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Why your internet keeps disconnecting and how to fix it

Insights overview

A stable internet connection is the backbone of the modern enterprise. When it drops, even for a moment, productivity halts, video calls freeze, and critical remote sessions are terminated.

If you are constantly asking, "why does my internet keep disconnecting?", you understand this challenge firsthand. For companies that depend on constant connectivity for seamless remote work, these interruptions are a significant barrier to efficiency. A dropped connection can corrupt a file transfer, end a crucial client meeting, or prevent an IT administrator from resolving an urgent issue on a remote device.

This article provides a comprehensive, data-driven guide for IT professionals and enterprise users to diagnose and resolve persistent internet disconnects.

In this article

  • Diagnosing the disconnection: Hardware and physical checks
  • Software and configuration conflicts causing instability
  • Advanced network issues and ISP-related problems
  • Achieving a stable connection for uninterrupted work

Diagnosing the disconnection: Hardware and physical checks

The first step in troubleshooting any network issue is to examine the physical components of your setup. Hardware problems are often the easiest to identify and fix, yet they are frequently overlooked. A faulty cable or an overheating router can mimic the symptoms of a more complex software or provider issue, so ruling them out first can save you considerable time and effort.

Check your modem and router

Start with your modem and router, the gatekeepers of your internet connection. A simple power cycle—unplugging both devices for at least 60 seconds before plugging them back in—can resolve a surprising number of temporary glitches. Check the status lights on the devices; solid green or blue lights typically indicate a healthy connection, while blinking orange or red lights often signal an error that can be cross-referenced with the manufacturer's manual.

Optimize router placement

Next, consider the physical environment. A router's location has a significant impact on Wifi signal strength and stability. If your router is tucked away in a cabinet, placed near metal objects, or positioned next to other electronic devices like microwaves or cordless phones, its signal can be obstructed or suffer from interference. For optimal performance, place your router in a central, elevated location, free from physical barriers.

Check hardware age and condition

Evaluate the age and condition of your network hardware. A router that is several years old may not support the latest Wifi standards or have the processing power to manage the demands of dozens of connected devices in a modern business environment. Ensure your router's firmware is up to date, as manufacturers regularly release updates to fix bugs, patch security vulnerabilities, and improve performance. If you find your internet keeps disconnecting on only one device, inspect its specific hardware, such as the Ethernet cable or the PC's network card, for signs of failure.

Software and configuration conflicts causing instability

Once you have confirmed your hardware is functioning correctly, the next area to investigate is software. Outdated drivers, misconfigured settings, and conflicting applications are common reasons why your internet keeps disconnecting on a PC. These issues can be subtle and may only manifest under specific conditions, making them difficult to diagnose without a structured approach.

Update your network drivers

Network drivers are the essential software that allows your computer's operating system to communicate with its network hardware. If these drivers are outdated or corrupt, they can cause intermittent connection drops. This is a frequent issue for users asking, "why does my internet keep disconnecting on Windows 11?", as new OS updates can sometimes create incompatibilities with older drivers. Visit your computer or network adapter manufacturer's website to download and install the latest versions.

Check security software settings

Security software, such as firewalls or antivirus programs, can also be a source of instability. While essential for protection, an overly aggressive firewall can mistakenly block legitimate network traffic or interfere with your connection. Temporarily disabling your security software can help determine if it is the culprit. If the connection stabilizes, you will need to adjust the program's settings to create an exception for your network activity.

Resolve IP address conflicts

Another common software-based problem is an IP address conflict. This occurs when two devices on the same network are assigned the identical IP address, leading to connectivity errors for one or both devices. Most routers handle IP address assignment automatically via DHCP, but errors can still happen. You can resolve this by renewing the IP address on the affected device or by configuring your router's DHCP settings to ensure unique addresses are always assigned. On a phone, this can also be related to aggressive network switching settings that drop Wifi for cellular data too quickly.

Advanced network issues and ISP-related problems

If you have ruled out both local hardware and software issues, the problem may lie outside your immediate control with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Issues like network congestion, poor signal quality, or DNS server problems can cause your connection to drop, especially for just a few seconds at a time. Identifying these external factors is key to finding a permanent solution.

Network congestion during peak hours

Network congestion occurs when too many users in your area are using the internet simultaneously, slowing down the network for everyone. This is often noticeable during peak hours, such as evenings or weekends. You can use online speed tests to check your connection speed at different times of the day. If you consistently see significant slowdowns during peak periods, your ISP may have oversubscribed the local network.

Checking signal quality from your ISP

Signal quality from your ISP can also degrade over time due to aging infrastructure, damaged lines, or environmental factors. You can often check for this by logging into your modem's administrative interface and looking for connection stats like Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and power levels. If these numbers are outside the recommended range, it indicates a problem with the physical line coming into your building that only your ISP can fix.

DNS server reliability and alternatives

Domain Name System (DNS) servers translate human-readable domain names (like www.teamviewer.com) into machine-readable IP addresses. The default DNS servers provided by your ISP can sometimes be slow or unreliable, causing connection timeouts or errors. As a troubleshooting step, you can switch to a public DNS provider like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). This simple change can often improve both the speed and stability of your internet connection.

When you contact your ISP for support, be prepared with specific data—such as the times of the disconnects and the troubleshooting steps you have already taken—to help them diagnose the problem more efficiently.

Summary: Achieving a stable connection for uninterrupted work

The question "why does my internet keep disconnecting" points to a range of potential issues spanning hardware, software, and your service provider. By systematically troubleshooting each area—starting with physical checks of your router and cables, moving to software configurations and driver updates on your PC, and finally investigating potential ISP-level problems—you can effectively isolate and resolve the root cause of the instability.

A reliable internet connection is the foundation of the modern digital workplace. It is what enables the seamless remote access and effortless collaboration that drive business forward. When your connection is stable, your teams can work with confidence, knowing their tools will perform as expected without frustrating interruptions. This reliability is at the core of our mission to empower your world from anywhere.

By taking control of your network's health, you ensure that your organization can operate at its full potential. A stable connection minimizes downtime, enhances productivity, and provides the resilient infrastructure needed for your team to succeed. With these troubleshooting steps, you are equipped to build a network you can depend on.