Windows 11 WiFi Keeps Disconnecting After Driver Updates (2026 Fixes)

TL;DR: If your windows 11 wifi keeps disconnecting right after a feature update or driver update in 2026, it is usually a driver mismatch (Intel or Realtek), a power saving setting, or a corrupted network stack. Let’s break this down with a simple checklist you can follow in order, from easiest wins to deeper repairs.

You do not need to be a tech expert to do this. You just need a calm, step-by-step plan. You’ve got this!

Why Wi-Fi drops after update happens in Windows 11

When people tell me “my Wi-Fi was fine yesterday and now it drops every few minutes,” I immediately think: something changed. In Windows 11, the most common “something” is a driver update delivered through Windows Update or the PC maker’s update utility.

In 2026, we’re still seeing a familiar pattern: driver updates can change how your network adapter negotiates power saving, roaming, Wi-Fi 6/6E settings, and compatibility with certain routers. That can show up as:

• Random disconnects, then auto-reconnect a few seconds later
• Wi-Fi stays connected but no internet
• Disconnects only on 5 GHz or only on 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E), while 2.4 GHz seems “fine”
• Disconnects when you close the laptop lid, wake from sleep, or switch rooms

Two adapter families pop up constantly in real-world repairs:

• Intel Wi-Fi (including Intel AX211) - great hardware, but driver changes can be picky with certain router settings. These show up as intel ax211 driver issues.
• Realtek Wi-Fi - very common in budget and midrange laptops, and sometimes the newest driver is not the happiest one. That is where a realtek wifi driver rollback can save the day.

Windows 11 WiFi troubleshooting checklist (do these in order)

This is my repair-focused flow. We start with quick wins, then move into driver repair, then deeper network resets. If the problem is hardware, we will spot that too.

Step 1: Confirm it is the PC, not the internet

Quick test: does your phone stay connected to Wi-Fi when your PC drops? If your phone is stable but the PC keeps dropping, your PC is the likely culprit. Small win: you just narrowed the problem!

Also try one of these quick comparisons:

• Connect your PC to a phone hotspot for 5-10 minutes. If it is stable there, your router settings may be interacting badly with the new driver.
• If possible, test an Ethernet cable. If Ethernet is stable but Wi-Fi drops, we focus on the wireless adapter and its driver.

Step 2: Use Device Manager to check the network adapter and driver date

We are going to look at the device manager network adapter details. Here’s how:

1. Right-click the Start button
2. Click Device Manager
3. Expand Network adapters
4. Find your Wi-Fi adapter (often says Intel or Realtek)
5. Right-click it -> Properties -> Driver tab

Now look at Driver Date and Driver Version. If the date lines up with when the Wi-Fi started acting up, that is a very strong clue.

wifi drops after update: Roll back vs clean install (Intel and Realtek)

This is where most fixes happen. The goal is simple: get you onto a stable driver, not necessarily the newest driver.

Option A: Roll back the Wi-Fi driver (fastest fix)

If the Roll Back Driver button is clickable, try it first. This is the classic fix for wifi drops after update.

1. Device Manager -> Network adapters -> your Wi-Fi adapter
2. Properties -> Driver tab
3. Click Roll Back Driver
4. Restart your PC

If you are dealing with intel ax211 driver issues, rolling back often restores stable roaming and power behavior. If you have Realtek, a realtek wifi driver rollback can be the difference between constant drops and a rock-solid connection.

Option B: Clean reinstall the driver (best when rollback is unavailable)

If rollback is greyed out, we do a clean reinstall. This sounds complicated, but I promise it is not!

1. In Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter -> Uninstall device
2. Important: If you see a checkbox that says Delete the driver software for this device, check it (this forces a truly clean reinstall)
3. Restart your PC
4. Windows will usually reinstall a driver automatically

If Windows installs a driver but the drops continue, the next best move is to install the driver from your PC manufacturer’s support page (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.) or from Intel for Intel adapters. Manufacturer drivers are often tuned for that exact laptop model.

Need Microsoft’s official troubleshooting flow as a reference? Here’s a helpful starting point: Microsoft Support: Fix network connection issues in Windows 11.

Pro tip: Pause driver updates temporarily (so your fix sticks)

Sometimes Windows Update helpfully re-installs the “problem” driver. Once you find a stable driver, consider pausing updates briefly while you confirm stability:

• Settings -> Windows Update -> Pause updates (short-term)

This is not about avoiding updates forever. It is about giving your system time to settle.

Fix power management settings that cause Windows 11 Wi-Fi disconnects

This is a sneaky one. After updates, power settings can revert or change. Then your adapter takes little naps at the worst possible time.

Turn off “Allow the computer to turn off this device”

1. Device Manager -> Network adapters -> your Wi-Fi adapter
2. Properties -> Power Management tab
3. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
4. Click OK and restart

If your Wi-Fi drops when waking from sleep, this is often the fix. Small win opportunity!

Check Windows power mode

Go to Settings -> System -> Power & battery. If you are on a laptop, try switching from Best power efficiency to Balanced (or Best performance) while testing. If stability returns, you can fine-tune later.

Adapter advanced properties to stabilize Intel and Realtek Wi-Fi

These settings vary by adapter, but a few commonly help when windows 11 wifi keeps disconnecting. We are not going to change everything. We will change one thing at a time so you can tell what helped.

To find them:

1. Device Manager -> Network adapters -> your Wi-Fi adapter
2. Properties -> Advanced tab

Settings to try (change one at a time)

• Roaming Aggressiveness: set to Medium or Low (helps if you disconnect while moving around the house/office)
• Preferred Band: try 5 GHz (or 2.4 GHz temporarily if 5 GHz is unstable)
• 802.11ax / Wi-Fi 6 mode: if available, try toggling (some environments do better with it enabled, others stabilize when set to older mode)
• Transmit Power: set to Highest (sometimes helps weak signal scenarios)

Friendly rule: change one setting, test for 10-15 minutes, then decide. That is how you learn what your system likes. Mistakes here are not “bad.” They are just data!

Network adapter driver repair: Winsock reset, TCP/IP reset, and DNS flush

If drivers and power settings are fine but the connection still drops or acts “stuck,” your Windows networking stack may be corrupted. This is where a network adapter driver repair often includes resets.

Run these commands (Windows Terminal as Admin)

1. Right-click Start -> Terminal (Admin) (or Windows PowerShell (Admin))
2. Run these commands one by one:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

This covers the big three people ask about: winsock reset windows 11, TCP/IP reset, and dns flush windows 11. Then restart your PC.

If you want Microsoft’s built-in approach too, see: Microsoft Support: Use Windows troubleshooters.

Use “Network reset” (the nuclear option, but safe)

Settings -> Network & internet -> Advanced network settings -> Network reset.

This removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets networking components. You may need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords afterward. Annoying? A little. Effective? Often, yes!

When to suspect failing Wi-Fi hardware (and not just software)

Sometimes the driver is not the villain. Hardware can fail, especially if:

• Wi-Fi drops across multiple networks (home, office, hotspot)
• Bluetooth also acts weird (many cards combine Wi-Fi + Bluetooth)
• Device Manager shows the adapter disappearing and reappearing
• Event Viewer logs frequent adapter resets (advanced clue)
• A USB Wi-Fi adapter works perfectly while the internal Wi-Fi keeps dropping

If you are comfortable opening a desktop, reseating a PCIe Wi-Fi card or checking antennas can help. For many laptops, the internal Wi-Fi card is replaceable, but it is a delicate job and the right part matters.

Palm Beach County help: when to bring it in

If you’ve worked through the checklist and your windows 11 wifi keeps disconnecting, it is totally reasonable to hand it off. Diagnostics can quickly reveal whether you are dealing with a driver conflict, Windows corruption, router compatibility, or failing hardware.

At Fix My PC Store, we help customers across Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres, Boynton Beach, and Jupiter. If your issue is tied to a broader system problem, we can also help with:

• Windows 11 computer repair and network troubleshooting for desktops that keep dropping Wi-Fi
• Laptop repair for unstable Wi-Fi including internal Wi-Fi card replacement and antenna checks
• Virus removal and cleanup if malware or adware is interfering with networking
• Data recovery services if disconnects happened alongside drive issues or system crashes

Quick recap: the fastest path to stable Wi-Fi

• Check Device Manager to identify Intel vs Realtek and confirm the driver changed
• Roll back if possible, or clean reinstall the driver
• Disable power saving on the adapter
• Tune Advanced settings one at a time (roaming, preferred band, Wi-Fi 6 mode)
• Run Winsock reset, TCP/IP reset, and DNS flush
• If it still drops everywhere, suspect hardware and consider diagnostics

Every step you try teaches you something about your setup. That is progress, even before the final fix clicks into place!