Wi-Fi Disconnects When Downloading: Tips and Solutions to This Problem

We are going to start by explaining what elements are involved in the operation of our Wi-Fi network. Then we will proceed to show you different solutions in case the Wi-Fi is disconnected when downloading, you can take the appropriate measures.

What elements influence a good Wi-Fi connection

One of the most important elements is the router . Here we have to look at the bands it supports and the connection speed it can offer. Currently, the normal thing is that they are Wi-Fi 5 and that they support the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band. However, it is increasingly common to see Wi-Fi 6 routers and in the medium term we will see Wi-Fi 6E with the inclusion of the 6 GHz band. In this sense, we must take into account two very important sections: the placement of the router and the band that we are using. We will go into it more in depth later.

Another important factor is nearby or neighbor Wi-Fi networks . At this point, a crucial element is the proper selection of the router’s Wi-Fi channel. The first thing would be necessary to know in which WiFi channels our nearby networks are broadcasting. The most correct way to proceed would be to sort all WiFi networks by RSSI, that is, by WiFi signal. Then we choose the channel farthest possible from the two or three WiFi networks that we have closest to. Thus, we will avoid interference with the WiFi networks that are closer and that are the ones that produce more interference with our WiFi network. A program that we could use to perform this function in Windows would be Acrylic WiFi or WirelessNetView .

The third element that we must take into account is the equipment or device that connects to that router . In that sense, you have to know the specifications of the wireless device they use. That determines the bands you can connect to and your maximum connection speed. Here we can talk mainly about smartphones, tablets, laptops or PCs. Then we will detail it in more depth where factors such as energy saving and Wi-Fi card drivers have a lot to say.

To finish with this section, we must not forget that Wi-Fi could be disconnected due to having many devices connected to our router or consuming a lot of bandwidth . Here we refer to both those connected by network cable and WiFi, which end up saturating the router.

Router and Strip Placement When Wi-Fi Disconnects on Downloads

A very important point in terms of obtaining Wi-Fi coverage is how we place the router, where we place it and what objects it has around it. In that sense, we must do it by following these rules:

1. It should be located as centrally as possible so that it distributes Wi-Fi evenly throughout the house.
2. It has to be at a medium height and with as few obstacles as possible . Thus, it is best to place it on a table or a piece of furniture, preferably made of wood and that it is not closed or placed inside a closet.
3. The placement of external antennas , if you have them, is important. In that sense, in a vertical position it is better to cover the plant where you are and horizontally you gain coverage in the other plants, but you lose where you are. One thing to consider is that a router or AP is designed to be used in a single plant.
4. Try to place the router as far away as possible from the base of cordless phones, computers, consoles, and other electronic devices .

We must also take into account the WiFi band to which we are connected . If we are in the 2.4 GHz band we will obtain less speed, but greater stability at long distances. On the other hand, if we are connected to the 5 GHz network we will have higher speed, but less range. Therefore, if we are far from the router and we do not want the download to be cut, it would be convenient to use the 2.4 GHz, and if we are close to the 5 GHz.

In short, you have to place the router in the right place without boxing it in, place the external antennas well, if you have them, and choose the right band.

What to do if the problem is with the router

If the Wi-Fi is disconnected when downloading, the cause may be the router. The first thing we are going to start with is by restarting the router . Also updating the router’s firmware is highly recommended as improvements and corrections are sometimes made in the Wi-Fi section. Another thing we can do is change the channel as I mentioned in a previous section. Thus, we enter with our internet browser to the router configuration by entering our username and password.

The most modern routers, especially those from prestigious manufacturers such as ASUS or FRITZ! Box, if you have it configured properly, allow you to configure the wireless channel automatically. If you don’t have it on automatic, it can be a good starting point to start. In the first red box you can see how the automatic mode is selected. Another option to try is to click on a button you have to update the automatic channel.

However, it does not always allow you to choose the wireless channel automatically so it would be necessary to do it manually. For this, I recommend following the advice that we established in the first section.

Nor should we rule out that the Wi-Fi part is faulty. In that case, it is usually noticed that you only connect via Wi-Fi near the router and there comes a time when you will not even see your network name. It may also be that you have a blind Wi-Fi spot at home where Wi-Fi coverage does not reach you. In that case you would need to buy an access point or Wi-Fi Mesh system.

Windows computers and P2P programs

If the Wi-Fi is disconnected when downloading, one thing that can improve is to update the Wi-Fi card driver , for this we are going to:

1. Start menu .
2. We write device manager + enter.
3. In Network adapters we look for ours and click on Update driver .

Here’s an example:

On the other hand, Windows does not always have the latest drivers available, so checking the adapter or laptop manufacturer’s website would be a good idea. We can also try to erase our Wi-Fi network , in case some parameter was the cause that Wi-Fi disconnects. To do this, we will follow these steps:

1. Start menu .
2. Settings .
3. Network and Internet .
4. Wi-Fi .

Here what we have to do is click on Manage known networks .

Then we select the Wi-Fi network that we want to delete by clicking on Stop remembering .

It could also be that the Wi-Fi is disconnected when downloading by entering power saving mode. If we want to solve this failure we will go to:

1. Start menu .
2. We write Device Manager + enter.
3. Network adapters , we look for ours and with the right button we select Properties .
4. We go to the Power Management tab.

Here we disable the ” Allow the computer to turn off this device to save energy ” box and click OK .

On the other hand, it would not hurt from the Start Menu to write ” Choose a power plan ” and review your settings. Check if it goes to sleep, if it turns off and the behavior of the lid if it is a laptop. Another possible factor could be the saturation of the router’s NAT table due to:

1. The use of P2P programs either by cable or Wi-Fi.
2. Many devices connected at the same time downloading simultaneously.

In the case of using P2P programs via Wi-Fi, the NAT table of the router is saturated sooner because it takes longer to erase the connections. In this type of programs, it is usually convenient to reduce the maximum global connections sections to 50, and maximum connections per file to 20. Then, you could consider uploading them little by little, but without going too far.

The Wi-Fi adapter, smartphones and tablets

As for the Wi-Fi adapters, it may be out of date or broken. It is usually the former, especially in the case of laptops, in which case you might consider buying a new card. Another option to look at is if the Wi-Fi adapter has antennas and configure them in different positions.

As for Android and iOS devices, if the Wi-Fi is disconnected when downloading, you can try to delete the wireless network and configure it again. Finally, also in Settings , see how the energy options are configured.