7 Simple Ways To Improve Laptop Wi-Fi Reception

Wi-Fi works by using radio waves to transmit information between your laptop and your router.

This connection can be interrupted by software issues, physical obstructions or problems with your laptop.

Few things are as irritating as poor Wi-Fi reception. It’s easy to feel like pulling your hair out when your Wi-Fi signal randomly drops.

A weak connection interferes with your ability to use your laptop, affecting ordinary tasks. 

Almost everything we do with laptops involves the Internet in the modern world. Working from home, streaming shows on Netflix, or playing video games require a strong Wi-Fi connection.

Troublesome symptoms occur when your Wi-Fi reception dips. You may notice webpages loading slowly, YouTube videos cutting in and out, or an inability to connect to video game servers. These scenarios indicate you may be dealing with poor Wi-Fi signals. 

Fortunately, there are ways to improve the Wi-Fi reception on your laptops. Doing so ensures you can always access the Internet smoothly.

Even if you invest in the best Internet service, there may be room for additional improvements. Optimizing laptop settings can help you maximize your connection quality. 

Let’s take a look at how to improve your Wi-Fi reception.

Increase Wireless Adapter Throughput Settings

Playing with your wireless adapter settings can get complicated, but it’s an easy way to improve Wi-Fi reception on your laptop.

In Windows, open the Device Manager. Under Network adapters, double-click on your wireless adapter.

Typically, you should look for the Intel adapter. Depending on your laptop, your adapter may have a different name under the Network adapters section. 

The default setting on your network adapter is to disable the Throughput Booster.

By enabling this feature, your wireless adapter will aggressively use packet bursting to demand bandwidth from your wireless network. Please note this setting may affect other devices in your home.

2. Invest In A Wi-Fi booster

A Wi-Fi booster is one of the easiest ways to improve the laptop’s Internet reception. A Wi-Fi booster will work by receiving the signal from your router and amplifying it.

As a result, it becomes easier for your laptop to maintain a strong connection. Wi-Fi boosters are great for getting signals to go through walls or extend outside your home.

Alternatively, some laptops automatically come with responsive Wi-Fi detection systems.

For example, the ASUS ExpertBook is an upcoming laptop series designed for businesses that come equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Smart Connect so it can automatically choose the most stable and reliable Wi-Fi connection.

Investing in a laptop that has a combination of hardware and software to ensure best internet connectivity is often better than a standalone Wi-Fi booster since you can’t always bring the Wi-Fi booster with you let alone go through the hassle of setting it up. 

3. Avoid Using Wireless Accessories

Surprisingly, using wireless accessories can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal.

If your laptop struggles to maintain a strong Internet signal, it’s worth getting rid of any wireless keyboards, microphones, or other devices you’re using.

Even if Bluetooth powers these devices, the extra signal noise can interfere with the response from your laptop. 

4. Check For Wi-Fi Network Driver Updates

Updating your drivers can be an easy fix for a weak Wi-Fi signal. Faulty or outdated drivers can cause minor issues that impact your computer’s ability to connect to the Internet.

Open Device Manager, click network adapters and right-click on Wireless Internet driver to update your drivers.

This will bring up a menu that allows you to update your driver software. 

Update your drivers directly from the operating system instead of relying on other sources.

That’s the safest way to update your drivers. You can also download current drives from the Internet, primarily the official Microsoft website.

5. Move Your Router Closer To Your Laptop

Do you find your Wi-Fi signal dropping intermittently or experiencing low speeds? If so, you may be too far away from your router.

The physical distance between you and your router causes an unavoidable loss in Wi-Fi signal strength.

The problem worsens if obstacles like walls, floors, and windows are in the way. Improve your laptop Wi-Fi connection by moving it closer to your router. 

6. Avoid Using Eco-mode

Many modern routers are designed with various power-saving modes to help reduce energy consumption.

Check if your router is set to the economy mode by default. While eco mode reduces power consumption, it also reduces performance and bandwidth, making your Wi-Fi signal seem weak.

Increase the transmission power settings on your router to solve issues related to weak Wi-Fi signals.

7. Remove Extra Devices From Your Network

When multiple devices and people share a single connection, you can experience bandwidth interruptions.

As the number of devices on your network increases, it becomes more challenging to control bandwidth allocation.

That impacts your laptop’s ability to maintain a consistent connection. Turning off extra devices on your network can help you get a better connection. 

You can also download third-party programs that identify which devices use the most bandwidth on your network.

Have you recently installed smart appliances, like the fridge, thermostat, lights, or oven? You may need to upgrade your router to handle the extra demand from smart devices that run passively in the background.