Why does my Wi-Fi keep disconnecting?

Wi-Fi that keeps dropping is one of the most frustrating problems at home. The good news: the cause is usually one of a handful of common things, and most can be fixed in minutes.

First, is it the Wi-Fi or the connection?

Before you change anything, work out what is actually dropping.

• One device drops, the others are fine: the problem is likely that device, its settings or its distance from the router.
• Every device drops Wi-Fi, but a wired device stays online: the problem is Wi-Fi coverage or interference.
• Everything is offline, wired devices too: the connection itself may be down.

That simple check saves a lot of guesswork.

What causes Wi-Fi to keep dropping?

• Interference from neighbouring networks on a crowded channel, especially in apartment buildings.
• A weak signal because the router is far away or blocked by walls.
• Too many devices online at once on an older router.
• Interference from microwaves, cordless phones and other electronics.
• One device with outdated software or saved settings that clash with the network.

Quick fixes to try, in order

1. Restart the router: switch it off, wait 30 seconds, switch it on again and reconnect.
2. Move the router to a central, open and slightly raised spot, away from microwaves and cordless phones.
3. If your router shows two networks, use 5 GHz for devices close by and 2.4 GHz for far rooms.
4. Change the Wi-Fi channel in the router settings if many networks nearby share yours.
5. On the device that keeps dropping, forget the network, update its software and reconnect.
6. Disconnect devices you aren’t using, such as old phones and idle tablets.

If one room keeps losing signal, it is a coverage problem. Our guide on how to fix Wi-Fi dead zones at home walks through the options.

Restart, reposition, then check whether it is one device or all of them.

When it is the connection, not the Wi-Fi

If every device is offline, including wired ones, restart the router first. If it is still down, contact support. Our network operations centre monitors the I-ON network 24/7 and often spots faults before you call, and with 120+ local support points, an engineer is always nearby.