My Wi-Fi disconnects repeatedly, making it difficult to attend Teams or Zoom meetings. The connection may disappear for about five minutes, return for roughly half an hour, and then drop again. Sometimes the interruptions happen even more often. What should I check to determine whether the problem is my device, router, Wi-Fi signal, or internet provider?
3 Answers
Improve the wireless signal by placing the router in an open location, extending its antennas if it has them, and keeping it away from metal objects and appliances. Moving it closer to your usual meeting area can help too. Nearby routers, microwaves, smart devices, and other wireless equipment may also cause interference. Changing the Wi-Fi channel or switching between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz can reduce the problem.
If the problem continues even when you are close to the router, try replacing the router or testing with another one. Also check whether the router is overheating or restarting on its own. If a wired connection drops as well, contact your internet provider and report the exact times and duration of the outages.
First, find out whether the Wi-Fi connection is dropping or whether the entire internet connection is failing. When it happens, check another device and, if possible, connect your computer directly to the router with an Ethernet cable. If Ethernet stays reliable, update the computer’s Wi-Fi driver, restart or update the router, and test both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. If every device loses internet at the same time, the router or your internet provider may be responsible.
The outage usually lasts around five minutes and can happen several times during the day, so I’ll test another device and use Ethernet during a meeting if possible.
For important calls, a wired Ethernet connection is the most dependable option because it removes wireless interference from the equation.