How to fix Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting on Windows 10
WiFi problems make it impossible to work. If you’re working offline i.e., in a word processor or spreadsheet, you may still need an active and reliable internet connection to sync a backup of your work to a cloud drive. For almost everything else, you need the internet.
Fix WiFi keeps disconnecting on Windows 10
Laptops and desktops can connect to the internet via an Ethernet cable or a WiFi. Most people prefer to use a WiFi since it means no cabling has to be set up and if you have a laptop, you can pick it up and take it anywhere without worrying about wires.
If the WiFi on your laptop keeps disconnecting, go through these basic checks first;
- Toggle the WiFi on your Windows 10 system off, and then On. You can do this by tapping Win+A to open Action Center. Click the Airplane icon to enable Airplane mode. Wait a while, and then click it again to turn WiFi back on.
- Restart the router. Your router may have run into a problem of its own. Turn it off, and back on. Check if the problem persists.
- Check if the WiFi keeps disconnecting on other devices. Try to connect a phone and if the problem persists on it, it is highly likely the problem is either with the router or your service provider. Get in touch with your service provider for a solution.
If the WiFi continues to disconnect repeatedly on your system, try the fixes below.
1. Run the network troubleshooter
The first thing you do when you have connectivity issues of any type is run the network troubleshooter. This is a built-in tool on Windows 10 that can take care of common connectivity problems.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Update & Security.
- Select the Troubleshoot tab.
- Click Additional troubleshooters.
- Run the Internet Connections troubleshooter.
- Apply all fixes that it recommends and restart the system.
2. Flush DNS
WiFi connectivity generally isn’t impacted by the DNS. If you’re having problems with the DNS, you won’t be able to open any websites but you will still be connected to your wireless network. That said, it never hurts to flush the DNS.
- Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
- Run this command: ,code>ipconfig /flushdns
- Allow the command to complete and restart the system.
3. Reset Network adapter
Try resetting the network adapter. Much like a router can run into problems that are fixed by restarting it, the same can happen to the network adapter.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Network and Internet.
- Select the Status tab.
- Click Advanced network settings.
- Click Reset.
4. Turn off VPN
If you’re using a VPN, turn it off. The app that you’re using may not be compatible with Windows 10 or you may not have the correct drivers installed for the VPN to connect and remain connected. Turn the VPN off and check if the disconnections stop.
5. Change WiFi frequency
WiFi generally communicates over a particular frequency but if the frequency is too busy, it will start dropping certain connected devices. Think of it as a highway that is too busy. The simple fix is to change the frequency that your system connects over.
For your router;
- Connect your laptop/desktop to your router via a LAN cable.
- Access the router’s admin panel.
- Look for anything related to connection and/or connectivity settings.
- Change the frequency to 2.5Ghz. This frequency has shorter range but will be less busy.
On your Windows 10 system;
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Network adapters.
- Double-click your wireless network card.
- Go to Advanced.
- Look for a frequency related entry (will differ based on the network card model).
- Set it to 2.5Ghz.
Restart the router and the system.
6. Enable Windows Defender (disable third-party anti-virus)
if you’re using a third-party anti-virus, disable it and turn on Windows Defender. Some anti-virus apps have especially strict virus definitions and they tend to block a lot of incoming connections. If the problem goes away, you can either continue to use Windows Defender or you can add your wireless network to a safe list in your anti-virus app.
7. Change power management settings
If your WiFi disconnects after a period of inactivity or after you wake it from sleep, it’s likely that your system is turning the WiFi off. This is a power management feature and you can easily disable it.
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Network Adapters.
- Double-click your wireless network chip.
- Go to Power Management.
- Uncheck the ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ option.
- Restart the system.
8. Forget other networks
If you’re in range of other networks, Windows 10 may be trying to connect to them, and failing. The simple fix here is to forget the other networks.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Network & Internet.
- Select the Status tab.
- Click Manage known networks.
- Select all networks one-by-one, and click Forget.
- Try connecting to a network.
9. Uninstall and reinstall network adapter
Uninstalling and reinstalling the network adapter allows you to hard reset it.
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Network Adapters.
- Right-click your wireless card and select Uninstall device.
- Confirm you want to uninstall the device.
- Restart the system.
- Open Device Manager.
- Click the Scan for hardware changes button.
- Windows 10 will detect and install the network adapter again.
- Restart the system.
10. Disable WiFi Sense
Windows 10 has a feature called WiFi Sense which allows your device to connect to networks created by your contacts. It is used much and it tends to cause connectivity problems.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Network & Internet.
- Select the WiFi tab.
- Click Manage WiFi settings.
- Turn the Connect to suggested open hotspots and Connect to networks shared by my contacts switches off.
- Restart the system.
Note: This option may not be available for all systems.
Conclusion
WiFi connectivity problems are rare unless you’ve changed drivers or installed network utilities. If you’ve installed apps like that, remove them. If your problem persists, it is possible that your hardware is damaged. Consider taking it in for a check up.
