How do I get rid of Wi-Fi dead zones?
Start by moving the router. If that is not enough, a mesh system or a wired access point usually beats a basic range extender.
A dead zone is a spot where Wi-Fi is too weak to use. Fixing it is usually a mix of better placement and, in bigger or thick-walled homes, extra coverage.
Free first
- Move the router out of cupboards and away from the floor.
- Place it as close to the middle of the home as the cabling allows.
- Point external antennas in different directions, one upright and one sideways.
Adding coverage
- Mesh systems use several units that work as one network, handing devices between them as you move.
- Wired access points connected by a network cable give the strongest result where cabling is possible.
- Range extenders are simple but can halve speeds and create a separate network name.
Placing extra units
Put each unit roughly halfway between the router and the dead zone, where signal is still decent, not inside the dead zone itself. More in the router placement guide.
Home Wi-Fi and network troubleshooting, minus the jargon