Why Does My Internet Keep Dropping Out?
Common causes and How to Fix Internet Connection Problems
Does your internet keep dropping out, disconnecting or stopping for a few minutes at a time? An unstable internet connection can be caused by many different problems, including weak Wi-Fi, router or modem issues, NBN faults, ISP problems, network configuration or a problem with one computer or device.
The first step is to determine whether the internet dropout affects one device or the entire network. This can help identify whether the problem is with your computer, Wi-Fi, router, NBN connection or Internet Service Provider (ISP).
In this guide, we explain the most common causes of internet connection dropouts, what you can safely check yourself, and when professional or ISP troubleshooting may be required.
Common Internet Connection Issues
For example, your Wi-Fi may still show as connected while the router has lost its Internet connection. Alternatively, the Internet connection may be working normally while one computer has a Wi-Fi, network adapter or configuration problem.
Only one computer or device disconnects
Only one device disconnects?
When your internet keeps dropping out, the most important first step is to determine whether the problem affects one device or every device connected to your network.
- Only one device: The problem may be related to the computer, Wi-Fi adapter, driver or network configuration.
- All devices: The problem may be related to the router, modem, NBN connection or Internet Service Provider.
All devices lose Internet access
All devices lose Internet access
If all devices lose Internet access at the same time, the problem is less likely to be a single computer and more likely to involve the router, modem, NBN connection or ISP.
Router or Modem Problems
A faulty, overheating or incorrectly configured router or modem can cause repeated internet dropouts.
Weak Wi-Fi Signal
Distance, walls, floors and the location of the router can reduce Wi-Fi reliability. Testing with an Ethernet cable can help determine whether the problem is Wi-Fi-related.
NBN or ISP Problems
If multiple devices repeatedly lose Internet access, the NBN connection or Internet Service Provider may need to investigate the connection.
Wi-Fi stays connected but there is no Internet
Wi-Fi connected but no Internet?
Your device may still be connected to the router even if the router has temporarily lost its Internet connection.
Incorrect network settings, particularly proxy settings, can also cause similar issues.
If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us. We'll be happy to help.
Connection drops when you move around
Does it drop when you move around?
A weak Wi-Fi signal, wireless interference, or poor router/access point placement can cause intermittent wireless connectivity and frequent disconnections.
These issues can often be improved by installing a Wi-Fi signal booster or optimising your router/modem settings. However, professional knowledge and technical skills may be required to identify the underlying cause and achieve the best Wi-Fi performance.
Internet becomes very slow before dropping
Does it become slow before dropping?
Network congestion, weak Wi-Fi signals, router problems, or issues with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or NBN connection can cause your Internet speed to gradually deteriorate before the connection eventually drops out.
Having too many tabs open in your web browser can also affect your computer's performance and cause websites to load more slowly. Try closing any unused browser tabs to free up system resources, improve browsing performance, and reduce potential security risks.
Internet speeds may decrease during peak usage times, which can be normal. However, if your connection becomes unusually slow, check your Internet plan's expected speeds and compare them with your actual results. If the problem persists, contact your ISP for further investigation and assistance.
Network status icon on the Windows taskbar displays network connected, but cannot actually browse Internet through Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge
Usually happens on one computer (other devices in the same WiFi can browse Internet), it looks like the Internet is connected but actually cannot browse Internet
This is a common network settings issue. Sometimes it is caused by incorrect Proxy settings, while in other cases, it may be caused by conflicting or incorrect network configurations.
Recommended solution: Check the computer's network settings and make sure they are configured correctly. Usually a Network Reset may fix the problems quickly. If you are unsure which settings need to be changed, please contact us for further assistance.
Can't find home WiFi (SSID) from my computer
Home Wi-Fi is working well on other devices, but my computer cannot detect it at all. The computer can detect other Wi-Fi networks, but it cannot see the SSID of my home Wi-Fi network
Modern Wi-Fi routers usually support two wireless networks at the same time: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz network generally has a longer range, but its transfer speed is slower. The 5GHz network provides faster speeds, but its wireless range is usually shorter.
The problem is that some older computers only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. If the router's 2.4GHz network is disabled, not working properly, or becomes unstable, these computers will not be able to detect the router's SSID at all, and therefore cannot connect to the Wi-Fi.
The solution is usually straightforward: restart or reset the Wi-Fi router to restore the 2.4GHz wireless network. If this does not resolve the problem, you may need to log in to the router's administration page and check the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi settings to make sure the network is enabled and configured correctly.
Common Causes of Internet Connection Dropouts
- Weak Wi-Fi signal — Distance, walls, floors and the location of the router can reduce wireless reliability.
- Wi-Fi interference or congestion — Other wireless networks and devices can interfere with Wi-Fi, particularly in busy areas.
- Router or modem problems — A faulty, overheating or unstable router/modem can interrupt Internet access.
- NBN or physical connection problems — Faults or instability in the connection between your premises and the NBN network can cause repeated dropouts.
- ISP problems — An issue within the Internet service provider’s network can affect your connection even when your local equipment is working normally.
- Computer or Wi-Fi adapter problems — A faulty adapter, driver or local network configuration can affect one device without affecting others.
- Network configuration problems — Incorrect DNS, DHCP, IP, VLAN or router settings can cause connectivity problems.
- Overloaded or poorly configured network equipment — Heavy traffic or unsuitable router settings can sometimes contribute to unstable performance.
What to Do When Your Internet Keeps Dropping Out?
On Windows
These steps apply to Windows PCs and laptops, including Windows 10 and Windows 11
Try these steps before considering a Windows reset or reinstall:
1. Check the basics- Check whether other devices on the same network are also experiencing internet dropouts.
- Restart the modem/router and check that the internet connection is working normally.
- If using Wi-Fi, move the computer closer to the router or try connecting with an Ethernet cable.
- Check whether the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter is enabled and working correctly in Windows.
- Run the built-in Network and Internet Troubleshooter to check for common connection problems.
- Check that Windows is obtaining an IP address automatically unless a static IP address is specifically required.
- Reset the network connection if Windows network settings may have become corrupted.
- Check for available updates for the network adapter driver.
- If possible, test the computer with another Ethernet cable, Wi-Fi network or network adapter.
- Check whether the problem occurs with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
- If other devices also lose internet access, the problem may be related to the modem, router or Internet Service Provider (ISP).
- If only this computer is affected, the problem may be related to Windows, the network adapter, drivers or hardware.
- Save important work regularly if the connection is unstable.
- If the computer has other problems as well, consider checking the system and hardware before resetting or reinstalling Windows.
On a Mac
These steps apply to MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio and other Mac computers running supported versions of macOS.
For Mac computers, try these steps:
1. Check whether other devices are affected- When the connection drops, check another device connected to the same network.
- If only the Mac is affected, concentrate on the Mac's Wi-Fi connection and network settings.
- If all devices lose Internet access, investigate the router/modem, NBN connection or ISP.
- A stable wired connection with unreliable Wi-Fi is useful evidence when diagnosing the problem.
- Check the Mac's Wi-Fi signal and network connection when the problem occurs.
- Forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network only when appropriate.
- Check whether the problem affects one network or multiple networks.
- Avoid changing advanced DNS or network settings unless you know why the change is required.
- Note when the dropout occurs and whether other devices lose Internet access at the same time.
- This information can help distinguish a Mac problem from a router, NBN or ISP problem.
When Should You Stop Troubleshooting?
- All devices repeatedly lose Internet access
- The router or modem repeatedly restarts or loses its connection
- The NBN connection appears unstable
- Ethernet is stable but Wi-Fi repeatedly drops and you cannot identify why
- Only one computer is affected and its network adapter or configuration appears faulty
- The connection has frequent dropouts even after restarting the network equipment
- Internet speed repeatedly falls to a very low level before the connection drops
- You are unsure whether the problem is your computer, router, NBN connection or ISP
- You are considering changing advanced router, DNS, DHCP or VLAN settings without knowing the correct configuration
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Why does my Internet keep dropping out?
How can I tell if the problem is my computer or my Internet connection?
Why does Wi-Fi say connected but there is no Internet?
Why does my Wi-Fi keep dropping but Ethernet works?
Should I restart my router when the Internet drops out?
Can you diagnose Internet dropout problems?
Don't Change Advanced Network Settings Too Quickly
Changing router, DNS, DHCP, VLAN or other advanced network settings can sometimes create new problems if the settings are not appropriate for your Internet service.
Before changing advanced settings, first identify whether the dropout affects one device or the entire network.
If all devices are affected, the problem may be outside the computer altogether. If only one computer is affected, changing router settings may not solve the problem.
If you are unsure whether the problem is your computer, Wi-Fi, router, NBN connection or ISP, contact us and we can help diagnose it.