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Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting

Intermediate Network & Wi-Fi Applies to: Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11

The connection drops every few minutes and reconnects on its own.

Before you start: save any open work and note down what you were doing when the problem started — that context helps if you need to search further or ask for help.
  1. Turn off the power-saving setting for your Wi-Fi adapter: Device Manager > Network adapters > right-click your Wi-Fi adapter > Properties > Power Management > uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
  2. Update the Wi-Fi adapter driver, since outdated drivers are a very common cause of intermittent drops.
  3. Move closer to the router temporarily to rule out a weak signal as the cause.
  4. Check your router for firmware updates — many routers have a known bug pattern where specific devices drop randomly until firmware is updated.
  5. Switch the router's Wi-Fi band (2.4GHz vs 5GHz) if you have the option — some adapters handle one band far more reliably than the other.
  6. If nothing above resolves it, try a full Network Reset — a more thorough step than any single command, since it removes and reinstalls every network adapter and resets networking components to their original state: on Windows 11, Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset; on Windows 10, Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset. This requires a restart and means re-entering Wi-Fi passwords afterward.
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in Network & Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this more likely to be my PC or my router?
If other devices on the same Wi-Fi stay connected fine, it points to this PC's adapter or driver. If everything drops at once, the router or ISP is the more likely cause.
Does moving closer to the router actually help?
Yes, meaningfully — Wi-Fi signal degrades with distance and obstacles like walls, and a weak signal is a common, simple cause of intermittent disconnects that's easy to rule out first.

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