A few decades ago, it wasn’t uncommon to wait several minutes for a page to load or to experience sudden dropped connections, but today those problems are a business owner’s worst nightmare. That’s because every minute of network downtime can cost companies thousands of dollars in lost productivity!

What’s causing your connection issues? Below are five common reasons your Wi-Fi network is unstable and simple ways you can fix them.

The router is too far away

Wi-Fi signals only reach so far. Connecting to a router that’s a few rooms away or in the corner of the office will likely result in suboptimal browsing speeds. You may even notice that your Wi-Fi connection drops from time to time, which is far from ideal, especially when you’re talking to a client or colleague via the internet.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said after crrrrr.”

The best way to fix this is, of course, shortening the distance between your device and the router. If you’re using a laptop or smartphone, this shouldn’t be a problem, but it may not be practical to relocate your entire desk to get a more reliable connection.

Instead, you should move your router to a central location that’s unobstructed by walls and windows. You can also use network extenders to get a stronger signal.

Other devices are interfering

A huge Wi-Fi connection killer is radio interference from other electronics, such as smart gadgets, cordless phones, and even microwave ovens. That’s because such devices run on the same 2.4GHz frequency as wireless networks, slowing down performance and causing dropped connections.

One solution to this problem is to turn off devices that interfere with Wi-Fi. But if you’re not a fan of that idea, try changing the Wi-Fi channel in your router’s settings to avoid wireless interference. Another solution is to opt for modern wireless networks that support 5GHz connections, as they’re far less susceptible to interference.

Your network is overwhelmed

Networks have their limits, and can slow down or disconnect when you overwork them. Are there too many devices connected to the network? Is someone downloading large files? Does anyone stream ultra HD videos on their computer? If so, you should give your network a break.

“I know you really like your cute cat videos Jerry, but we’re gonna have to cut you off.”

Disable devices and use bandwidth management tools to reduce the stress on your network. It may even be a good idea to limit people’s video streaming and social media privileges if they’re affecting connectivity (and productivity). What’s more, rebooting your router every now and then helps with slow and unstable connections.

There’s a problem with your network driver

Connectivity issues also occur if your network driver is missing, outdated, or incompatible with your computer. To fix this, research the make and model of your computer to find out which network driver it needs. Then, install the program, restart your PC, and try to connect to the internet. Consult your IT professional for help finding and installing the appropriate driver.

Someone’s attacking your network

If your internet connection is still unstable after trying all the fixes above, malware or other cyberattacks could be disrupting your network. Run a full system scan with anti-malware software and use intrusion detection tools to monitor your network for suspicious activity.

It’s also smart to talk to network specialists like the ones Red Key Solutions employs to fix your connectivity issues. If you run a business in New York, call us today to enjoy high-speed, uninterrupted connections.

Red Key is a leading Managed IT firm that is bringing AI to companies in New York City, Westchester County, Fairfield County Connecticut, California & beyond.