Google Chromebooks are excellent devices, especially when it comes to portability. However, your user experience can get reduced to frustration if your Chromebook keeps disconnecting from WiFi.
This is a common issue faced by Chromebook users. If you are one of them, you have come to the right place. In this post, we will cover all the possible reasons and fixes for this issue.
Common Reasons Chromebook Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi
There could be various reasons why Chromebook keeps disconnecting from WiFi. To be able to fix the issue, you need to identify the reason that’s causing it. Some of the common reasons are:
1. Position of Your Router
If there are too many devices or obstacles around your router, it will disrupt the connection. As a result, Chromebook or other devices connected to the WiFi may keep disconnecting.
To solve this issue, you should relocate your router to an area where there are no obstacles. Also, close the gap between your router and Chromebook.
2. Congested Wireless Network
A congested network results from abnormal traffic. If the traffic is higher than what your wireless network can handle, it can lead to connection issues or slow speeds.
This issue can be solved by clearing the traffic and maintaining it that way. Disconnect the devices that you are not using to relieve the network.
3. Outdated Wireless Adapter
If you are using an outdated adapter with Chromebook, you may experience WiFi issues. But this only happens if your entire system is outdated.
All you need to do is update Chromebook’s system and the problem should be solved.
4. Router Wireless Radio Not Working Properly
This could be another reason behind Chromebook losing WiFi connection. If there’s an issue with the 2.4 GHz radio, the network will get disconnected if you go out of its range.
It can happen if your router is damaged or someone disables the radio. Try using a different router to see if your router is the culprit.
Chromebook Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi: Solutions To Fix IT
Now that you are familiar with the reasons leading to this issue, let’s talk about the solutions to fix it. We are going to cover all the possible fixes to troubleshoot this issue.
Solution 1: Get Closer To Your Router
The distance between Chromebook and the router is an important factor. Placing your device closer to your router will allow the device to catch stronger signals. As a result, you can enjoy greater speed.
If Chromebook keeps dropping its WiFi connection, chances are that it is far away from the router. In this case, you will have to move your device within the optimal range of your router.
If that’s not possible, use a network booster or WiFi extender to strengthen the router signals. Or you can alter the WiFi channel of your router to improve its performance and network range.
Solution 2: Change Your Router’s Location
When your router is surrounded by too many electronic devices or obstacles, it causes interference with the signals. This will stop Chromebook from catching strong signals.
If this is the case, then changing the location of your router might help. Look for an obstacle-free location and place your router there. This should solve half of your connection issues.
Solution 3: Connect To A Different WiFi Network
This is an easy way to find out the root source of the issue. It will help you determine whether your wifi router or Chromebook is the problem.
All you need to do is connect your Chromebook to a different network and see if it’s working fine. If yes, then the issue is with your router.
However, if your Chromebook continues to lose connection, then there might be an issue with the configuration of your device
Solution 4: Forget The Network And Rejoin
This is a solid fix that could help you resolve the issue. Forgetting the network will clear it from your device’s memory. To know how it’s done, follow the steps below.
- Access the Settings section on your device.
- Next, go to Network, and then to WiFi.
- Click on the option Network and select Forget.
- Wait for a few seconds before choosing a network from the list of Known Networks.
- Enter the password if it’s a password-protected network.
- Click the Connect button and you are done.
After re-joining the network, check if the issue is solved.
Solution 5: Check Your Router Settings
Parental controls in some routers allow network admin to limit or reduce internet access. In that scenario, you may experience slow connection speed or network drops on your device. In some cases, your device may not connect to the network at all.
Check the settings of your router and see if there are any such restrictions. To fix the connection issue you will have to remove those settings.
It should be noted that Chromebook will fail to maintain a stable connection if a network prevents access by default. In this case, you will have to provide your device’s MAC address to the admin.
To find the MAC address of your device, follow these steps:
- On the Home screen of your device, click on the WiFi symbol or time at the bottom right edge of the window.
- Click on the Arrow Down symbol.
- Tap the Info sign to see the MAC address of your device.
- Click and hold the card, and hit the Copy button.
- Now you can send the MAC address to the admin, so they can remove any restriction that’s preventing your device from connecting to the network.
Solution 6: Turn Off Bluetooth
Some users claim that disabling Bluetooth on Chromebook can resolve the issue. This is because sometimes Bluetooth accessories cause interference with WiFi networks.
To turn off Bluetooth on your Chromebook, open Settings, go to Bluetooth, and disable it by toggling the checkbox.
Or, you can change your router’s frequency band to 5 GHz. Since most Bluetooth devices use 2.4 Ghz, it should solve the issue without you having to disable your Bluetooth connection. But before proceeding with this solution, make sure that your Chromebook has support for the 5 Ghz band.
Solution 7: Disable Your VPN
Not just Bluetooth, but even VPN can cause connection issues. Many users on Reddit have complained about VPN interfering with their network or speed.
So if you are using a VPN service on Chromebook, it’s better to disable it before connecting to your WiFi. If the problem still exists, upgrade your VPN and install the latest version. If the issue is still not resolved, then you should consider using a different VPN app.
Solution 8: Disconnect A Few Devices From Your Router
If your network is crowded with too many devices, then Chromebook may fail to maintain a stable connection.
The best solution is to disconnect a few devices that are not important. If you are not using a device, there’s no point in keeping it connected to the network.
After removing a few devices, check if the problem is solved.
Solution 9: Restart Your Router
If the problem remains even after removing devices from the network, then you should restart your router. Here’s how to do it:
- Turn off the router and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Wait for 15-30 seconds before turning on your router again.
- After restarting your router, try to reconnect your Chromebook and see how it works. Check if it can connect to the internet and maintain a stable connection without any hassle.
Solution 10: Reset Your Router Or Chromebook
If restarting your router doesn’t work, then the best option would be to factory reset it. It will delete all saved settings and return the router like it was in the factory.
To factory reset your router, press the Reset button at the bottom or back of your router. Since it’s a tiny button, you will need a pin to press it.
In the case of a Chromebook, the reset procedure is slightly different. First, log out, and then press and hold Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and r. Next, click on Powerwash and Continue. This will reset your device.
You can try either of the methods to see which one works.
Solution 11: Get Your Chromebook OS Updated
Sometimes the WiFi connection issue occurs due to the presence of bugs in the Chrome OS. This is why you are advised to update your Chromebook. These are the steps you need to follow:
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Click on About Chrome OS.
- Select the option Check for Updates.
- Check if any update is available.
- If yes, then install it on your device.
Solution 12: Repair Chromebook
If no solution works, there’s a high possibility that your Chromebook is the culprit. The hardware of your device may be damaged in some way. Unless you are an expert, you won’t be able to figure it out.
In this case, we will suggest you take your Chromebook to a technician and get it checked. If there’s any issue, a professional can fix it.
Final Words
Chromebook losing a WiFi connection can be annoying, especially if you are in the middle of work. Once you figure out the root cause of the problem, it becomes easier to select the right approach to fix it. We have included all the possible reasons and solutions to this problem. Hopefully, it will help you get rid of the issue.
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I am Editor, in charge of designing content for Routers Network. I aspire to use my experiences in marketing to create reliable and necessary information related to Networking.