Internet Disconnects When Playing Games? – Fool Proof Solutions!

It can get pretty annoying when your internet disconnects when playing games. Luckily we can help and have the solutions you’re looking for!

We’ve been having this exact issue for quite some time now. We discovered that it’s all about managing your internet connection.

It’s now gone after implementing these different solutions.

Let’s get into what we did.

If your internet disconnects while playing games, you want to ensure your service is active. Check your firewall and allow your game through it. You can also configure your router’s QoS to prioritize gaming and your computer.

Why Computer Disconnects from Internet When Playing Games

Whenever an issue with games occurs, there can be a variety of possible reasons. You may have a problem with your online game platform or your Internet.

Here are the most common causes, based on the feedback of gamers around the world.

1. Firewall Blocking Your Game

Windows Firewall now has advanced security features that may block certain network activities.

You may have misconfigured your Windows Firewall, causing the disconnection from your game.

2. Router QoS Settings Not Enabled

Your gaming priority may not be high on the Quality-of-Service settings. As a result, other apps will be prioritized while you might get disconnected from the game.

3. Internet Connection Issues

Your Internet may be dropping due to network congestion. Too many devices may be connected to your network, increasing bandwidth consumption.

4. Not Using A Wired Connection

WiFi is convenient, but if you want connection stability, you need to wire your computer directly to your router.

Now that you know why your computer disconnects from the Internet while playing games let us proceed to the solutions.

How to Fix Internet Keeps Disconnecting When Playing Games

When your Internet keeps disconnecting when playing games, one easy fix is to restart your router and modem.

This will refresh your network connection and hopefully fix the issue.

To restart and perform a power cycle, unplug the router first, then unplug the modem. Neither has power buttons, so pull out the power cords.

Leave them unplugged for 30 seconds. Then, plug the modem back in first, followed by the router.

Proceed to the solutions below if none of the above works.

Solution #1: Connect Your Computer using an Ethernet Cable

If you’re connecting your computer to the internet via WiFi and gaming on it, you’re going to run into issues sooner or later.

Even though WiFi has gotten more stable over the years, nothing beats a wired connection using an Ethernet cable.

As an avid gamer, you always want the best experience every time you start your favorite game.

 Eliminating internet disconnects is as easy as getting an Ethernet cable and connecting your computer to your router.

Here’s the right way to connect your computer to your router using a cable:

1. Locate the LAN port on your computer.
2. Push one end of your Ethernet cable into the port until you hear an audible click.
3. Locate one of the LAN ports on your router.
4. Connect the other end of your Ethernet cable to the port.
5. Confirm the connection by checking the icon on your computer’s status bar.

Note: You can also check the indicator lights on both your computer and router’s LAN ports to confirm the connection.

Solution #2: Allow the Game Through Your Computer’s Firewall

Your computer’s firewall acts as a safety barrier that can block suspicious connections from reaching your system.

However, the opposite is also true, where it can block your game from connecting to the internet.

If this is the case, your internet can disconnect whenever you start up your favorite game.

You don’t want to disable your firewall, as that will make you an easy target for hackers and scammers. You can configure it only to allow connections from your game.

Here’s how to allow your game through your computer’s firewall:

1. Open the Control Panel settings on your computer.
2. Select System and Security, then Windows Firewall.
3. Click on the Allow a program button.
4. Select Change Settings to make changes to your programs.
5. Locate your game and check the Public box.

Note: This is a step that you’ll usually take if you’re playing online games to allow them to access the internet without running into connectivity issues.

Solution #3: Scan Your Computer for Malware or Virus Infection

Computer malware or viruses can affect your computer’s connectivity to the internet.

One of the ways that you’ll know your computer is infected is if it consistently disconnects, whether it’s launching your favorite game or opening a certain folder.

To determine that your computer isn’t infected, scan it with anti-virus software.

Remove the malware or virus from your system to ensure that you don’t experience the same problem again.

Here’s how to scan your computer for malware and viruses:

1. Open the Windows Security settings on your computer.
2. Go to Virus and threat protection, then select Scan options.
3. Choose Windows Defender Offline scan.
4. Select Scan Now.
5. View the scan results to see if it detected any malware or virus.

Tip: Go to the Protection history to know which malware or virus affects your computer.

Solution #4: Flush Your Computer’s DNS Cache

Another reason why your internet disconnects whenever you’re playing games is your DNS.

The DNS is a sort of phonebook which matches domain names and IP addresses. A glitch or error with your DNS can result in disconnections as it.

Over time the DNS cache that’s saved on your computer is built up. There are instances when minor glitches can corrupt the entire cache.

Whenever this happens, your connections are going to be affected and can cause problems.

The quickest way to resolve a corrupt DNS cache would be to reset or flush it.

Here’s how to flush the DNS cache on your computer:

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Click on Command Prompt (Admin).
3. Type in ipconfig /flushdns, then Enter.
4. Typeipconfig /release.
5. Then, ipconfig /renew.

Pro Tip: For best results, restart your computer before launching your game.

Solution #5: Connect to Your Game Server’s Location via a VPN

Using a VPN while gaming is an option at your disposal to resolve your internet disconnection issues.

Connecting to a VPN location near your game servers can improve your connection’s stability.

You want to confirm your game server’s location before connecting to a VPN so you can select a location that’s closest to it.

Here’s how to connect to a VPN location near your game server:

1. Perform a Google search for the location of your game’s servers.
2. Open the VPN app on your computer.
3. Find the VPN server that’s near your game’s servers.
4. Select Connect.
5. Monitor if your internet continues to disconnect or not.

VPN: If you don’t have a VPN, a reliable one you can get is Atlas VPN. 

It’s fast, reliable, and has servers all around the world so that you can connect to your game’s servers.

Solution #6: Configure Your Router’s QoS Settings

Most routers come with a feature named Quality of Service or QoS. It’s a feature that prioritizes traffic on your network.

You can designate certain activities, like gaming, streaming, and video calls, so they get the most out of your bandwidth.

If you’re experiencing disconnections while playing games, it means that your router isn’t managing your network traffic the way you want it.

If someone in your home is streaming a movie or a TV show, they can hog the bandwidth.

Setting up QoS on your router will prioritize bandwidth for your games to prevent any disconnections.

Here’s how to configure your router’s QoS settings:

1. Log into your router’s admin dashboard.
2. Go to Advanced and look for QoS Setup.
3. Select Enable to turn it on.
4. Add a QoS rule prioritizing your computer.
5. Enter the bandwidth you want to set for your computer.

Note: Modern routers have simple QoS options where you select Gaming, and your router will automatically take care of it.

If none of these steps help resolve your issue, you might want to check your internet speed. Make sure that you’re getting enough bandwidth for your needs.

Upgrading your internet plan is also a quick way to improve your internet connectivity while gaming.

Bottom Line

Now you know the reasons why your internet disconnects when playing games.

You can take the necessary steps to fix the issue so you can enjoy playing your favorite games without disruptions.

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