Netgear Router — Connection Keeps Dropping

What Does This Error Mean?

If your Netgear router keeps dropping the internet connection every few minutes or hours, it is one of the most frustrating home network issues. The connection drops can come from the router itself, your modem, your internet provider, or even the Wi-Fi settings. Working through the causes one by one usually finds the fix.

Affected Models

Netgear Nighthawk Series
Netgear Orbi
Netgear R7000
Netgear R6400
Most Netgear home routers

Common Causes

The router is overheating and throttling or resetting its connection
The modem is losing its connection to the internet provider intermittently
Wi-Fi interference from neighbouring networks or household devices like microwaves
The router's firmware has a stability bug causing periodic resets
The internet cable or modem has a loose or degraded connection

How to Fix It

Check whether the router is warm. If it is very hot, move it to a cooler, more open location with space around all sides.

Overheating is one of the most common causes of random connection drops.
Update the router's firmware. Log into routerlogin.net and go to Advanced > Administration > Firmware Update.

Firmware updates regularly include stability fixes for connection drop issues.
Log into routerlogin.net and go to Wireless Settings. Change the Wi-Fi channel. Try channel 1, 6, or 11 for 2.4 GHz networks.

Your neighbours' routers may be on the same channel, causing interference. Switching channels can dramatically improve stability.
Check all the cables between your modem and router, and between your modem and the wall. Unplug and firmly reseat every connection.

A slightly loose cable can cause intermittent drops that are very difficult to diagnose without physically checking.
Set a schedule to automatically restart the router once a week. Log into routerlogin.net and look for Advanced > Administration > Schedule.

Regular restarts clear accumulated memory and prevent slowdowns that lead to drops.

When to Call a Professional

If drops happen at the same time every day, your internet provider likely has a line fault or signal issue. Call them and describe the pattern — intermittent drops at regular times are a strong indicator of a provider-side issue. Ask them to send a technician to check the line coming into your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if the drops are from the router or from my internet provider?

Connect a computer directly to your modem with an ethernet cable, bypassing the router entirely. If the drops stop, the router is the problem. If the drops continue, the issue is with your modem or internet provider. This simple test quickly tells you which device to focus on.

My connection drops mainly when using the microwave. Is that normal?

Yes — this is a very common issue. Microwaves operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is the same as many Wi-Fi networks. Using the microwave can interfere with the Wi-Fi signal and cause brief drops. To fix this, switch your devices to the 5 GHz band in your router settings, or move the router away from the kitchen.

My connection drops at the same time every evening. What is causing that?

This pattern strongly suggests your internet provider is experiencing peak-hour congestion. Many providers slow down or become unstable in the evening when many customers are online. Call your provider and report the pattern — they can investigate the local node. Switching to a different internet plan or provider may be the only long-term fix.