Chromebook Keeps Disconnecting From Wi-Fi (Solutions Provided)

It’s okay to be a fan of any Google product because they’re quite good, and Chromebook is great because it runs on Chrome OS which is meant to work well with web apps and the Chrome browser.

So, if you are a proud owner of such a device, we hope that you’re enjoying the impressive functionality in all-Google apps. Nevertheless, you need a reliable internet connection for it, and here’s what you need to know when your Chromebook keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi.

Reasons Chromebook Keeps Disconnecting From Wi-Fi

There are plenty of reasons why a device can have a buggy connection to the Wi-Fi. The main thing is to identify them and try to fix the issue. Here are some very common reasons your Chromebook keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi.

Router Position

This is a simple one. If there are many obstacles between a device and a point from which the signal is emitted, then the signal is going to be bad or laggy. This means that you won’t get a good connection, or your device will keep disconnecting.

So, you might need to try moving closer to the router, or try another device to see if it’s a Chromebook-specific issue. Repositioning the router often helps with signal loss and takes care of most issues with your connection.

Router Wireless Radio

Another reason your Chromebook keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi might be that your wireless radios aren’t working well. It’s typical to experience the “disconnecting” issue when you’re moving through your home and one of the radios isn’t working.

If the 2.4GHz radio isn’t working, you’ll get disconnected as soon as you get out of range. This means that someone turned off the radio, or that the router you have is faulty or damaged in some way, and you might want to check out an alternative for that router.

Clogged Wireless Network

This is one of the most common reasons for any kind of Wi-Fi trouble. Having a clogged network full of traffic means that you’ll get connection issues, signal issues, speed issues, etc. So, consider clearing the traffic a little.

Once you clear it, you need to maintain it that way. We don’t recommend being stingy and not giving out the Wi-Fi password to your guests or blocking other family members in the network. It’s best to just refresh the network once in a while.

Outdated Wireless Adapter

The wireless adapter on your Chromebook can be outdated. However, this can only happen if the entire system is outdated. Unlike some operating systems where you can check for updates for each component, Chromebook updates the entire system, and it’s an easy fix.

Chromebook Keeps Disconnecting From Wi-Fi Fixes

All the reasons listed above are quite common, but if your Chromebook keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi, the Bluetooth or VPN might be interfering. However, we’re going to discuss the troubleshooting steps you should take in any case.

Reboot Network

Turn off your Chromebook and turn off your router. Once you unplug all the devices from their outlets, wait for at least a minute. Then turn on your router and the device in that order. Wait for all the things to start working normally. Test the solution to see if the issue is gone. If not, you can give it another try. However, it might not work so you might need to do a factory reset on your router.

Reset Router or Chromebook

A classic thing to do when facing connection issues is to do a factory reset on your router or on your device. Remember, either one can be at fault. For routers, the factory reset is easy because you can find the Reset button on the back of the router and push it using a paperclip.

This will reset the settings. However, with a Chromebook, it’s a little different. Just sign out, press, and hold Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and r. Finally, click on Powerwash and Continue. Try one or the other to see if it works.

System Update

Try to check for updates to see if you’ve missed it. Go to the Settings app, and click on About Chrome OS. Once there, you’ll see the version of your operating system. Click on Check for updates. If there are any updates available, the system is going to update itself, and the Wi-Fi will work perfectly.

Reduce Wireless Traffic

This is such a simple step because the only thing you need to do is change your Wi-Fi password on the router. You can even change your SSID (network name) if you’d like, but it’s not necessary.

Go to the login page of your router and go to the Wireless tab in the Settings. Once there, you’ll see the SSID box where you should type the new name of the network and the password box for the new password. Hit Apply or Save and the new settings will take over.

Next, you’ll lose the wireless connection for a few moments, and you need to find the new network name and connect by entering the new password. This is going to get rid of excess wireless traffic, and your Wi-Fi should work five.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi

Another thing that usually works on most devices is to disconnect from the network and reconnect to it. Also, taking it further by forgetting the network and typing in the password again to connect can probably give you better results.

Appropriate Router Position

Changing the position of your router can help a lot, especially if it’s in a corner of the room at the moment. Try putting it somewhere where there are no walls between it and your Chromebook. If that’s not possible, just avoid placing the router next to appliances that emit similar frequencies.

Recommended reading:

• Why Does Mac Keep Disconnecting From Wi-Fi?
• Why Does My Android Phone Keep Disconnecting from Wi-Fi? Troubleshooting Guide
• Why Does My Computer Keep Disconnecting from Wi-Fi?

Avoid the kitchen because of the microwave, and avoid putting it next to an aquarium because water reduces the Wi-Fi signal strength. Also, mirrors and metal objects mess with the wireless signal. So, try avoiding those as well.

Bluetooth or VPN

You could try to disable your Bluetooth and turn off your VPN (Virtual Private Network). It’s likely that you won’t need these two while connecting to your Wi-Fi, so give it a try. If it works perfectly fine after you’ve turned off Bluetooth, just keep it off. If it works well when you turn off your VPN, you might want to consider getting a better VPN app.

Conclusion

Working with Wi-Fi is kind of a grey zone because it can be anything and it can be nothing. There are a ton of issues similar to the one where Chromebook keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi, and many of them have similar fixes.

It’s almost always something wrong with the software or the hardware. If it’s not that, then it’s the position of the router or the obstacles that you have between the router and your Chromebook. Hopefully, one of these solutions works for you and we made your day better.

Jeremy Clifford

Hey, I’m Jeremy Clifford. I hold a bachelor’s degree in information systems, and I’m a certified network specialist. I worked for several internet providers in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle over the past 21 years.

I worked as a customer service operator, field technician, network engineer, and network specialist. During my career in networking, I’ve come across numerous modems, gateways, routers, and other networking hardware. I’ve installed network equipment, fixed it, designed and administrated networks, etc.

Networking is my passion, and I’m eager to share everything I know with you. On this website, you can read my modem and router reviews, as well as various how-to guides designed to help you solve your network problems. I want to liberate you from the fear that most users feel when they have to deal with modem and router settings.

My favorite free-time activities are gaming, movie-watching, and cooking. I also enjoy fishing, although I’m not good at it. What I’m good at is annoying David when we are fishing together. Apparently, you’re not supposed to talk or laugh while fishing – it scares the fishes.