How to fix WiFi disconnecting on lock on Windows 10

WiFi problems tend to occur when you’re actively using your desktop. Your WiFi signal may drop, it may disconnect at random, or it may refuse to connect altogether. Other problems are easier to isolate e.g., when you lock your screen and the WiFi disconnects.

This isn’t intended default behavior though the WiFi can be set to disconnect on system lock. If your WiFi is disconnecting each time you lock the system, or the system locks automatically, you need to fix a configuration in the registry.

WiFi disconnecting on lock on Windows 10 [FIX]

To fix the WiFi disconnecting on system lock, you need to edit the registry. To do that, you must have admin access on the system.

1. Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
2. In the run box, enter ‘regedit‘, and tap the Enter key.
3. Go to the following key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20\7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0

4. Double-click the Attributes value, and set the value in the box to 2.
5. Close the registry, and restart the system.

Change sleep unattended sleep timeout

The registry change should fix the problem however if it persists, you need to execute this second fix as well. Use it only after the first one fails. Do not undo the first fix.

1. Open File Explorer and enter the following in the location bar.

Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings

2. Click ‘Change plan settings‘ next to the plan that is currently active.
3. Click ‘Change advanced power settings’.
4. In the window that opens, expand Sleep.
5. Select Sleep unattended sleep timeout.
6. Change the value from the default 2 minutes to 20 minutes.
7. Apply the change and restart your system.

Other solutions

WiFi disconnecting on system lock is a very specific bug with a specific solution. If it persists after you’ve applied other fixes, you can try resetting the network adapter. We have detailed instructions on how to do just that. You can also try updating your network driver, as well as running the network troubleshooter.

To run the network troubleshooter;

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the Update and Security group of settings.
3. Select Troubleshoot.
4. Click Network Adapter.
5. Apply any and all fixes that it recommends, and restart the system.

Conclusion

This is an old Windows 10 bug that crops up randomly after system updates or driver updates have been installed. It happens because an update changes something related to the settings in the registry or, they are not set correctly when you install your OS. This fix solves it definitively and it doesn’t reappear.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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