Fix WiFi Keeps Disconnecting on Windows 11

WiFi keeps dropping on your Windows 11 PC while other devices stay connected? Here are the most common fixes, including power management and driver settings.

Published 2026-02-04 by TechNet New England

Your WiFi connection drops every few minutes, but your phone and other devices stay connected just fine. This is a common Windows 11 issue, and it's almost always caused by power management settings that tell your WiFi adapter to turn off to save energy. Here's how to fix it.

Fix 1: Disable WiFi Adapter Power Management

Windows sometimes turns off your WiFi adapter to conserve power, especially on laptops. This is the most common cause of intermittent disconnections.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select "Device Manager"
  2. Expand "Network adapters"
  3. Right-click your WiFi adapter (it will usually say "Wi-Fi," "Wireless," or include a brand name like Intel, Realtek, or Qualcomm)
  4. Select "Properties"
  5. Go to the "Power Management" tab
  6. Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
  7. Click OK

Fix 2: Set Wireless Adapter to Maximum Performance

There's a separate power setting in the Windows power plan that also affects your WiFi adapter:

  1. Open the Control Panel (search for it in the Start menu)
  2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options
  3. Click "Change plan settings" next to your active power plan
  4. Click "Change advanced power settings"
  5. Expand "Wireless Adapter Settings"
  6. Expand "Power Saving Mode"
  7. Set both "On battery" and "Plugged in" to "Maximum Performance"
  8. Click Apply, then OK

Fix 3: Forget and Reconnect to the Network

Sometimes the saved network profile becomes corrupted. Removing it and reconnecting can fix persistent drops:

  1. Click the WiFi icon in the system tray
  2. Click the arrow next to your WiFi network name
  3. Right-click your network and select "Forget"
  4. Reconnect by selecting the network and entering your password

Fix 4: Update or Reinstall the WiFi Driver

An outdated or buggy driver can cause all sorts of connection issues:

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Expand "Network adapters"
  3. Right-click your WiFi adapter and select "Update driver"
  4. Select "Search automatically for drivers"

If Windows says the driver is already up to date, try going to your laptop manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) and downloading the latest WiFi driver for your specific model. Manufacturer drivers are often newer than what Windows finds automatically.

If updating doesn't help, you can try uninstalling the driver entirely:

  1. In Device Manager, right-click the WiFi adapter and select "Uninstall device"
  2. Check "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" if the option appears
  3. Click Uninstall
  4. Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a fresh copy of the driver automatically

Fix 5: Reset the Network Stack

If nothing else has worked, resetting the entire network configuration can clear out hidden problems:

  1. Open Terminal or Command Prompt as administrator
  2. Run these commands one at a time:

netsh winsock reset

netsh int ip reset

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

  1. Restart your computer

After restarting, reconnect to your WiFi network. You'll need to re-enter the password.

If these steps don't resolve the issue, or if you'd like professional help, our team is here. Contact TechNet New England for IT support.