Why does my Wi-Fi drop only when the microwave is on?

Your Wi‑Fi drops when the microwave is running because microwave ovens can interfere with 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi. A microwave oven typically operates around 2.45 GHz, which is very close to the 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi band, so leakage from the oven can add noise and make the Wi‑Fi signal harder to decode. This is most noticeable if the router is close to the kitchen, the signal is already weak, or the microwave is old or poorly shielded.

A few practical fixes:

1. Use 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi‑Fi if your devices support it. Those bands are much less likely to be affected by microwave interference than 2.4 GHz.
2. Move the router and microwave farther apart if possible.
3. On 2.4 GHz, try a cleaner channel such as 1, 6, or 11. This may help with general congestion, though it won’t remove microwave interference entirely.
4. If the problem suddenly gets worse, check the microwave. A door that doesn’t close well, damaged latches, or worn seals can increase leakage and should be serviced or replaced.

One correction: switching to 5 GHz or 6 GHz usually reduces or avoids this problem, but it’s not accurate to say it completely bypasses interference in every case. It just makes the issue much less likely. Also, Wi‑Fi routers transmit at much lower power than microwave ovens, so even a small amount of microwave leakage can be enough to cause trouble on 2.4 GHz.

If the disconnects happen only while the microwave is actively running, interference is the most likely cause.