Wi-Fi Keeps Dropping? How to Fix Unstable Connections

If your phone, laptop, or other devices connect successfully but your Wi-Fi keeps dropping, you aren’t alone. This is one of the most common home networking problems. As an IT professional with over 10 years of experience, I’ve built this guide to help you understand why your Wi-Fi keeps dropping and how to turn frustrating connection issues into clear, step-by-step solutions.

What’s Happening When Your Wi-Fi Keeps Dropping?

Before we get to the fixes, it is important to understand that a connection drop is usually a “handshake” issue. Your device and your router are trying to talk, but the signal is being interrupted by physical obstacles, electronic noise, or outdated settings. Unlike a slow connection, which is often a bandwidth issue, a dropping connection is almost always a physical or configuration problem between your device and the router.

Common Symptoms

Devices connect to Wi-Fi, then disconnect minutes later
Wi-Fi reconnects repeatedly
Internet drops during streaming or video calls
Devices lose connection when moving around the home
Restarting the router helps only briefly

Frequent drops usually point to connection stability issues, not speed.

Why This Happens

Wi-Fi drops are commonly caused by:

Weak or inconsistent signal
Interference from nearby devices or networks
Router placement issues
Power-saving features on devices
Overloaded or aging network equipment

Expert Note: Unlike slow speeds, which are often caused by bandwidth limits, frequent drops are almost always a physical or configuration issue between your device and the router.

Step-by-Step Fixes

Step 1: Restart Your Modem and Router

While restarting, disconnect any old devices you no longer use to lighten the load on your router’s memory.

Unplug the modem and router
Wait 60 seconds
Plug in the modem first and wait for its lights to stabilize
Plug in the router and wait 2–3 minutes
Reconnect your devices and test the connection

If the drops stop, the issue was temporary.

Step 2: Optimize Your Physical Setup

Distance and physical obstacles are the leading causes of unstable Wi-Fi. Because high-frequency signals (like 5 GHz) struggle to pass through solid objects, where you place your router matters just as much as the router itself.

Rule Out Distance: Test your connection while standing 5–10 feet away from the router. If the drops stop, your issue is likely signal range, and you may need a mesh system or extender for larger areas.
Clear the Path: Move your router away from large metal objects, thick masonry walls, and mirrors, which reflect and block signals.
Reduce Electronic Noise: Keep your router at least 3 feet away from “noisy” electronics like microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors. these devices operate on the same frequencies as your Wi-Fi and can physically “knock” your devices off the network.

Expert Tip: Always place your router in a central, elevated location—like a shelf or desk—rather than on the floor or inside a cabinet. Think of your Wi-Fi like a lightbulb; you want the “light” to reach as much of the room as possible without being blocked.

Step 3: Check Device Power Settings

Some devices turn Wi-Fi off to save power.

Plug laptops into power
Disable aggressive battery-saving modes
Check Wi-Fi sleep or power settings

This often affects laptops and tablets more than phones.

Step 4: Switch Your Wi-Fi Band

Most modern routers broadcast on multiple bands (highways). If your connection is constantly dropping on one band, your device may be struggling with interference or range.

Try the Switch: If you are on the 2.4 GHz band and experiencing drops, try switching to 5 GHz or 6 GHz for a more stable, “cleaner” signal.
The Trade-off: Keep in mind that while 5 GHz and 6 GHz are more stable, they have a shorter range than 2.4 GHz.

(For a full breakdown of which band is best for your specific room or device, see the Comparison Table at the bottom of this guide.)

Next Best Action

If Wi-Fi continues to drop, move your router away from electronics like baby monitors or microwaves. If that doesn’t work, log into your router settings and manually set your 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11 instead of “Auto.” This stops your router from fighting with your neighbors’ signals for space.

Pro Tip: Avoid the Crowd

On the 2.4 GHz band, only channels 1, 6, and 11 are “non-overlapping.” If your connection drops frequently, manually switching to one of these clean channels is a professional-grade fix that can stop random disconnects instantly.

Wi-Fi Comparison Table: 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz vs. 6 GHz

Feature	2.4 GHz Band	5 GHz Band	6 GHz Band (Wi-Fi 6E)
Top Speed	Lower (Browsing)	Higher (4K Streaming)	Highest (Gigabit+)
Max Range	Up to 150 feet	Up to 60 feet	Up to 30 feet
Congestion	High (Crowded)	Moderate	Zero (Ultra-clean)
Wall Penetration	Excellent	Limited	Very Low
Best Channels	1, 6, 11	36, 44, 149, 157	Up to 59 new channels

Final Tip: Check the “Lease Time”

If your Wi-Fi drops at the exact same time every day, your router’s DHCP Lease Time might be too short. Setting this to 24 hours (86,400 seconds) in your router settings provides the permanent stability that “Auto” settings often miss.