Most adults in the United States have difficulty connecting to Wi-Fi, CNET found. Here’s what you can do about it

You probably haven’t heard about the latest Wi-Fi Upgrades often Latest iPhone. As long as your router is working on it Stream Oscar-winning shows and movies, File your taxes online And other daily tasks, you might think again about your Wi-Fi network. But if you regularly deal with Wi-Fi signal drops and drops, it may be worth upgrading your router.

CNET recently found that 86% of US adults have experience The Wi-Fi signal drops Or disconnection. Worse still, nearly 1 in 5 (19%) experience persistent Wi-Fi issues, sometimes daily. CNET Broadband Expert, Joe Subbansays your router might be the culprit. Here’s why and what you can do about it.

Key takeaways from the CNET survey

• 86% of adults have experienced a dropped or interrupted Wi-Fi signal.
• 19% reported that their Wi-Fi signal always dropped, daily or frequently.
• 78% of US adults’ activities are affected by Wi-Fi network performance.
• Nearly half of adults (46%) have streaming issues due to poor Wi-Fi performance at home.

Most adults in the United States have experienced a Wi-Fi connection or signal drop

CNET found that most U.S. adults are aware of Wi-Fi going out. Nearly 9 in 10 (86%) experienced a disconnection or signal drop.

Many US adults (41%) report losing their Wi-Fi signal several times a year, while 26% experience signal drops once or twice a month. About 2% don’t have a stable connection, so Wi-Fi drops are common.

Losing a significant Internet connection, even several times a year, is difficult. But why does this happen? Subban explained why some families experience disconnections more frequently than others.

Your router may need an upgrade

If you regularly unplug your router or modem to get a stable connection, it may be too old.

Subban says most people don’t think about upgrading their router as long as it’s working. Upgrading can be expensive, even with CNET’s Best Router It costs more than $170.

However, it’s best to replace your router every five years to keep up with the latest hardware, security, speed, and software upgrades. some Internet service providers We may offer you new equipment at the five-year mark if you request it, Subban says.

“If you’re leasing equipment from your service provider, definitely stay in touch with them,” Subban says. “If you’re contacting them about a plan change or anything else, see what options are available for new equipment, especially now that Wi-Fi 7 “It’s becoming more popular.”

Suban recommends Buy your own router For renting one. If your ISP charges you for equipment every month, one purchase will eventually pay for itself, he says.

When shopping for a new router, think about what you’ll be using it for. For example, if you’re a gamer, CNET recommends the Linksys Velop Pro 6E as a Best router for gaming For its performance jitter and packet loss. If you live in a large home, you may consider purchasing Wi-Fi network system For a stable connection throughout your home.

Read more: Slow down your roll. Wi-Fi 7 is fast, but only these devices work with it

Your Internet connection may be less good

Subban says some Types of Internet connection Are generally less reliable, such as satellites, fixed wireless networks, and 5G home internet. These connection types lack physical infrastructure and are more susceptible to weather and congestion-related problems than fiber or cable connections. For example, 5G home internet relies on a wireless connection to a cell tower to work, just like your smartphone.

Other issues may negatively affect your Wi-Fi network

Subban says the Wi-Fi issues you’re experiencing may have less to do with activity and more to do with related conditions. You may notice slow Wi-Fi speeds when watching TV every night, and this may be because the TV is located too far from the router.

Or it could boil down to timing. If you notice issues during a specific time frame, it may be during internet peak hour, which is a time when your internet slows down because more people are using it. Subban says peak usage time is usually in the evening after traditional business hours, between 6pm and 9pm local time.

Using a single router to run multiple activities at once can also make it difficult to stream shows throughout the house. For example, streaming 4K in your basement and living room may degrade your Wi-Fi performance if you rely on a single router.

Poor Wi-Fi has affected streaming shows and movies even more

CNET found that of the 78% of US adults affected by poor Wi-Fi performance, Broadcasting TV programmes Movies are the most affected activity (46%), followed by using multiple devices at the same time (39%), games (18%), and video calls (14%). Here’s a complete breakdown.

Zoom in on the image

How to improve your Wi-Fi connection

You’ve probably tried all the known tips and tricks to improve your signal, like unplugging your router for a few minutes or moving to another room in your house. Here are some other tips you can try.

Watch this: Quick tips to help speed up your Wi-Fi at home

04:25

Run a speed test

Before you change your ISP or router, run a speed test to see how your Wi-Fi network is performing in real time. Running a speed test helps ensure you’re getting the ISP speed you’re paying for and helps you fix any Wi-Fi issues, instead of guessing.

CNET has a list Speed ​​tests and tips to help you choose the right test for your Wi-Fi network, but recommends Ookla as the best speed test overall, while Fast.com It is best for banners. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Move your router and check for updates

the The location of your router is critical to the performance of your Wi-Fi network. Subban recommends keeping it off the ground and avoiding direct contact with walls or other hard, dense objects.

Subban says a lot of people try to hide their router behind things. “Even though it’s ugly, it can have a very big impact on the signal,” Subban says. If your router has external antennas, you can also try modifying them to get better signal quality.

Aim to have the router as close to the center of the room as possible. If you have Network routing systemSupan recommends placing your network extenders no more than two rooms apart. Try to avoid placing extenders in dead zones and near furniture.

Supan also recommends checking if your router has a software update. Most routers update automatically, but if you haven’t visited your router’s app for a while, it’s worth checking it.

Try a different channel

Most routers have 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels, which are basically two Wi-Fi networks you can connect to, Subban says. If one network seems slow, try the other. Keep in mind that 2.4GHz typically covers a wider area but has slower speeds, while 5GHz is faster but has a shorter range than 2.4GHz.

Read more: 2.4GHz vs 5GHz: Which Wi-Fi band is right for your home?

Connect to your personal hotspot or a backup Wi-Fi system

If your Wi-Fi network drops, try using Mobile hotspot To temporarily connect to the Internet using your smartphone and cellular network. Just keep in mind that your mobile hotspot may not be as fast as your home internet for bandwidth-intensive activities.

Supan also recommends checking with your Internet service provider to see which wireless backup Wi-Fi systems are available. Some provider options, e.g Spectrum’s unbeatable Wi-Fiallows you to stay connected to the Internet in the event of a signal or Internet outage. Even though the connection may not be as strong, you will still be able to get online.

methodology

CNET commissioned the poll from YouGov Plc. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2457 adults. Fieldwork was conducted between February 2 and 4, 2026. The survey was conducted online. Figures have been weighted and represent all US adults (age 18 and older).