Wi-Fi keeps dropping? A simple room-by-room fix

Wi-Fi problems feel random, but they almost never are. The trick is working out which of three patterns you have, because each has a different fix.

First, identify the pattern

It drops in one room only. That is a coverage or interference problem — read the next two sections.

It drops everywhere at the same time each day. That is congestion or a service issue, not your equipment.

It drops on one device only. That is the device, not the Wi-Fi. Forget the network on that device and reconnect from scratch.

Move the router before you buy anything

Routers are usually installed wherever the cable enters the house, which is often the worst possible place — a hallway corner, behind a television, or inside a cupboard. Wi-Fi radiates outward and is absorbed by water, metal and masonry.

Get it out in the open, off the floor, and as central as the cabling allows. Keep it away from microwaves, cordless phone bases and large fish tanks. Moving a router three feet can do more than a hundred dollars of equipment.

Understand the two bands

Modern routers broadcast on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band travels further and passes through walls better but is slower and heavily congested. The 5 GHz band is much faster but weakens quickly through walls.

If a far room keeps dropping, you may be watching your device cling to 5 GHz when it should switch. If your router lets you name the bands separately, doing so gives you manual control for problem devices.

Check who else is on your channel

In a flat or a dense street, your neighbours’ routers may all sit on the same 2.4 GHz channel. Most routers can scan and pick a clearer one — look for “auto channel” or “channel selection” in the admin page and let it re-scan. Evening-only problems are very often this.

Rule out the router itself

Routers supplied by internet providers are built to a price and do get tired, typically after three or four years. If yours needs restarting regularly to stay usable, that is not normal — ask your provider for a replacement. They will often supply one at no cost rather than lose you.

When a mesh system is genuinely the answer

If you have a large or long house, thick internal walls, or more than one floor, no single router will ever cover it — and a mesh system is the right purchase. But buy it because you have proven a coverage problem, not as a first guess.