Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting on Windows 11? 12 Fixes

Few things are as annoying as a Wi-Fi connection that drops every few minutes: the video call freezes, the download fails and the Wi-Fi icon shows a globe again. When your Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting on Windows 11, the cause is usually on the PC, and most of the fixes take a minute or two.

Start with the quick check below. It tells you whether to fix the PC or the router, so you do not waste time on the wrong one. Then work through the fixes in order.

Symptoms

• The Wi-Fi icon switches to "No internet" or a globe, then comes back by itself.
• Windows connects, drops after a few minutes, and reconnects.
• The connection drops after the PC wakes from sleep.
• It happens only on battery, only in one room, or only on this PC.

First, Is It the PC or the Router?

• Other devices drop at the same time: the router or the internet line. Go to fixes 1, 11 and 12.
• Only this PC drops: a Windows or adapter problem. Fixes 2 to 10 are for you.
• Only far from the router: a weak signal. Start with fix 1, then see our guide on why Wi-Fi is slow, which covers signal and channels.

To know exactly when it drops, keep Net Monitor running. Its always-on-top widget shows live speed, so you see the moment traffic stops, and its tray notifications flag network events while you work. Matching the drops to what you were doing, such as waking from sleep or unplugging the charger, points straight to the right fix.

Common Causes

• Windows turns the Wi-Fi adapter off to save power, especially on laptops.
• An outdated or buggy Wi-Fi driver, often after a Windows update.
• Windows keeps jumping to another saved network with a stronger signal.
• A weak signal, interference, or a router that needs a restart or a firmware update.
• Corrupted network settings, VPN software or a security app filtering traffic.

Fix 1: Restart the Router and the PC

Unplug the router for 30 seconds, wait until its lights are stable, then restart Windows with Start, Power, Restart. Restart fully resets the network stack; Shut down does not, because of Fast Startup.

Fix 2: Stop Windows Turning Off the Wi-Fi Adapter

This is the most common cause on laptops, especially when drops happen after sleep or on battery.

1. Open Device Manager

   Right-click Start and choose Device Manager, then expand Network adapters.

2. Open the adapter's properties

   Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter (its name usually includes Wi-Fi, Wireless or 802.11) and choose Properties.

3. Turn off power saving

   On the Power Management tab, untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and select OK.

Fix 3: Set the Wireless Adapter to Maximum Performance

Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl and press Enter. Select Change plan settings, then Change advanced power settings. Expand Wireless Adapter Settings, Power Saving Mode, and set both On battery and Plugged in to Maximum Performance. Some newer PCs hide this option; in that case Fix 2 is enough.

Fix 4: Update or Roll Back the Wi-Fi Driver

In Device Manager, right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and choose Update driver. If Windows finds nothing, download the latest driver from your laptop maker or from Intel, Realtek, MediaTek or Qualcomm. If the drops started right after an update, open the adapter's Properties, Driver tab, and choose Roll Back Driver instead.

Fix 5: Forget Saved Networks You Do Not Use

Windows may jump to a neighbour's open network, a phone hotspot or an old network with the same name. Go to Settings, Network & internet, Wi-Fi, Manage known networks and select Forget on networks you no longer need. Need a password before you forget a network? Here is how to see a saved Wi-Fi password.

Fix 6: Turn Off Random Hardware Addresses

Some routers drop or block devices whose MAC address changes. In Settings, Network & internet, Wi-Fi, set Random hardware addresses to Off, and check the same option inside your network's properties. Then reconnect.

Fix 7: Forget and Reconnect to Your Network

In Manage known networks, select your network, choose Forget, then connect again and re-enter the password. This clears a corrupted profile, a common cause after you changed the router's password or security type.

Fix 8: Adjust Roaming and Band Settings

In Device Manager, open the Wi-Fi adapter's Properties, Advanced tab. If you see Roaming Aggressiveness, set it to Lowest so the adapter stops hunting for other access points. If you see Preferred Band, choose 5 GHz when you sit near the router. Option names vary by adapter maker.

Fix 9: Reset the Network Stack with Commands

Open Terminal as administrator and run these one by one, then restart the PC:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Fix 10: Check VPN and Security Software

VPN clients and third-party firewalls install network filters that can break the connection. Disconnect or quit the VPN and test for an hour. If the drops stop, update the VPN or security app, or reinstall it.

Fix 11: Run Network Reset

As a last software fix, go to Settings, Network & internet, Advanced network settings, Network reset, then Reset now. Windows reinstalls all network adapters and restarts. You will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and set up VPN apps again. Our guide to resetting network settings covers what it removes.

Fix 12: Update the Router and Change Its Channel

Sign in to the router's admin page and install any firmware update. If many neighbours' networks are nearby, set the 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6 or 11, or let the router pick automatically. A router that is several years old and drops every device may simply need replacing.

Still Broken?

If your network does not appear in the list at all, follow Wi-Fi not showing up on Windows 11 instead.

FAQ

Conclusion

Wi-Fi that keeps disconnecting is rarely a mystery: on a laptop it is usually power saving or the driver, and on any PC it can be Windows switching networks. Check whether other devices drop too, fix the PC side first, and keep a live speed widget running so you can see whether the drops have stopped. For more tools, see all network apps for Windows.

Get it freeNet Monitor