Why Your Phone Keeps Disconnecting From Wi-Fi (NZ Troubleshooting Guide)

When your phone keeps dropping Wi-Fi, most people assume the device is failing.
In reality, network conditions, router placement, ISP modem issues, or signal interference cause far more problems than the phone itself.
We see this every week in our Christchurch and Auckland branches.

Many customers visit us saying their phone “keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi.”
After checking their devices, we often find that the phone is fine — and the issue lies with the modem, router setup, or the home environment.
Other times, it’s a real hardware problem like antenna damage or board corrosion.

This guide helps you understand exactly where the problem is coming from before you bring your phone in for repair.

Have you experienced any of these?

YouTube suddenly pauses and switches to mobile data
Wi-Fi icon appears and disappears repeatedly
Home Wi-Fi keeps dropping but café or office Wi-Fi works fine
Wi-Fi Calling drops calls even when signal looks strong

Most people who visit us have already tried the basics:
restarting the phone, rebooting the modem, re-entering the password, even calling the ISP — but the issue still keeps happening.

This guide covers what to check next and when it becomes clear that the phone itself needs hardware inspection.

Real cases from our repair shops

Case 1: iPhone 11 — Wi-Fi works in the lounge but drops in the bedroom

The Wi-Fi disconnected every time the customer walked into a specific room.
After inspection, we found corrosion on the Wi-Fi antenna line caused by past liquid exposure.
Board repair and antenna work restored full home coverage.

Case 2: Samsung A52 — Only drops at home

The customer’s phone dropped Wi-Fi only on their home network.
Their ISP modem had 2.4GHz and 5GHz merged under a single name (Smart Wi-Fi).
The phone kept switching bands and lost the connection.
We separated the SSIDs and resolved the problem immediately.

Case 3: Galaxy S21 — Drops only near the kitchen

Wi-Fi disconnected heavily in the kitchen area.
Classic 2.4GHz interference from a microwave.
Prioritising 5GHz and adjusting the router position fixed the issue.

Case 4: Chinese import Android phone — Channel width incompatibility

The phone had trouble with NZ ISP routers using specific 40MHz/80MHz channels.
After manual channel and security adjustments (WPA2/WPA3), the connection stabilised.

Why phones keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi

The cause usually fits into four categories:

1. Router / ISP modem issues

Router placed on the floor, inside cabinets, or behind walls
Concrete or metal structures blocking the signal
Merged 2.4GHz / 5GHz causing constant band switching
Outdated firmware or ISP modem overheating

2. Home interference

Microwaves, wireless baby monitors, CCTV cameras
Only one room having problems indicates structural or interference issues

3. Phone software settings

iPhone’s Private Wi-Fi Address causing authentication issues
Battery optimisation modes disabling Wi-Fi in background
Outdated OS versions with known Wi-Fi bugs

4. Hardware issues (antenna or motherboard)

Drops, heat, liquid exposure, and corrosion all affect Wi-Fi antenna lines and RF modules.
Common symptoms include:

Only works when standing close to the router
Other phones in the house work fine
Public Wi-Fi shows similar disconnect patterns

Checklist to try at home before repair

1. Test other devices on the same Wi-Fi

If all devices drop, the issue is the router or ISP — not the phone.

2. Reboot the modem/router + check placement

Power it off for 20–30 seconds.
Move it out of cabinets and away from walls if possible.

3. Separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz (different SSID names)

Example: Home_24G and Home_5G.
2.4GHz = better distance.
5GHz = better speed and less interference.

4. Phone settings check

iPhone

Forget the network and reconnect
Disable Private Wi-Fi Address temporarily
Check for iOS updates

Android

Disable Wi-Fi power saving in battery optimisation
Update OS and manufacturer firmware

5. If your phone is the only one failing everywhere

This almost always indicates hardware issues — antenna line damage, connector issues, or board corrosion.
At this point, proper inspection is needed.

How we diagnose it at EziRepair

When you visit us, we first check your home network setup — ISP, modem type, router placement, and how other devices behave.
We only open the phone if the symptoms strongly suggest hardware failure.

Many cases turn out to be network issues and are solved without any repair.
But if we find antenna damage or board corrosion, we explain repair options, cost, and data safety before proceeding.

This helps you clearly understand whether the issue comes from the phone, the router, or the internet provider.

Phone Keeps Dropping Wi-Fi? Here’s the NZ Troubleshooting Checklist