A troubleshooting guide for Android users dealing with frustrating, intermittent Wi-Fi drops. Learn how to diagnose and fix connection instability caused by software conflicts and power saving modes.
Keywords: Android Wi-Fi disconnecting, phone keeps dropping Wi-Fi, fix intermittent connection, disable Adaptive Wi-Fi, reset network settings Android, static IP fix
Contents 📋
Why Android Wi-Fi Drops Intermittently
A common complaint from Android users is that their phone randomly disconnects from a stable Wi-Fi network. This problem is usually not the fault of the router, but rather the phone's software trying too hard to optimize performance or save battery.
The main causes are:
- Intelligent/Adaptive Wi-Fi: Features designed to switch seamlessly between Wi-Fi and mobile data, often failing and causing repeated disconnections.
- Network Configuration Corruption: Errors in the saved network settings or IP address allocation.
- Power Saving Mode: Aggressive battery optimization that kills background Wi-Fi access when the screen is off.
Fix 1: Disable "Adaptive Wi-Fi" or "Intelligent Wi-Fi"
Many Android manufacturers (Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.) include features that automatically swap connections or determine Wi-Fi quality. These features are the most common source of disconnects.
For Samsung Devices (Intelligent Wi-Fi)
- Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi.
- Tap the three dots (More) or Gear icon next to your network.
- Select Intelligent Wi-Fi or Intelligent Wi-Fi Settings.
- **Disable** options like **"Switch to Mobile Data"** or **"Aggressive Wi-Fi to Mobile Data Switch."**
For Pixel Devices (Adaptive Connectivity)
- Go to Settings > Network & internet > Adaptive connectivity.
- **Disable** the main **Adaptive Connectivity** toggle.
Fix 2: Reset Network Settings (The Ultimate Fix)
If the disconnections are caused by a deep-seated configuration error, a full network reset is the fastest way to resolve it. This will erase all saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings, so be ready to re-enter them.
- Go to Settings.
- Search for **"Reset"** or navigate to System > Reset options or General management > Reset.
- Select **Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth** (or **Reset network settings**).
- Confirm the reset.
- After the reset, reconnect to your Wi-Fi network. This often forces the phone to grab a stable, fresh IP address and connection profile.
Fix 3: Disable Mobile Data During Wi-Fi Use
If the device keeps switching to mobile data, forcing it off while you are home can stabilize the Wi-Fi connection.
- Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the **Quick Settings** panel.
- Tap the **Mobile data** icon to temporarily turn it **Off**.
- Observe if the Wi-Fi stability improves. If the connection becomes rock solid, the issue is certainly the phone trying to aggressively switch between networks.
You can turn mobile data back on when you leave your home network.
Fix 4: Forget and Reconnect to the Network
A corrupted profile for a specific network can cause this issue. Simply forgetting and re-adding the network can fix the bad handshake.
- Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi.
- Tap the Gear icon next to the problematic network name.
- Select Forget.
- Wait a few seconds, then tap the network name and re-enter the password to reconnect.
Router Troubleshooting Steps
If the fixes on the phone do not work, consider these quick router checks:
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug the power for 60 seconds and plug it back in. This often clears router memory errors.
- Check Channel Congestion: If possible, log into your router settings and change the 2.4 GHz channel from Auto to a specific channel (like 1, 6, or 11) to avoid interference from neighbors.
- Check Router Firmware: Ensure your router's firmware is up to date, as manufacturers often patch connection stability issues.