Why your Wi-Fi drops in one room

If Wi-Fi works near the router but fails in one room, your internet package probably isn't the problem. The signal isn't getting there reliably.

Common causes

• Walls and floors: thick stone, concrete and metal block Wi-Fi, especially on 5 GHz.
• Router placement: a router in a cupboard or a far corner wastes much of its coverage.
• Interference: neighbouring networks and some household electronics can crowd the same channels.
• Your device holding on: phones and laptops can cling to a weak access point instead of switching to a closer one.

What to try first

• Move the router somewhere central, high and out in the open.
• Restart it, and install any firmware updates.
• Test another device in the same room to rule out a problem with the first one.
• Check whether other devices are affected at the same time of day.

When you need more hardware

If the signal still can't reach the room, add an access point there, ideally connected by a network cable. A wired access point usually performs much better than a wireless repeater, because a repeater has to share its airtime to relay your traffic.

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