There’s nothing more infuriating than WiFi that works for ten minutes, drops, reconnects, then drops again. Video calls freeze, streaming buffers, pages stop loading—and it never seems to happen at a convenient time.
The good news is that most intermittent WiFi problems have a fairly small number of causes, and most of them are fixable without calling your broadband provider.
Step 1: Work out what’s dropping
First, figure out whether all your devices are dropping connection at the same time, or just one device in particular.
If all devices drop at once—the problem is almost certainly your router or the broadband connection coming into your home. Skip to the section on router problems below.
If only one device is dropping—the problem is more likely with that device’s WiFi settings, or with where the device is relative to the router.
Step 2: Try the obvious things first
Before anything else, try these:
Restart your router. Turn it off at the wall (not just using the button on the front), wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Wait 2–3 minutes for it to fully reconnect. This fixes a surprising number of intermittent WiFi problems.
Move closer to the router. WiFi signal weakens with distance and through walls. If you’re on the opposite side of the house from your router, a weak signal can cause intermittent drops that look like a fault but are actually just coverage.
Check for interference. Microwave ovens, baby monitors, and older cordless phones can interfere with WiFi, particularly on the 2.4GHz band. If your WiFi drops when the microwave is on, this is likely why. The fix is either to move the router away from the microwave or to connect devices to the 5GHz band if your router offers it.
Step 3: If the router itself seems to be the problem
If restarting the router helps for a while but the problem returns:
Check the router isn’t overheating. Routers get warm, but if yours is very hot to the touch, try placing it somewhere with better airflow—not in a cupboard or pressed against a wall.
Look at the router lights. Most routers have indicator lights that tell you what’s happening. If the internet light (sometimes labelled WAN or globe icon) is amber or off when the connection drops, the problem is between your router and your broadband provider—which means it’s worth calling them.
Consider whether the router is old. Routers provided by broadband companies are often replaced every few years. If yours is more than 5–6 years old and you’re having regular problems, requesting a replacement from your provider is worth trying.
Step 4: Dead spots and coverage problems
If your WiFi works fine near the router but drops in certain rooms, you have a coverage problem rather than a connection problem.
Options include:
- Powerline adapters—these plug into two mains sockets and send your internet signal through the electrical wiring in your walls. Relatively cheap (£30–£60 for a pair) and very effective in most homes.
- WiFi extenders (repeaters)—these pick up the existing WiFi signal and rebroadcast it. Cheaper than powerline adapters but can reduce speeds slightly.
- Mesh WiFi systems—a set of two or three devices that work together to create a single strong WiFi network throughout your home. More expensive but the best solution for larger properties.
Step 5: If it’s still dropping
If you’ve tried everything above and your WiFi is still dropping regularly, it’s worth running a speed test (search “speed test” on Google) at different times of day. If your speeds are consistently much lower than what you’re paying for, your broadband provider needs to investigate the line.
Also check whether the problem started at a particular time—after a router update, after a new device was added, or after work was done in the street. These clues can help identify the root cause.
If you’ve worked through these steps and still can’t get a stable connection, I visit homes across Falkirk and Central Scotland to diagnose and fix WiFi problems.
Find out more about WiFi and internet help, or call 07944 156 453. No fix, no fee, 7 days a week.
Falkirk Tech Help—friendly in-home tech support across Falkirk and Central Scotland.