Internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting.

My Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes – here are the causes and how to fix them.

While using the Internet, the user sometimes asks – why my Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes, or why does my Internet keep going in and out without any apparent reason? Suppose you also see your Internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting randomly and you are not sure about ‘why does my Internet keep going out without any apparent reason’, in that case, you have come to the right place. This article answers the frequent query of iPhone users – why does my Internet keep disconnecting and reconnecting or why is my Internet constantly disconnecting and what are the proven fixes to the issue?

When you are to use your browser quite often it’s a matter of great frustration if you see your Internet always disconnecting.

Moreover, the functionality of Internet telephony, which is now widely used for communication purposes, depends on the Internet connection. Disconnecting from the internet intermittently can lead to problems like dropped calls and voice distortion.

What is more, if you lose network connection intermittently and your Internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting frequently, it can also lead to system errors and ultimately result in Windows running slow and even crashing.

In the early days, phone lines were the only connection used to access the Internet. With time, technology has advanced rapidly and now better ways of connecting to the Internet are available. Broadband as opposed to the old ‘Dial-up’ is an advanced technology regarding the way you connect to the Internet. The most common types of Broadband connections are DSL, Cable, and Wireless. With so many different types of hardware and software involved, it can be quite challenging when you want to find out – why my Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes.

Nevertheless, if your wireless Internet keeps disconnecting and you are not sure about why your wireless network keeps disconnecting, with a little patience and know-how, it is possible to find out what is going wrong and the reason for such loss of Internet connection every few minutes.

 You may also like to read: How to scan documents on iPhone – a step-by-step guide

My Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes – common causes

‘Why does my internet keep going out’ is not a very uncommon query by Internet users, be it on smartphones, Tablets, or Computers. I have also come across Spectrum Internet users often asking – why my Spectrum Internet randomly disconnects or why does my Internet keep dropping  Spectrum without any apparent reason.

There could be several reasons why at times your Internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting without any visible cause. When your Internet keeps dropping frequently, it may be a connection issue or a computer issue.

Therefore, when you keep losing Internet connection and you are not sure why my Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes, the first thing to do is to check your local connection and its strength. To check this you need to connect another computer, a tablet, or any Smartphone to your network and try with the same Internet connection. If you still find your Internet keeps disconnecting and reconnecting for all the devices after connecting to the network, then you have a connection issue.

In such case of loss of Internet connection due to a connection issue, one of the following three things usually may be the cause why you keep losing network connection  :

i. Cable/DSL modem;

ii. Network router (essentially the driver for the router);

iii. Your ISP;

But, if you see that your Internet cuts in and out for computers only and not for other devices, then the issue is likely with your Computer. In such a case check your PC for possible hardware failures or issues with the operating system, which can result in an Internet lost connection. Sometimes network card in your computer may be having some problems. Moreover, when your Internet randomly disconnects the following common causes also need checking:

1. Radio interference with your wireless signal;

2. Layer of dust inside your dusty PC causing overheating of chips resulting in an unwanted reset of the system;

3. The ‘default gateway’ address has abruptly altered at your ISP;

4. ‘DNS tables’ needed to be flushed for updating DNS records and name servers of your website;

5. Dynamic reassignment of your computer’s IP address could not be done correctly by the ‘DHCP’ server;

6. Wireless interference;

7. The wireless router is old and defective and needs replacement;

You may also like to read: Spectrum Router blinking red – fix it in easy steps

My Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes – proven fixes 

Following are some of the proven fixes when your Internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting without any apparent reason:

1. It has been found that the router keeps dropping Internet once in a while due to internal programming issues.

If your broadband modem/router keeps dropping Internet due to such programming issues the same can be fixed by restarting the modem. This fix also occasionally works for any connection issue between a broadband modem and a router. Thus restarting the devices can fix a probable cable modem or router issue in most cases.

To restart the modem/router, turn off your computer and then unplug the power cables from the back of the modem and router and leave the modem and router off for 30 seconds (just pressing the power buttons to turn off power can at times put modems or routers into standby mode only rather than killing the power). Next, reconnect the modem’s power cable to restore its power. Wait a few moments for the modem to carry out self-checks or renegotiate its connection to the Internet and establish a solid link. Then plug the power cord back into your router, wait for a few moments, and then turn on your computer. Now the Internet connection on your PC should become steady if the problem is with the broadband modem.

If still you see your modem/ router lose Internet connection daily, then go to the next step.

2. You may often hear from the users – why does my WiFi keep disconnecting and reconnecting without any apparent reason?

There are many reasons which may cause random disconnection of WiFi from your devices. Following are some of the most common causes that answer the users’ query – why do I keep disconnecting from my WiFi randomly?

  i. Weak WiFi Signal;

ii. Overloaded WiFi Network;

iii. Wireless interference;

iv. Outdated Router firmware;

v. Outdated wireless card drivers;

There are a good number of ways to fix the issue if your router loses Internet connection daily without any apparent reason. When your modem or router keeps dropping Internet randomly you can try the following fixes and resolve the causes when you are not sure about why do my wifi keeps disconnecting   and get your WiFi connection stable again:

Weak WiFi Signal – A weak WiFi signal may sometimes be the cause of your WiFi going in and out. As the distance increases between your router providing the WiFi signal and the device on which you face the WiFi disconnection issue, the signal strength becomes poorer and your WiFi keeps going in and out. Therefore, try to shorten the distance between the two by moving your devices closer to the WiFi router and check if the issue is resolved;

Overloaded WiFi Network – Overloading of the router is also one of the common causes why your WiFi keeps going in and out from the devices despite a strong WiFi signal. If more devices are connected to your WiFi network the available bandwidth for each device becomes limited which causes an increased possibility of your WiFi going in and out. Therefore, to free up some bandwidth, some of the devices need to be taken off the WiFi network to stabilize your WiFi connection;

Wireless interference – With the range of WiFi signals growing with the improvements in technology, Wireless interference is one of the major causes why your router loses internet connection daily. It’s easy for your signal to cross paths with your neighbors. You can reduce such interference by bringing your wireless devices closer to your WiFi router and by avoiding the use of your wireless devices near common sources of interference.

It is also possible that several networks in your vicinity are operating on the same channel which are conflicting with each other. The good news is that setting the Modem/Router to a Specific Channel is not difficult. If you are using a router (especially a dual-band router), go to the wireless settings under ‘setup’, look for a channel, and specify a channel. Use a channel other than the default and try setting a higher channel (i.e. if it was 1 change it to 2 or if it is 5 change it to 6), and if that doesn’t work, try different channels. It should work after a few goes. Never use the “auto” setting.

Then save your settings. The process is similar for most routers but will differ slightly depending on the make and model;

Outdated version of Router Firmware – Outdated firmware of the router is one of the major causes behind the issue in many cases when someone asks – why does my WiFi keep disconnecting.

Outdated firmware of the router causes poor functioning of the WiFi network. Since the firmware carries out the integral functions of your router, its periodic update can help to improve connectivity and keep your router secure. This will enable your router to operate proficiently as well as fix software bugs that could be causing your WiFi network to slow down or shut off randomly.

To update your router’s firmware, go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest available firmware. Finally, reboot the router after updating the firmware. It is not advisable to download firmware updates from any third-party site;

Outdated wireless card drivers – If your WiFi disconnects randomly, outdated or corrupted wireless card drivers may be one of the causes behind the issue. It is, therefore, possible to fix the issue by updating the outdated card drivers of your devices. The latest version of drivers for your wireless adapter will assure the best performance, reliability, and functionality. To update your wireless card drivers, visit your wireless card manufacturer’s website for the installation of the latest drivers.

By systematically addressing these potential issues, you can hopefully resolve the problem when your router loses internet connection daily. If the problem persists despite troubleshooting, contacting your router manufacturer’s support or seeking assistance from a professional technician may be necessary.
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You may also like to read: iPhone connected to WiFi but no Internet – 9 proven solutions

3. If your computer is still experiencing Internet connection problems and your Internet is cutting in and out as before, your ISP may be a good source to check.

The ISP’s technical support team can determine if there are any issues between your ISP and your computer by running system checks and line check-ups. After making sure that the problem is not between your ISP and your home computer and that other devices on your network are working fine, continue with the steps below.

4. There is a possibility that the Network Card in your computer is having issues when your Internet goes in and out. You can try the following two things to fix this:

i. Re-seat the removable PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card in the motherboard by removing and reinstating it back into the PCI slot making sure that the card is firmly seated into the slot;

ii. If you see your Internet going in and out even after this, try to delete the network card from your computer’s Device Manager and re-install the card and its drivers. This can sometimes solve any device driver issues like corruption etc. and stabilize the Internet connectivity of the network card. Test the stability of the Internet connection on your computer after the device is re-installed by rebooting Windows;

If this intermittent Internet connection problem persists and your Internet keeps dropping randomly even after trying all the above-suggested fixes, you may try a few additional troubleshooting tips as given below to solve this unstable Internet connection issue:

> Sometimes your computer’s Internet Protocol settings can be configured improperly or become damaged or corrupted. If your Internet connection is unstable and your Internet keeps going on and off of your PC even after trying all the above fixes to the problem, resetting your TCP/IP settings might help. To reset TCP/IP manually, press Windows+R on the keyboard to open the Run window, type ‘netsh int IP reset resetlog.txt’ (without the quotes), and restart the Computer. When you run this command, it’ll rewrite your computer’s registry keys used for TCP/IP settings. This achieves the same result as removing and reinstalling the protocol.

Make sure to create a system restore point and to backup your registry before trying this reset;

> Power-cycle your hardware: Another thing you can try is to Power-cycle all your hardware on the network. Simply shut down all the hardware i.e. Laptop or PC, Modem, Router, etc., and then power them back in the order given below. It is found that power on-off reset works and fixed connection issues most of the time if the Internet keeps disconnecting intermittently:

Modem > Router > PC (wired) -> Laptop (wireless) and see if that fixes the issue;

> Reset the wireless router to factory settings: Reset your router by inserting a pin in a little hole at the back of the router, and holding it down for about 10 seconds. All the lights on the front of the router would flash indicating that the router has been reset to default factory settings. After the reset, power-cycle all your hardware on the network as shown previously;

> In rare cases another possible reason for your PC not being able to connect to the Internet is due to corrupted Windows system files. In such cases you have to install an antivirus program and scan the threat to solve the issue;

You may also like to read:  iPhone keeps disconnecting from WiFi- here’s why & how to fix it

Frequently asked questions

Now that you got the answer to your query – why my Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes and got the proven solutions for the same let me also address in short some of the related questions often asked by net users:

Why does my Optimum Internet keep dropping?

If your Optimum Internet keeps dropping there may be several reasons for this. Here are the 4 major ways to fix it and improve your Optimum WiFi connection.

1. Restart Your Router:  This will allow the signals to be refreshed and restored;

2. Replace faulty cables: Faulty or broken wires can lead to a slower speed and delayed signals;

3. Pay Bill on Time: To get the most out of your Internet, ensure that your bill has been paid on time;

4. Check for Outages: Service outages are some of the most common challenges that Internet service providers face. If your WiFi keeps dropping, directly contact a customer service representative;

What does connected without Internet mean? 

Connected without Internet means your device is connected to a local network (router or modem) but it cannot access the Internet and communicate with other systems on the Internet such as servers or websites.

The Common Causes of ‘connected without Internet’ are,

1. Faulty Wi-Fi adapter;

2. Issue with Internet service provider;

3. Incorrect IP address;

4. Outdated wireless drivers;

5. Wrong DNS server settings;

6. Defective router;

How to get Internet where there is no service? 

In case no service of any ISP is available in your area you can go for one of the options given below which show how to get Internet where there is no service to access the Internet

1. Use Mobile Hotspot;

2. Use Public WiFi;

3. Tether your Smartphone;

4. Use WiFi USB Dongle;

5. Buy a Portable Cellular Router;

6. Share neighbor’s Internet;

How to get WiFi without cable? 

If you don’t have a cable connection to the Internet at your home there are several options by which you can still connect to the Internet with a wireless connection. Here are the available options for how to get WiFi without cable:

1. Fixed wireless;

2. 4G and 5G home Internet;

3. Mobile hotspots;

4. Satellite;

Why my spectrum WiFi keeps disconnecting? 

Some of the major causes why your spectrum WiFi keeps disconnecting are,

1.  The router or modem is incorrectly plugged into an electrical outlet;

2. Outdated firmware of the router or modem;

3. Wireless Interference when too many devices use the same WiFi network;

4.  Use of the wrong WiFi Password for your WiFi network;

5. Problem with the WiFi card or adapter;

Why my modem keeps dropping Internet?

If your modem keeps dropping Internet, it may be because you are connected to an overloaded wireless connection.

What are the causes of the Internet dropping out randomly?

When you are in doubt about ‘why my Internet keeps dropping’, the problem with the wireless Router (essentially the driver for the router) is one of the most common causes.

You will often hear – why does my router keep disconnecting the Internet. In such cases, it’s more than likely that an old wireless card driver is the cause of this. So you have to update the wireless card to fix the issue.

Why does my Internet keep going out? 

If you keep losing Internet connection the most common reasons are,

1. You are far away from your router;

2. Your router is clogged with dust and dirt;

3. You have a slow Internet plan;

4. You have outdated software;

5. Your modem needs a restart;

How can I extend my Wi-Fi range?

Here are the six ways to extend your Wi-Fi range:

1. Reposition your existing router to a better position;

2. Upgrade to a better router (look for WiFi6);

3. Get a mesh Wi-Fi kit;

4. Buy a wireless extender/booster;

5. Use a power line networking adapter set with Wi-Fi;

6. Switch to 2.4GHz from 5GHz;

Why does my router keep disconnecting?

You may sometimes find your WiFi router disconnected from the Internet because of frequent disconnection of the router. The issue is usually caused due to one of three things –  the old driver for your wireless card, the outdated firmware version on your router (basically the driver for the router), or settings on your router. Problems at the ISP end may sometimes also be the cause of the issue.

Why does my WiFi keep disconnecting from my laptop?

Power-cycle can solve many such Internet disconnection and software issues. When your laptop keeps disconnecting from WiFi, simply shut down your Laptop, Modem, and Router and then power them back in the order given below to help reset the network settings and fix the issue.

Modem > Router > Laptop and see if that fixes the issue;

It is found that power on-off reset works and fixed connection issues most of the time if your computer keeps losing network connection intermittently:

Why do I keep disconnecting from my WiFi randomly?

There may be several reasons why your WiFi keeps disconnecting. Some of the common causes are,

1. Too many devices on the WiFi network;

2. Too many obstructions to the signal path;

3. Incompatibility between the router and the device’s wireless adapter;

4. The router is aging and its signal output is weakening;

5. Problem with the router’s power source;

Why does my spectrum Internet keep going out randomly?

If your Spectrum Internet keeps dropping now and then the major causes of such Internet disconnection are, a bad WiFi hotspot, poor strength of WiFi hotspot, overloaded WiFi network, defective cable from modem/router to your computer, etc.

Why my Xfinity Internet keeps going out?

If your Xfinity Internet keeps going out the major reasons are,

1. Unreliable cable modem: Replacing the modem provided by Xfinity, which is not always reliable, with your modem may fix the issue;

2. Splitting of the cable: Often the cable running from outside is cut and spliced one or more times before connecting to the modem. There may be also one or more splitters in the line for using the cable both for TV as well as for the Internet. Every splitter reduces the signal level significantly. Therefore, there should not be more than 1 splitter between the source and the modem;

3. Low signal: Sometimes the Internet keeps going out due to a low signal. If a low signal level is a problem some of the wirings might need to be replaced. If the problem is reported to Xfinity they will come and replace the line for you;

Why my CenturyLink Internet keeps disconnecting?

There are several reasons why your CenturyLink Internet keeps disconnecting. When it comes to connecting to the Internet via WiFi following are some of the major causes why does WiFi keep disconnecting:

  i. Interference (channel overlap) with other WiFi hotspots or nearby devices;

ii. Outdated modem/router or outdated firmware of your router;

iii. Too much distance between the device you’re trying to connect and the router/modem;

iv. Materials that may prevent WiFi signals from passing through, like a concrete wall or hollow wood;

How to report a Suddenlink outage?

If you see a Suddenlink outage in your area you can call tech support at 1-877-794-2724 to resolve the issue

You may also like to read: How to get WiFi without Internet Provider

Conclusion

Hopefully, on going through the post you got the answer to your query – why my Internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes or why my Internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting without any apparent reasons.

Once you know the possible causes of your query – why does my Internet keep going out frequently, you should be able to fix the issue yourself as suggested in the post.

However, even after trying all the fixes mentioned in the post if you still find your router or modem keeps dropping Internet, there is a strong possibility that your Cable/DSL Modem /Router Network Card is defective and needs replacement. However, before you try with new devices to resolve the issue of losing Internet connection intermittently, you need to be fully satisfied that this Internet problem is not with your ISP or somewhere in between them and your home network.

Therefore, whenever your Internet keeps turning on and off randomly, you should also try calling your Internet Service Provider who will be able to tell you whether it’s an issue that other users are also having or whether it’s a problem at your end only.

Please share your feedback in the comment section below if you see something I have missed out in suggesting the possible reasons in reply to the query – why is my Internet going in and out frequently without any visible cause?