Share via

My Wi-Fi signal is too weak even if next to the router.

Anonymous
2023-06-17T20:34:52+00:00

Hello,

I got a problem in my laptop that seems very common, but I couldn't fix after many tries. My Wi-Fi signal is very weak, even though it is less than a meter from the router. I got some similar problems months ago, which were uncommon: first, when I was using my laptop, the internet connection shutted down randomly several times. I tried to restart the PC and it sometimes solved the problem. It kept repeating and I got enough of it, so I decided to search for answers on Google, and it said there was a problem with wireless adapter, and I had to update it in device manager, it worked! But two weeks ago, the problem got bigger, and I tried to update my wireless adapter again (Realtek 8821CU Wireless LAN 802.11ac USB NIC, ver. 18/10/2022) and my Wi-Fi connection keeps shutting down, and when it gets active, the signal is too low (just 2 bars). I can't update my PC to Windows 11 because it does not have the necessary requirements.

Before that happened, I could join my online classes in my room upstairs, and now I have to stay in living room, very next to the router so my PC can be able to connect. And I know the problem is not because "there are too many devices connected", because all of them got very high signal, even my brother's PC (that is older than mine and has Windows 10) connects with full 5g signal, and when all of them are turned off, the internet increases just a little (from 2 bars to 3 bars). The problem is not caused because "there are too many tabs or apps running", because I always use an app or tab at time. And when I do a diagnosis on my troubeshooter, it says everything is running correctly. I watched some YouTube tech tutorials that said to configure the driver, uninstall some previous Windows updates, open promt command and enter netsh winsock commands but all of those tries have faied. I even bought a wireless repeater, and the signal still low (average of 2,7mbps). Sometimes I'm playing online games, they run well for about 5 minutes and then they lag, and disconnect.

At this point I don't know what to do to fix this issue and restore the strong signal (I don't want to pay €80 to a repairman)! I will be thankful for all the replies and help that I can get.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

6 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Reza-Ameri 45,806 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-06-17T21:30:13+00:00

    Are you facing the similar issue with other devices?

    Try open start and search for feedback and open the Feedback Hub app and report this issue?

    What is the device manufacturer of your PC?

    Have you tried restarting your router?

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-19T19:17:14+00:00
    1. No, none of my other devices have similar issues
    2. I reported the issue on Feedback Hub and I`m waiting for a reply
    3. KUU (Chinese manufacturer)
    4. Restarting the router were one of my first tries to fix the issue, and it didn`t work. I restarted it like 5 times to be sure

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. franco d'esaro 24,991 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-06-19T20:39:47+00:00

    When using the external USB WiFi adapter, try keeping the internal one disabled and see if the situation improves.

    Otherwise you can try to move the adapter to another usb port of the laptop or go to the adapter manufacturer's support and drivers area and download the latest driver available for your adapter model.

    Go to the advanced properties of the Realtek 8821CU Wireless LAN 802.11ac USB NIC adapter, select Wireless Mode, expand the Value drop-down menu, highlight the current setting and post the screenshot.

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-19T19:26:47+00:00

    Hello again,

    I use an USB WiFi adapter because the built-in network card has the issues I told. But even with the USB adapter the connection still bad unfortunately. About the adapter, I installed it in my brother`s laptop and it works better.

    Sometimes I use my laptop when charging, but I have seen no differences in the WiFi when its charging and when its not.

    I took an screenshot of the advanced properties of the adapter for you:Image

    0 comments
  5. franco d'esaro 24,991 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-06-17T21:49:13+00:00

    Hi,

    if you have a laptop why do you use an external USB WiFi adapter instead of the built-in wireless network card?

    Try moving that adapter, Realtek 8821CU Wireless LAN 802.11ac USB NIC to another computer and see if the problem still occurs or not.

    Keep your laptop powered by an electrical source when you connect to WiFi.

    Go to the advanced properties of the WiFi adapter, post a complete screenshot of the list of all available properties of the adapter.

    0 comments