Top Reasons Your PC Loses Wi-Fi While Downloading & How to Fix Them

In this blog, we’ll explore common reasons why your PC disconnects from WiFi during large download and provide practical solutions to help you maintain a stable connection.

To begin with, here are some quick methods to fix the issue when your PC disconnects from WiFi during large download:

• Update Wi-Fi Drivers: Keep your Wi-Fi drivers current.

• Disable Power Saving: In Device Manager, disable power-saving for your Wi-Fi adapter.

• Change Power Plan: Set your power plan to High Performance and adjust wireless settings to Maximum Performance.

• Check Router Settings: Update your router firmware and consider changing the Wi-Fi channel.

• Use Ethernet: Opt for a wired connection for large downloads.

• Reset Network Settings: Use the troubleshooter or reset network settings to resolve configuration issues.  

While these are just quick fixes, it’s important to note that this is just an outline of the steps. For more comprehensive solutions, keep reading the entire blog.

In the following section, we have described more effective methods with detailed step-by-step instructions to fix the problem of your computer disconnecting from Wi-Fi during large downloads.  

Why does a PC disconnects from WiFi during large download ?

There are several reasons why your PC might disconnects from WiFi during large download. Here are some detailed explanations:

Network Congestion

• Firstly, large downloads can consume significant bandwidth, leading to network congestion. As a result, this can cause your router to struggle with maintaining a stable connection, especially if multiple devices are connected.

Router Limitations

• Secondly, some routers have limitations on the number of simultaneous connections or the amount of data they can handle at once. Consequently, during large downloads, these limitations can cause the router to drop connections.

Wi-Fi Interference

• Thirdly, interference from other electronic devices, walls, or even other Wi-Fi networks can weaken the signal, leading to disconnections during high data transfers.

Driver Issues

• Furthermore, outdated or corrupt Wi-Fi drivers on your PC can cause instability. Therefore, ensuring your drivers are up-to-date can help maintain a stable connection.

Power Management Settings

• Moreover, power-saving settings on your PC can cause the Wi-Fi adapter to turn off during periods of high activity. Hence, disabling these settings can help maintain a stable connection.

DNS and IP Configuration Issues

• Additionally, problems with DNS settings or IP configuration can cause interruptions. In many cases, resetting these settings can often resolve the issue.

Router Firmware

• Also, outdated router firmware can lead to instability. Accordingly, updating the firmware can improve performance and stability.

VPN and Security Software

• Next, VPNs and certain security software can interfere with network connections, especially during large downloads. To troubleshoot, temporarily disabling these can help identify if they are the cause.

Hardware Issues

• Lastly, faulty hardware, such as a failing Wi-Fi adapter or router, can also cause disconnections. In this case, testing with different hardware can help identify this issue.

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How to fix a PC disconnects from WiFi during large download ?

Experiencing Wi-Fi disconnections during large downloads can be frustrating. Here are several methods to troubleshoot and fix this issue, with detailed step-by-step instructions:

Update Wi-Fi Drivers

Open Device Manager

• Firstly, press Windows + X on your keyboard.

• Secondly, from the menu that appears, select Device Manager. This will open a new window displaying all the hardware components of your PC.

Locate Network Adapters

• Next, in the Device Manager window, look for the section labeled Network adapters.

• After that, click the arrow (or double-click) next to Network adapters to expand this section and view all network devices.

Update Driver

• Now, find your Wi-Fi adapter in the list (it may have a name like “Wireless Network Adapter” or similar).

• Subsequently, right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Update driver from the context menu.

Choose Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software

• Following this, a new window will appear with two options. Select Search automatically for updated driver software.

• As a result, Windows will search for the latest driver online and install it if available.

Restart Your PC

• Finally, after the update process is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes. This ensures that the new driver is properly loaded.

Change Power Management Settings

Open Device Manager

• To begin, press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu.

Locate Network Adapters

• Once in the Device Manager window, expand the Network adapters section by clicking the arrow next to it.

Adjust Power Settings

• Next, right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties from the context menu.

• Then, in the Properties window, navigate to the Power Management tab.

Uncheck Allow the Computer to Turn Off This Device to Save Power

• In the Power Management tab, you will see an option that says Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

• Importantly, uncheck this box to prevent Windows from disabling your Wi-Fi adapter to save power.

Apply and Restart

• Afterwards, click OK to save your changes.

• Lastly, restart your computer to ensure the new settings take effect.

Adjust Advanced Power Settings

Open Power Options

• First, press Windows + S to open the search bar.

• Then, type Power Options and select it from the search results.

Change Plan Settings

• In the Power Options window, you will see your current power plan. Next, click on Change plan settings next to the selected power plan (usually it’s Balanced).

Change Advanced Power Settings

• Subsequently, in the next window, click on Change advanced power settings. This will open a new dialog box with various power settings.

Adjust Wireless Adapter Settings

• Now, in the Advanced settings dialog, scroll down to find Wireless Adapter Settings.

• Then, expand this section by clicking the plus sign (+) next to it.

• Under Power Saving Mode, set it to Maximum Performance for both On battery and Plugged in options.

Apply and Restart

• After making these changes, click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

• Finally, restart your computer to ensure the new settings are applied.

Disable Metered Connection

Open Settings

• To start, press Windows + I to open the Settings app.

Go to Network & Internet

• Next, in the Settings window, click on Network & Internet.

Manage Known Networks

• Then, in the left sidebar, select Wi-Fi.

• After that, scroll down and click on Manage known networks.

Select Your Network

• Now, find your Wi-Fi network in the list and click on it.

• Subsequently, select Properties to open the network settings.

Disable Metered Connection

• In the properties window, look for the option labeled Set as metered connection.

• Lastly, ensure this option is turned Off. This will allow your PC to use the full bandwidth for downloads without restrictions.

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Reset Network Settings

Open Settings

• Firstly, press Windows + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. This will bring up the main settings menu.

Go to Network & Internet

• Secondly, in the Settings window, click on Network & Internet. This section contains all the settings related to your network connections.

Access Status

• Then, in the left sidebar, select Status. This will show you the current status of your network connections.

Network Reset

• After that, scroll down the Status page until you find the Network reset link. Click on it to proceed.

Reset Now

• Subsequently, in the Network reset window, you will see a message explaining what will happen when you reset your network settings. Click on the Reset now button.

• Following this, a confirmation prompt will appear. Click Yes to confirm that you want to reset your network settings.

Restart Your PC

• Finally, your PC will automatically restart to apply the changes. After the restart, your network settings will be reset to their default values, which can help resolve connectivity issues.

Check Router Settings

Access Router Settings

• To begin, open a web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) on your PC.

• Then, in the address bar, type your router’s IP address. Common addresses are 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, then press Enter.

Login

• Next, you will be prompted to enter your router’s username and password. If you haven’t changed these, they are often set to default values (check your router’s manual or the label on the router).

• Once you have the credentials, enter them and click Login.

Check Firmware

• After logging in, look for a section labeled Firmware Update or Router Upgrade. This is usually found in the Administration or Settings menu.

• Check if there is a newer version of the firmware available. If so, follow the instructions provided to update your router’s firmware.

Adjust Channel Settings

• Following the firmware check, navigate to the Wireless Settings or Wi-Fi Settings section.

• Here, look for an option labeled Channel. Change the Wi-Fi channel to a less congested one (channels 1, 6, or 11 are often recommended for 2.4 GHz networks).

• Once you have made your selection, save your changes.

Save and Restart

• After making changes, look for a Save or Apply button to save your settings.

• Lastly, restart your router to ensure the new settings take effect. You can usually do this from the router’s interface or by unplugging it for a few seconds and plugging it back in.

Use a Wired Connection

Connect Ethernet Cable

• First, take an Ethernet cable and plug one end into an available Ethernet port on your router.

• Then, plug the other end into the Ethernet port on your PC.

Disable Wi-Fi

• Next, on your PC, click on the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray (bottom right corner of the screen).

• After that, select Network & Internet settings.

• Finally, click on Wi-Fi in the left sidebar and toggle the Wi-Fi switch to Off. This ensures your PC uses the wired connection instead.

Use a Download Manager

Install a Download Manager

• To start, open a web browser and search for a reputable download manager, such as Free Download Manager or Internet Download Manager.

• Once you have chosen one, go to the official website of the download manager you choose and download the installation file.

Install the Download Manager

• After downloading, locate the downloaded installation file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click it to start the installation process.

• Then, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Add Download

• Once installed, open the download manager application.

• Next, use the Add Download or New Download option (the wording may vary depending on the software) to enter the URL of the file you want to download.

• Finally, the download manager will handle the download process, allowing you to pause, resume, and manage large downloads more effectively.

By following these detailed steps, you can effectively reset your network settings, which is crucial when your PC disconnects from Wi-Fi during large downloads.

This comprehensive approach addresses the common causes of the problem and helps ensure a stable connection for your downloads.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, WiFi interruptions during large downloads, such as when your PC disconnects from WiFi during large download, can be frustrating, but luckily there are several effective solutions at hand.

Throughout this blog, we’ve explored a variety of methods, from simple fixes like updating drivers and adjusting power settings, to more advanced techniques like adjusting router settings and using download managers.

Remember, above all, the key to solving this problem often lies in identifying the root cause. Whether it’s network congestion, outdated firmware, or hardware limitations, understanding the problem is half the battle.

Finally, by systematically working through these solutions, you can significantly improve your Wi-Fi stability during large downloads.

Source: [ microsoft, reddit, superuser, windowsreport ]

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