Online gaming is an immersive and amazing experience that demands a fast and stable internet connection. One of the things that most online gamers hate is when a random disconnect happens because there is nothing more frustrating for an online gamer than a random disconnect, especially when it happens at a critical moment.

If you are a gamer who is tired of dealing with this problem of random disconnects while gaming on WiFi then you are in the right place, as we have discussed some practical solutions to fix this issue so that you can have a smooth, seamless, and interruption-free online gaming experience.

Identify the Cause

Before we dive into fixes, you should try to identify the root cause of disconnects because once you have identified the culprit, it will become much easier for you to focus on that particular issue. Common causes of random disconnects include interference from nearby devices, weak signals, outdated router firmware, and network congestion.

Try to diagnose the issue so that you can know which area to focus on. For instance, if random disconnects occur consistently, then interference or weak WiFi signals are to be blamed whereas if it happens only during peak internet hours then network congestion might be an issue. After you have identified the cause, you can follow the general solutions below that can help fix the issue in most cases.

Optimize Router Placement

The first thing that you have to do is optimize router placement. Most gamers are well aware of this and have the WiFi router placed close to their gaming PC or gaming device. However, if that is not the case and you cannot place the router close to your gaming device, then ensure that the router is placed at a central location in your home, elevated from the ground, and away from other electronic devices like microwaves, cordless phones, and Bluetooth speakers, which can interfere with the signal.

Minimize WiFi Interference

WiFi interference is quite a common cause of random disconnects and it can be easily prevented. To minimize WiFi interference, you can:

• Change WiFi Channels
• Use Dual-Band Frequency Transmission
• Limit the Number of Devices Connected to the Network

These three ways can help you minimize the interference, changing the router to the least congested channel and enabling 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for signal transmission can stabilize the connection and prevent random drops. To access these settings on your router, you can follow this guide here to access the page.

Use an Ethernet Connection

For online gaming, the best type of gaming connection is a wired Ethernet connection because it is far more stable and reliable than a wireless connection. Connecting your gaming device to the router using an Ethernet cable provides a direct connection so that you don’t have to worry about weak signals or interference. If an ethernet connection is not feasible, consider using powerline adapters, as they do the same job as an ethernet cable by transmitting data through your home’s electrical wiring.

Upgrade Your Router

If you are using the same old WiFI router that your ISP provided you after you signed up for their services 5 years ago, then it might struggle to handle the internet demands of modern-day online gaming. Nowadays, there are dedicated gaming routers available with features like MU-MIMO, Beamforming, QoS, and Mesh Systems that can make a world of difference in your gaming difference. So if you are using an old router, consider upgrading it to a gaming router for optimal performance.

Use the QoS Feature to Prioritize Gaming Traffic

As mentioned, modern routers are equipped with features like QoS that allow you to prioritize a specific type of traffic on the network (in this case, gaming traffic). You can head over to http://192.168.0.1/ and enable the QoS feature from the router’s settings page. After enabling this feature, configure the QoS feature by setting your gaming device or gaming traffic as the highest priority so that it takes precedence over other activities on the network.

Use a Gaming VPN

Sometimes, using a gaming VPN can resolve the issue of random disconnects by improving connection stability and also reducing latency. Use a gaming VPN that offers low latency, high-speed servers, strong security, and a no-logs policy. While a gaming VPN is not a fix for all issues, in some cases, it can prove to be a valuable tool for improving a network’s performance and stability.

Contact Your ISP

If you have tried the above-mentioned solutions and are still experiencing random disconnects, then the problem might be from your ISP’s side. Contact your Internet Service Provider and ask them for a line check to ensure that there are no issues with your connection and request the replacement of faulty equipment. If your current bandwidth is not sufficient for gaming, then contact the ISP to upgrade your internet plan.