WiFi Troubleshooting Guide
Diagnose and fix common WiFi problems with practical, step-by-step solutions
Jump to Your Problem
Slow WiFi Speeds
Common Causes
- Channel congestion: Too many networks on the same channel competing for bandwidth
- Distance from router: Signal strength drops significantly with distance
- Using 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz: 2.4GHz is slower and more congested
- Outdated router: Older routers don't support faster WiFi standards
- Too many devices: Bandwidth shared among all connected devices
Solutions
1. Check your WiFi standard
WiFi Intelligence shows you if you're connected via WiFi 4, 5, 6, or 6E. If your router supports WiFi 6 but you're connecting on WiFi 5, your device may be the bottleneck.
2. Switch to 5GHz or 6GHz
If you're close to your router, 5GHz (or 6GHz if available) offers much faster speeds with less interference. Look for your network name with "_5G" or connect manually.
3. Change your channel
Use WiFi Intelligence to see which channels are crowded. In your router settings, manually select a less congested channel instead of "Auto."
4. Check for bandwidth hogs
Background downloads, streaming on multiple devices, or cloud backups can consume your entire bandwidth. Check what's running on your network.
WiFi Dead Zones
What Causes Dead Zones?
Walls and Floors
Concrete, brick, and metal cause significant signal loss. Even drywall reduces signal by 3-4 dB per wall.
Distance
WiFi signals follow the inverse square law—double the distance means 1/4 the signal strength.
Router Placement
Routers in corners, closets, or near the floor broadcast poorly. Central, elevated placement is best.
Interference
Large metal objects, mirrors, fish tanks, and appliances can block or reflect signals unpredictably.
How to Find and Fix Dead Zones
Use WiFi Intelligence's Site Survey
Walk through your space with WiFi Intelligence running. Our site survey feature records signal strength at different locations, helping you identify exactly where coverage drops.
Reposition Your Router
Move your router to a central location, elevated off the floor. Avoid closets, corners, and placement near large metal objects or appliances.
Consider Mesh WiFi
For large homes or those with difficult layouts, a mesh system with multiple access points ensures coverage everywhere. WiFi Intelligence can help you plan optimal placement.
Try Different Bands
2.4GHz penetrates walls better than 5GHz. In dead zones, manually connecting to your 2.4GHz network may provide better coverage (though slower speeds).
Frequent Disconnections
Why Does My WiFi Keep Disconnecting?
- Co-channel interference: Multiple networks on the same channel cause collisions and retransmissions
- Router overload: Too many devices or too much traffic for the router to handle
- Firmware bugs: Outdated or buggy router firmware can cause instability
- Band steering issues: Aggressive band steering can cause devices to hop between bands constantly
- Non-WiFi interference: Microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors on 2.4GHz
Troubleshooting Steps
Check for interference
Use WiFi Intelligence to see how many networks share your channel. If more than 2-3, switch to a less crowded channel.
Update router firmware
Check your router manufacturer's website for the latest firmware. Updates often fix connectivity issues.
Disable band steering (temporarily)
If your router aggressively pushes devices between bands, try creating separate network names for 2.4GHz and 5GHz to test.
Restart your router
Sometimes routers need a reset to clear memory leaks or stuck processes. Power cycle by unplugging for 30 seconds.
WiFi Interference
Types of Interference
Co-Channel Interference
Other WiFi networks on the same channel. The 2.4GHz band only has 3 non-overlapping channels (1, 6, 11), so congestion is common.
Adjacent Channel Interference
Networks on nearby channels that overlap. A network on channel 3 interferes with both channel 1 and 6.
Non-WiFi Interference
Microwaves, cordless phones, Bluetooth, baby monitors, and wireless cameras all operate on 2.4GHz.
Physical Interference
Metal objects, water (including fish tanks), mirrors, and thick walls can block or reflect signals.
How WiFi Intelligence Helps
Channel Analysis
See all networks on each channel and their signal strengths. Identify which channels are most crowded.
Signal History
Track signal strength over time to identify intermittent interference patterns.
Coverage Heatmaps
Visualize where interference is worst in your space. Plan router or access point placement accordingly.
Stop Guessing, Start Diagnosing
WiFi Intelligence gives you the professional-grade tools to understand and fix your network problems.