It's irritating and confusing when there are several people in a room, quietly watching a video or working online, while one user is stuck with page after page in a state of endless loading.
It would seem that if the router distributes the Internet and the signal is received, then the problem should be global, but the reality is that local failures occur much more frequently than equipment breakdowns.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the technical reasons why Wi-Fi We work selectively and provide a step-by-step action plan to restore the connection without calling a technician.
IP address conflicts and DHCP server errors
One of the most common reasons why the network is available but data is not transmitted is duplicate IP addresses on the local network.
Each device connecting to the router is assigned a unique digital identifier, and if for some reason two gadgets receive the same address, a conflict occurs, blocking traffic for one of them.
This often happens after the router has been running for a long time without rebooting, or after a sudden power outage, when the mapping table in the router's memory becomes corrupted.
To resolve the issue, you need to force a reset of the network settings on the affected device so that it requests a new ID from the distributing equipment.
⚠️ Attention: If you manually entered a static IP address in the network card settings, make sure that it does not fall within the range of addresses that the router automatically assigns (usually this is a pool from .100 to .200).
In some cases, clearing the DNS cache can help, as the device may be trying to access the wrong gateway.
You can perform a reset via the command line by entering the command ipconfig /release, and then ipconfig /renew to obtain fresh parameters.
It is also worth checking if the function is enabled static IP in the Wi-Fi adapter settings, which may conflict with dynamic address allocation.
How to find your IP address in Windows?
Open the command prompt (cmd) and enter "ipconfig." Find the "IPv4 Address" line in the section for your wireless adapter.
Problems with adapter drivers and software
Often, the root of the problem lies not in the router, but in the software of the device itself, which is unable to connect to the Internet.
Wireless module drivers may be outdated, damaged after an operating system update, or simply contain errors that cause unstable operation.
This is especially true for laptops, where manufacturers often use their own modifications of network cards from Realtek or Intel.
- 🔄 Try uninstalling the current driver through Device Manager and reinstalling it.
- ⚙️ Roll back the driver to the previous version if the problem appeared after an automatic update.
- 🔌 Temporarily disable the power saving function for the Wi-Fi module in the hardware properties.
Sometimes antivirus software or firewall software may block a connection because it is considered suspicious, even if other devices are working fine.
Check your security settings and try temporarily disabling protection to eliminate this factor.
Don't forget that in the operating system Windows 10/11 There is a "Network Reset" function that returns all network components to factory settings.
Channel congestion and radio interference
Wi-Fi signals travel via radio waves, and in apartment buildings, the airwaves are often overloaded with signals from neighboring routers.
If your device is trying to work on a channel that is heavily loaded with neighbors, the speed may drop to almost zero, while other gadgets using less loaded frequencies work stably.
This is especially true for the range 2.4 GHz, where only a few non-overlapping channels are available.
Devices with older or cheaper Wi-Fi modules are less able to filter out interference and may lose data packets.
Modern routers can automatically select the best channel, but this function does not always work correctly.
It is recommended to manually switch the router to channel 1, 6 or 11, after checking the airtime load using special applications on your smartphone.
It's also worth considering household appliances: microwave ovens and baby monitors can create powerful interference while they're operating.
Bandwidth limits and priorities (QoS)
Many modern routers are equipped with a function QoS (Quality of Service), which allows you to prioritize traffic for specific devices or applications.
It's possible that the router settings accidentally or intentionally set a speed limit for the specific MAC address of the problematic device.
This is often done by parents to restrict children's access to games or video services, but can be configured incorrectly.
Check the Bandwidth Control or Parental Control section of your router settings.
| Parameter | Impact on speed | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Download limit | Limits download speed | QoS Settings / Parental Controls |
| Upload limit | Affects file download speed | QoS/Bandwidth settings |
| Device priority | Gives the device a "green light" | Client List / Priority |
If limits are set, the device will see the network, but data transfer will be extremely slow or stop altogether.
It's also worth checking whether there are any background processes running on the device itself, such as a system update or cloud synchronization, that are consuming all the bandwidth.
⚠️ Attention: Router interfaces from different manufacturers (Keenetic, TP-Link, Asus) vary greatly. Look for sections labeled "Control," "Limit," "Priority," or "Bandwidth."
Incompatibility of encryption standards and frequencies
The problem may be due to a mismatch in security protocols between the router and the client device.
If the router is configured to operate in wireless mode only WPA3, and the old device only supports WPA2, the connection may occur, but will be blocked.
A similar situation arises with frequency bands: if a device is dual-band, but is stuck on the congested 2.4 GHz band while others are working on the fast 5 GHz band, the difference in speed will be colossal.
- 📡 Try temporarily changing the encryption type on your router to mixed (WPA2/WPA3 Mixed).
- 📶 Separate the network names for 2.4 and 5 GHz to force the device to connect to the desired frequency.
- 🔒 Make sure the date and time are set correctly on your device, as time errors can break security certificates.
Often, forgetting the network on the device and re-entering the password helps, which forces the gadget to go through the protocol negotiation procedure again.
In rare cases, changing the channel width in the router settings from automatic to fixed (20 MHz or 40 MHz) helps.
☑️ Connection diagnostics
Hardware failures and physical factors
It is also possible that the Wi-Fi module in the device itself is physically degraded, causing the pages to not load.
Antennas inside smartphones and laptops can become detached from the board when dropped, or the chip itself can overheat and lose sensitivity.
If your device is located further away from the router than others, or behind a thick concrete wall, the signal strength may be sufficient for connection, but not sufficient for stable data exchange.
Try bringing the problematic device close to the router: if the internet connection appears, then the problem is with the signal strength or receiver sensitivity.
It's also worth checking whether the device is wearing a case with a metallic coating or a magnetic cover, which could shield the signal.
In the case of desktop PCs with USB adapters, the problem often lies in the USB port itself, which does not provide sufficient power.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does rebooting the router often help?
A reboot clears the device's RAM, resets frozen processes, and forces the router to rescan the airwaves to select the least congested channel.
Can a virus on one device slow down the entire Wi-Fi network?
Yes, if an infected device is caught in a botnet and actively sending spam or participating in DDoS attacks, it can clog up the entire communication channel, preventing other devices from working.
What to do if the Internet doesn't work only on your phone?
First, try disabling your mobile data plan, forgetting the Wi-Fi network, restarting your phone, and then reconnecting. Also, check if "Data Saver" mode is enabled.
Does the number of connected devices affect the speed of one?
Yes, the bandwidth is shared among all active users. If one user is downloading torrents, the others may not have enough speed, even if the router is powerful.