps, and programs, constantly take up data in the background while connected to Wi-Fi. This not only slows down the Internet but also depletes data reserves. Therefore, disable Wi-Fi on all unnecessary devices and systems to save Wi-Fi for significant components.

Upgrade to an unlimited plan. Don’t want a data cap? Then upgrade to an unlimited data plan from your current provider so you can stay connected to Wi-Fi, even at the end of the month. If no such option is available, then jump out and switch to a different ISP.

Stuck in a dead zone

People who live in huge houses tend to have more problems with Wi-Fi disconnection than people who live in neat tiny apartments. Here’s why. Because a single router can’t ideally push the Wi-Fi signal to every corner of a multi-story home, this creates “dead spots” in some regions of the house where there is little to no Wi-Fi signal present. If you find yourself in such a dead corner, your Wi-Fi will be disconnected.

How can you fix this problem?

Invest in an extender or mesh system. A Wi-Fi extender, booster, or network repeater extends the range of your router, bringing Wi-Fi connectivity uniformly to all parts of the house and eliminating dead spots. So if you’re wondering, “Why is my Wi-Fi always disconnected?” And you live in a large house; then the culprit is likely to be those demented dead spots. Invest in a good Wi-Fi extender, create a complete mesh network in your house and cover all areas with Wi-Fi signals.

Modems disconnected from the back end

While you may be inclined only to consider your router when talking about fixing your Wi-Fi, Internet modems also need your attention. Why? Because the modem is responsible for establishing a connection with your Internet Service Provider and receiving and translating the Internet signals that your ISP transmits over cable, fiber, DSL, or other infrastructure. If your modem is not compatible with the speed level you subscribe to or is not approved by your provider, then your ISP may disconnect it from the back end, deeming it unsuitable.

How do I fix this problem?

Make sure your modem is compatible. Let’s say you’ve subscribed to 1-gigabit speeds from your ISP, but your modem is old and broken. It will not be able to send or receive heavy signals. So, upgrade your modem to match the upgraded speed. Once you’ve done that, ask customer service to reconnect it for you.

Get an ISP-assigned modem. Yes, you do have the option to use your modem and save on rental costs with some Internet providers. However, if you don’t get an approved model, your ISP may disconnect you. Therefore, the best option is to get an ISP-assigned modem to avoid this risk in the first place. If you’re going to take that risk, then get your ISP to participate in the program.

A Wi-Fi router older than your grandmother

Technology is dynamic. It is constantly improving itself and replacing its previous versions. That’s why you need to keep an eye on the latest version to experience advanced features and stay in the game. Now, outdated routers can mess up your home network. If your PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets are new, but your router is ancient, then you can expect Wi-Fi to drop occasionally because your router won’t match the most advanced interface.

How can you fix this problem?

Upgrade your router. The average lifespan of a router is about two or three years, after which it eats dust in the face of newer varieties. For example, Wi-Fi 6 is the hype these days, so make sure you replace your old router with one that has this standard built in to experience seamless Wi-Fi connectivity for all your devices.

Frayed and torn Internet cables

Wi-Fi is a wireless ecosystem, yes. However, what makes it “wireless” is a wired network. Confused? Let us explain. The cables that make Wi-Fi possible are the Ethernet cable from the router to the modem, the copper or fiber optic cable from the modem to the wall outlet, and the power cable from the network hardware, among others. If any of these cables are loosely plugged in or damaged, they can cause signal bleed and random Wi-Fi disconnects on your devices.

How to fix this problem?

Tighten the cables. Check your network device’s Internet cables to see if they are correctly plugged in. If not, secure them precisely to their respective ports to stabilize the Wi-Fi connection in your home.

Replace the cables. Time or weather can damage physical wires. Check all wired connections that create your wireless network, and if you see any wear and tear, call your ISP’s customer support and order replacements as soon as possible to restore your Wi-Fi access.

Outdated network drivers and firmware

It’s time to talk about technology. Disconnected Wi-Fi can be caused by outdated wireless drivers on your computer or router firmware that hasn’t been updated. These renegades can hinder the processing power of your personal and network devices, so it’s best to address them early.

How do I fix this problem?

Update the wireless drivers. Open the “Device Manager” settings on your computer and expand the “Network Adapters” section. Find your Wi-Fi adapter, double-click it, and move to the “Drivers” tab in the pop-up window. From there, select the “Update Driver” option to install the latest driver update on your local computer and make sure the Wi-Fi is connected.

Update the router firmware. Open a web browser on your computer and enter your router’s IP address in the search bar. Enter your credentials on the management screen and go to router settings. Look for the “Router Update” option and click “Update Firmware” to bring your router up to the latest speed.

Antivirus software turns rogue

You can never be too careful when it comes to security. Sometimes, however, the security software you rely on to protect you from cyber attacks turns out to be a rogue. Rogue or fake antivirus software is a form of malware controlled by cybercriminals and tricks you into thinking it can protect you from harm, but it only causes chaos in your network. This fake software also can randomly disconnect your device from your home Wi-Fi, bringing your online activity to a halt. On the other hand, outdated antivirus software could be another reason for the sudden disruption of your Wi-Fi. Obsolete software is full of bugs that tamper with the efficiency and settings of the program and the device on which it is installed.

How to fix this problem?

Uninstall rogue antivirus software. The best remedy to ensure the safety of your device and network is to plan a removal. You can uninstall the antivirus by going to the Control Panel from the Start menu on your computer and selecting “Uninstall or change programs.” From there, find the antivirus, click on it and click the “Uninstall” button in the top bar to complete the removal. This will ensure that your device stays connected to Wi-Fi.

Update the antivirus software. Program developers often roll out software updates and bug fixes from time to time. Installing these updates is critical to the operation of your antivirus software. While in most cases, the software will install updates automatically. If it doesn’t, you can download them yourself by opening the antivirus app, going to the dashboard, checking for updates, and clicking the download and install button. This will prohibit the antivirus software from disconnecting the Wi-Fi connection due to a functional defect.

Service interruptions or network changes

The problem may be at the source, the ISP, and not your Wi-Fi or device. Yes, you may be experiencing a service outage or a network change in your area that is causing the Wi-Fi to disconnect.

How to fix the problem?

Could you wait for it? First, confirm if it is indeed a local or regional outage. Call your ISP ‘s customer support or check your Internet application’s notification panel to confirm the service outage near you. Once this is verified, be confident that your provider is working to resolve the issue and restore your connection as soon as they are finished. Be patient and spend quality time with your family in the meantime.

Final Words

Wi-Fi disconnection is a real pain point for modern consumers. This article lists the top reasons for Wi-Fi disconnection in your home and the best fixes to fix your connection on your own. So, what are you waiting for?