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Why does my internet keep disconnecting?

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A stable and consistent internet connection is necessary for our personal and professional lives. It provides entertainment, communication and even the ability to learn and work remotely. However, many users experience frequent unexpected disconnections that disrupt daily routines and productivity.

This article explores why your internet keeps disconnecting and provides practical tips for diagnosing and fixing the issues.

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Common causes of WiFi disconnections

Identifying and understanding what can cause your network connection to disconnect is one step toward addressing issues. Let’s look at some of the common reasons your WiFi connection disconnects:

Router issues

A router is the centerpiece of your WiFi network, and any issues with it can lead to network disconnections. These issues range from overheating to hardware degradation and outdated firmware. Routers with outdated firmware lack the latest updates that improve performance and security.

In addition, your router may not have support for the latest WiFi technologies, such as WiFi 6, which supports higher speed tiers and provides improved network coverage, bandwidth and device capacity. If you upgrade to a higher speed plan, such as 1 Gig from a fiber connection, your old router may struggle to connect and provide the higher  speeds.

Interference from other devices

Electronic devices in your home can interfere with WiFi signals, resulting in dropped connections. Devices such as cordless phones, microwave ovens and Bluetooth devices operate at 2.4 GHz, which is similar to the WiFi frequency band and causes interference.

Position your router away from these devices and place them on raised surfaces to reduce the chances of signal interference.

Network congestion

Several devices connected to the same WiFi network can result in bandwidth congestion, which affects your internet experience. When multiple devices simultaneously run bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming, downloading files or gaming online, they significantly strain your network’s bandwidth capacity, leading to unexpected disconnections

In addition, your internet speed can slow down and potentially disconnect at peak internet usage times in your neighborhood, such as evenings or during high-traffic events.

Signal strength and range

The physical layout of your home and the location of your router can affect the WiFi’s signal strength. The further away from the router you are, the weaker the WiFi signals become, leading to frequent network disconnections. Physical obstacles in the house, like thick walls, multiple floors and large furniture, can block signals and further diminish their strength.

Internet service provider (ISP) issues

Sometimes, internet disconnections stem from issues with your ISP. ISP problems such as network outages, infrastructure maintenance or faulty equipment can lead to unstable internet connections. The ISP could also be throttling internet connections during peak hours to manage internet traffic, which results in slower speeds and potential disconnections.

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Diagnosing WiFi disconnection problems

Once you pinpoint the potential issues that cause your internet’s disconnection problems, it’s crucial to address the issues through a thorough diagnosis. Here are some practical steps you can take to diagnose the disconnection issues:

Checking router settings

Examine your router’s settings. Its configuration can impact your internet connection’s stability. Access your router’s admin panel in your web browser using the router’s IP address (found at the back or on the underside of the router) or using the router’s app and review the following settings:

    • Ensure your router’s firmware is up-to-date. Manufacturers frequently release updates to address security bugs and improve performance.
    • Select a less crowded WiFi channel to minimize interference from neighboring networks.
    • Enable QoS (Quality of Service) to prioritize network traffic for specific devices or applications, improving overall performance.
    • Check for unusual settings that might limit connectivity, such as MAC address filtering or incorrectly configured DNS settings.

While these settings generally apply to most routers, the exact process may vary slightly depending on the router’s brand and model. Always refer to your router’s specific documentation for accurate instructions.

Running speed and connectivity tests

Run an internet speed test to measure the speed of your WiFi connection. Conduct a comprehensive network performance evaluation of the network’s download and upload speed throughput at different times of the day.

Speed tests help determine if your internet speeds fluctuate, which might indicate connection instability.

Monitoring network traffic

By monitoring your network traffic, you can evaluate how you use your internet connection. It provides insight into bandwidth usage and identifies which devices or applications consume the most resources, resulting in slow internet connections or unexpected WiFi disconnections.

You can monitor your network traffic using your router’s built-in traffic monitoring features or your operating system’s tools, such as Task Manager and Activity Monitor. You can also install network analysis applications like Wireshark or GlassWire, which provide more detailed insights into your network’s traffic.

You can also disconnect idle devices when they aren’t in use or use your router’s QoS features to limit bandwidth for them. After collecting the data, you can identify patterns, anomalies and errors within the network traffic that cause disconnections.

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Mesh WiFi with
eero Secure

Enhanced Whole Home WiFi enables multiple WiFi routers (or eeros®) to work as a team, resulting in improved range, speed and stability of your WiFi network. Plus, with eero Secure now included at no additional cost, it keeps your family safe with parental controls, ad blocking and internet backup so you’re always connected.
 

Solutions to prevent WiFi disconnections

After diagnosing some of the problems causing your internet to disconnect, let’s look at some practical solutions that can help you maintain a stable internet connection.

Upgrading your router

Upgrading to a new router can significantly improve your WiFi stability and speeds. Old routers may be unable to meet the needs of modern high-speed internet, multiple devices and bandwidth-intensive activities.

Some of the reasons why you should upgrade your router include:

    • Enhanced WiFi performance, as modern routers offer support for faster speed tiers, broader coverage, lower latency and improved device and bandwidth capacity
    • Modern routers support the latest WiFi security protocols, such as WPA3, which provides improved security features
    • Old routers may lack built-in mesh WiFi support, guest WiFi configuration and parental control features

Some of the factors you should consider when upgrading to a new router include:

    • Support for the latest WiFi standards (WiFi 6 or higher)
    • Dual-band or tri-band capabilities to take advantage of less congested frequencies, such as the 5 GHz or 6 GHz bands

Changing router settings

Changing your router’s settings can dramatically improve your WiFi connection’s consistency and stability. You can optimize your router’s settings by:

    • Switching between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands since the 5 GHz band typically offers less interference but has a shorter range.
    • Adjusting your bandwidth settings and configuring Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize traffic to critical applications.
    • Updating the firmware on your router to include the latest updates that improve performance and fix security bugs.

If you recently moved and want to access the internet at home, here’s how to set up WiFi in a new apartment.

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Mesh WiFi with eero Secure

Enhanced Whole Home WiFi enables multiple WiFi routers (or eeros®) to work as a team, resulting in improved range, speed and stability of your WiFi network. Plus, with eero Secure now included at no additional cost, it keeps your family safe with parental controls, ad blocking and internet backup so you’re always connected.
 

Reducing interference

Place your router in a central location away from all electronic devices that emit EMI signals to minimize signal interference. Additionally, place the router in an elevated position to maximize WiFi coverage and minimize obstructions from other physical objects.

You can also connect your devices directly to your router using an Ethernet cable for a wired connection. Wired connections are less prone to signal interference than wireless networks and offer more consistent internet speeds. Finally, consider using WiFi analyzer apps to find the least congested channel in your area and avoid interference from neighboring WiFi networks.

Using WiFi extenders or mesh networks

WiFi extenders and mesh networks can help improve the coverage of your internet connection and eliminate dead zones in your home. WiFi extenders boost signal in specific areas, while mesh networks create a unified WiFi network with multiple access points that provide broader coverage throughout your home.

In addition, Astound’s Whole Home WiFi eero subscription includes eero Secure, which has network insights that let you see your family’s historical network usage and eero performance data over time, at no additional charge.

Contacting your ISP

If you have tried the methods above and still suffer from internet disconnections, the issues may be with your ISP. Disconnections can occur when your ISP performs a maintenance check during network outages or when damaged equipment is present.

Tell customer service the details of your troubleshooting steps, schedule a technician for inspection or upgrade your internet plan to find better speeds.

 
Learn More: What is the difference between WiFi and internet connections?

Potential external factors

While configuring router settings and optimizing your home network can fix most WiFi disconnection issues, examining external factors outside your immediate reach is crucial. These external factors include:

Environmental factors

Environmental factors, including weather conditions such as snowstorms, heavy rains and natural disasters, can cause hardware malfunctions, data loss or system failures. In addition, infrastructure, such as power lines or electrical substations, can cause electromagnetic interference and power outages that may disrupt internet connections.

In rapidly developing areas, a higher density of WiFi networks can cause signal congestion and interference.

Firmware and software updates

Firmware updates on internet equipment are essential for security, performance and feature enhancements. However, they can also introduce compatibility issues or unexpected system behavior.

Your internet service provider might also perform network upgrades, maintenance or configuration changes that briefly disrupt your connection’s stability.

Rigorously monitoring your network’s performance, backing up your router settings and staying informed of your ISP’s planned network changes or upgrades can help mitigate the risks associated with updates.

Conclusion

By understanding the causes behind your internet disconnections, from router issues and signal interference to network congestion and ISP problems, you can take proactive steps to improve your online experience. A careful diagnosis, which includes checking router settings, running speed tests and monitoring network traffic, can pinpoint the root cause of your connection’s problems.

Practical solutions to internet disconnections include upgrading your router, optimizing router settings, reducing interference or expanding your network coverage with extenders or mesh systems.

If problems persist, contacting your ISP is essential to resolving issues outside your control.

We recommend that you systematically approach addressing WiFi disconnections. Diagnose the issue using the tools and methods discussed, implement the suggested solutions and regularly monitor your network’s performance.

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Frequently asked questions

Look out for several signs that your router is failing, such as frequent internet disconnections, slow speeds, an overheating router or an inability to connect to the internet.

Yes, upgrading to a mesh WiFi system provides benefits such as improved coverage, scalability (adding more nodes to expand coverage), smart home integration and a consistent connection as you move around the house.

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*Internet speeds may vary & are not guaranteed. Certain equipment may be required to reach advertised speeds. DOCSIS 3.1 modem with 2.5GE physical LAN port is required for 1 Gigabit speeds and higher. See astound.com/yourspeed for why speeds may vary. To view Astound’s FCC Network Management Disclosure see astound.com/policies-disclaimers. Modem required for Internet service. No contract required. Subject to availability. We substantiate that the cable modem equipment provided, and the configuration of such cable modem, meets the broadband speeds advertised when attached to a wired connection based on SamKnows testing procedures.

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