Computer help
Why does my wi-fi keep dropping?
Wi-fi that keeps cutting out is one of the most annoying tech problems there is, and one of the most common I get asked about. The good news is you can usually fix it yourself without an engineer visit. Here are the usual causes, in plain English, and what actually helps.
1. Restart the router properly (and then leave it alone)
This fixes it more often than anything else, but most people do it too quickly. Turn the router fully off at the plug for a good 20 minutes, then switch it back on and give it a few minutes to settle. The longer break lets the connection re-establish cleanly. Just as important: do not keep restarting it every five minutes. Restarting too often can actually make things worse, because the line needs time to stabilise. One proper restart, then leave it.
2. Where the router sits matters a lot
Wi-fi hates being boxed in. A router shoved in a cupboard, behind the TV, or down on the floor in the corner will give you a weak, patchy signal. Get it out in the open, up off the floor, and as central in the home as you can. Keep it away from other electronics and anything with a motor.
3. You are too far away, or there are too many walls
Wi-fi weakens with distance and every wall it passes through, so the far end of the house or an upstairs back bedroom often drops out. If the signal is fine near the router but poor elsewhere, the fix is usually a wi-fi extender, a mesh system, or powerline adapters to carry the signal further. These make a huge difference to dead spots.
4. Interference from other things
Your neighbours' wi-fi, microwaves, baby monitors and cordless phones can all interfere. Many routers run two bands, a 2.4 GHz one that reaches further but is slower and more crowded, and a 5 GHz one that is faster over shorter distances. Connecting your device to the right band for where you are can steady things up.
5. Your router is old
Routers get tired. If yours is several years old, it may simply not cope well with today's number of devices. A quick call to your provider (BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin and the rest) will often get you a newer one, sometimes free, and it can transform a flaky connection.
6. It might be the line, not your kit
Sometimes the problem is not in your home at all, it is the line coming into it. If restarting and repositioning do not help, ask your provider to run a line check. They can see if the connection is dropping at the line level, and if so it is their job to fix it, not yours. This is worth doing before you spend money on new equipment.
7. Check the cables and connections
A loose cable, a worn microfilter (the little box on the phone socket for some broadband types), or a dodgy socket can all cause drop-outs. Make sure everything is pushed in firmly and, if you can, try the router in the main phone socket rather than an extension.
The short version
One proper 20-minute restart, get the router out in the open, and if the trouble is only in certain rooms, add an extender or mesh. If none of that helps, get your provider to run a line check before buying anything. Most dropping wi-fi comes down to one of these.
In Bolton and sick of the wi-fi dropping? I can find your dead spots, set up an extender or mesh so it works everywhere, and get it stable, without the jargon. Clear on cost before I start, and often same day.