Why Does My Wi-Fi Keep Disconnecting in Windows? Learn How to Fix It

Imagine that you’re making a presentation during a video call or watching the climax of a movie on your Windows PC. Then, all of a sudden, your Wi-Fi connection gets cut off. What a huge hassle! This guide explains what to do if your Wi-Fi is disconnecting repeatedly and interfering with your activities.

Good to know: learn how to find your router’s IP address from any device.

Instant Fixes for Disconnecting Wi-Fi

If your device suddenly disconnects from your Wi-Fi, try the following quick fixes to restore the connection:

• Restart your router and computer: the devices may be encountering some bugs that could be cleared with a restart. As for your router, make sure to keep it unplugged for at least one minute before turning it on again.
• Check with your Internet service provider: it may be your ISP’s problem and not yours. Try contacting a representative of the ISP to check your network’s status.

If your computer keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi after performing these immediate solutions, hopefully, one of the following fixes can help.

Tip: check these ways to increase network speed via Regedit.

1. Change Home Network from Public to Private

Setting the profile type of your home network to private can make your connection more reliable. Follow these steps to change the network profile:

1. Open the Action Center, and click the “Manage Wi-Fi connections”
   button next to the Wi-Fi icon.

2. Click the “Properties” icon in the upper-right corner of your current network.

3. The Settings app will open to show options for this particular network. Under “Network profile type,” change the marked option from “Public network (Recommended)” to “Private network.”

Note: it’s not recommended to do this when you’re using a publicly accessible network (e.g., in coffee shops, libraries, etc.), as you’d be opening the door to malware infection or hacking.

2. Turn Off Automatic Connection

This feature may be causing your Wi-Fi connection to switch between networks because of your proximity to a Wi-Fi signal. In turn, you may experience an intermittent Internet connection. Here’s how to turn it off:

1. Go to the Action Center, and click “Manage Wi-Fi connections” as shown above.
2. Click the “Properties” icon for your current network.
3. Uncheck the “Connect automatically when in range” option.

4. In older versions of Windows 10, this might be known as Wi-Fi Sense. To access it, go to “Settings -> Network & Internet -> Wi-Fi (from the side panel) -> Manage Wi-Fi Settings -> Wi-Fi Sense.” Toggle off the option to “Connect to networks shared by contacts.”

Tip: seeing the “There are currently no power options available” message in Windows? Learn what to do to bring it back.

3. Configure Power Management Options

Your wireless adapter may be affected by the power-saving features in Windows. Below are the steps to modify your power management settings:

1. Press Win + X, then choose “Device Manager” from the list.

2. Locate “Network Adapters,” and click the arrow beside it. 

3. Select your wireless adapter from the expanded menu, and double-click it.
4. Go to the “Power Management” tab in the new window, toggle off the option for “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power,” and click “OK.”

5. Make sure that all changes are applied by restarting your Windows PC.

4. Use the Network and Internet Troubleshooter

Windows features a built-in network troubleshooter. It may help determine and resolve the underlying issues that make your Wi-Fi disconnect all of a sudden. Follow these steps to use the Network Troubleshooter on Windows:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to “System -> Troubleshoot.”

3. Select “Other troubleshooters.”

4. Find the “Network and Internet” troubleshooter, and click “Run.”

5. In Windows 10, go to “Settings -> Network & Internet -> Status.” Under “Change your network settings,” select Network troubleshooter.

Tip: sometimes even the Windows troubleshooter needs troubleshooting. Learn how to get started with that.

5. Check Whether the Device Connection Limit Has Been Reached

Your Wi-Fi’s bandwidth isn’t unlimited: the more devices connected, the slower your connection gets. When the number of devices connected reaches the limit, your Wi-Fi may disconnect from some devices, including your Windows device.

The fix for this is very simple: just change your Wi-Fi password. This automatically disconnects everyone from your network, allowing you to connect your devices again.

While the steps vary depending on your provider, this example shows a Wi-Fi password change on a ZTE modem:

1. Navigate to 192.168.1.1 in your web browser.
2. Log in using your credentials.

3. Go to “Network -> WLAN -> Security.”
4. Change the password written in the “WPA Passphrase,” and click “Submit.”

5. You will automatically be disconnected from the network.

6. Reconnect using your new password.

6. Fix a Bad Wi-Fi Signal

The sudden disconnections happening on your device may be caused by it not sufficiently detecting your Wi-Fi signals. It may do this because:

• Your workstation is too far from your Wi-Fi router.
• There are reflective obstacles between your device and your router, such as glass and metal.
• You placed your router behind an area made of stone and tile, making its signals unable to pass through easily.
• There are electronic devices (e.g., baby monitors, microwaves, etc.) near your Wi-Fi router that interfere with its signals.

In this case, changing the position of your router may be the first thing you want to try. Consider using the Wi-Fi signal meter on your device to check areas with poor connections. On a Windows PC, view the Wi-Fi networks in the Access Center to know when the signal is stronger.

You can also try moving your workstation closer to your connection and removing obstacles between it and your Windows computer.

FYI: check and understand the differences in this guide on Wi-Fi 5 vs. Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 6E.

7. Reset Wi-Fi Autoconfig Service

The WLAN AutoConfig service is a Windows service that automatically configures your computer’s wireless network adapter. It may be disabled, causing your Wi-Fi disconnection issues. Follow these steps to reset it:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run window.
2. Type services.msc, and click “OK.”

3. Right-click “WLAN AutoConfig” in the Services window, and choose “Properties.”

4. Select “Automatic” in the “Startup type” drop-down, and click “Apply.”

5. Restart your computer to ensure that all changes are applied, then close the window, and check your Wi-Fi.

8. Check Your Internet Plan

Your device may not have disconnected from your Wi-Fi; it may just be too slow to load. This usually happens when you’re trying to consume more than the bandwidth limits of your Internet plan will allow, or there are too many people using your Wi-Fi.

The best way to curb this issue is to get an upgrade. If it’s not within your current budget, try avoiding bandwidth-heavy usage, such as downloading a movie or streaming in 4K. You can also try removing people from your network.

Tip: always ensure that you create a backup of your registry before applying any tweaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reinstore the Power Management tab in Device Manager?

The Power Management tab may be missing on the later versions of Windows 10 and 11. To bring it back, go to the Registry Editor (as shown in section 6), and paste this path: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power.” Right-click on the white space on the right, and select “New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.” Name it “PlatformAoAcOverride.” Double-click the value, and ensure that the “Value data” field is set to “0.” Finally, click “OK.” Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Why is Wi-Fi not working on my phone but working on other devices?

You may be using a weak Wi-Fi signal, making your phone search for stronger Internet connections. You may also have entered an incorrect Wi-Fi key or may be using mobile data services.

Image credit: Freepik. All screenshots by Princess Angolluan.