While you are trying to achieve maximum workability from the Tp-link Wifi extender at your home, you might get afflicted with issues. These can be related to the setup, network configuration, firmware update, signal performance, and more. Now, there is plenty of information available on the internet that can help you resolve the same. Important is, finding the right source of information that corresponds to the issue that you are facing. The common issue this blog will discuss is related to network connectivity. If you are facing a similar issue with your extender, you can follow the information in this blog to resolve the ‘tp-link wifi extender drops connection’ issue.
How To Troubleshoot The TP-Link WiFi Extender Connection Issue?
The said issue can be described in two ways:
- Tp-Link range extender drops connection from the main router at your home. You see the WiFi or the Signal LED flicker frequently and it doesn’t remain stable.
- The Wi-Fi or Signal LED glows but the range extender delivers an unstable network connection.
Whatever be the issue you face, there always are some troubleshooting steps you can follow. As a first and the most basic troubleshooting step, you can reboot your extender and the main router so any bugs that might be causing the network connection to fluctuate can be cleared. Once you have restarted your extender devices, you can resume back to using the internet. Simply connect the extender to the main router network again and you can get started with your online chores in no time.
Additional troubleshooting steps you can follow at all times
While restarting or power-cycling your tp-link wifi extender can help resolve a majority of issues, sometimes, advanced troubleshooting will require you to follow a different approach. Here are some steps you can follow to resolve the ‘tp-link wifi extender drops connection’ issue that you are facing:
Internet connection on your router
Ensure that the wifi network on your main router is stable and is working fine. Also confirm if the internet connection at your end is active. Check if the subscription has expired, and is that what’s the reason you are unable to access the internet. There also are chances that the server at your ISPs end is down. Check to see if that’s the case and you’ll need to wait till the services resume.
Firmware Version on your extender
Outdated firmware can cause issues not only with the wireless coverage, and internet connection but also the hardware performance. You can experience frequent downtimes, device overheating, compromised information security, and degraded signal coverage like issues. Whenever you notice that the tp-link wifi extender drops connection, it is likely to be an issue with the firmware.
Login to the tp-link extender setup wizard and check what firmware version you are on. Now, visit the official support page on the Linksys website and correspond to the latest firmware information. If an update is available, download the same and upload it to the device. Once you have updated the firmware version, you will notice an improvement in the signal quality as well as other parameters automatically.
Change advanced settings to match your networking needs
Check the network configuration settings you are on. Log in to your main router’s settings wizard and disable the WiFi optimising, Band-Steering(Smart Connect) like features if they have been activated. You can fix unstable connections with your extender by changing the main router’s advanced settings. Also try a different WiFi channel on your device. You can select a less crowded channel for your extender to work on. This will boost the internet speeds and facilitate high-speed data connections seamlessly. If you are on the 2.4GHz band, you can shift to the 5GHz network band which is considered the least crowded.
Alternative ways to resolve the TP-Link wifi extender issue
While the steps discussed above can always be referred to, you can also follow some advanced troubleshooting measures to keep issues at bay. Follow the steps as mentioned:
Scenario 1: WiFi/Signal LED stays ON but no internet
Enable the tp-link range extender’s DHCP server by logging in to the extender settings management wizard. You can then set a static IP and smaller IP address pool for the range extender. Save the settings and restart your extender once.
Scenario 2: WiFi/Signal LED goes off
Move your range extender closer to the main router. The issue can likely be with the coverage that the extender is able to receive. You can take help from coverage finder apps to find the most appropriate location for your device to install.