Wireless routers are flexible, easy to set up, and offer exceptional wi-fi range.
This is assuming your wireless router is new and hasn’t started to wear down. A lot of users don’t realize how much aging can impact a wireless router until they start noticing a drop in performance.
You are often left wondering, can wireless routers go bad?
Wireless routers can go bad. Common signs of a failing wireless router include lagging, connectivity issues, excessive noise, overheating, and/or general aging. It’s recommended to change your wireless router every 2-3 years to avoid a drop in performance.
It’s normal to forget about the wireless router until it is too late.
This is why you need to pay attention to the symptoms of a bad wireless router. This is the best way to remain on top of things and ensure it doesn’t get to the point where your router doesn’t connect at all.
This article will highlight the main signs of a wireless router going bad and what to do when this happens.
Table of Contents
Signs Your Wireless Router Is Going Bad
1. Lagging and/or Connection Issues
The average life of a wireless router is going to be 4-5 years.
This means you are going to want to pay attention to the aging wireless router as soon as it gets closer to its last days. If not, you will end up with a wireless router that doesn’t work properly.
The one sign you will notice will be the connectivity issues.
Let’s assume you want to connect to the wireless router and attempt to do so with your laptop. You will begin to notice lag. This means the connection will become unstable.
It will connect sometimes and disconnect randomly.
This is frustrating and it can lead to a situation where you are unsure about when the wireless router is going to work and when it won’t.
This is a clear-cut sign there is something wrong with the router. Of course, this doesn’t automatically mean the wireless router is about to fade away. Instead, it might be a connectivity issue due to interference and/or bad settings.
This is why you should look for some of the other signs listed in this article too.
2. Excessive Noise
You will also notice excessive noise with a bad wireless router.
This means the router is going to start making a whirring noise whenever it is running. This happens when the router is attempting to keep itself at a stable temperature and it can’t because of the overloading on its components.
This happens when the router is attempting to overcompensate for its inability to perform at a stable level.
It could be due to one of the components starting to die out or the settings getting mixed up.
Your best option is to first check the settings and then consider changing the wireless router. The excessive noise is an immediate sign the router is not in a good state in its current situation.
3. Decreasing Wi-Fi Range
Is your wi-fi range not the same as it used to be?
This could be something as simple as not being able to connect to the router from certain rooms.
If you were able to connect from your bedroom in the past but can’t seem to do so now, this means the wireless router is losing its efficiency. It is a common sign of a bad wireless router that is about to die.
4. Overheating
You might also notice overheating with an expiring wireless router.
This happens because the fan has to work overtime just to maintain performance. When one or more of the internal components begin to fade, it’s common for the overheating to begin.
The fan has to activate inside the wireless router to make sure things don’t get to the point where the wireless router dies. It is a last-ditch effort by the router to make sure it keeps working.
This is why you should already be on the hunt for a wireless router at this point.
5. Over 5 Years Old
This is also a detail to think about when it comes to your router.
Is it starting to cross the five-year mark?
If you got the wireless router from your ISP then it’s time to see if you can get it upgraded. This is a real issue people have because the ISPs tend to upgrade their technology and that leads to the older wireless routers aging out.
You will want to get it changed if that is the case.
The longer you wait, the worse your connectivity is going to get. It’s best to be proactive when it comes to this type of scenario.
How Long Do Wireless Routers Last?
Wireless routers tend to last 4-5 years before they begin to show signs of overheating, excessive noise, lagging, and/or poor connectivity. It’s best to change the wireless router before it gets to this point.
If you don’t take the time to change the wireless router, it will continue to worsen.
This includes not being able to maintain the range that it did in the past. You are better off being proactive and ensuring you change the wireless router before it gets to the point where it doesn’t work at all.
How Often Should You Replace Your Wireless Router?
It is recommended to replace your wireless router every 2-3 years. This ensures it doesn’t overheat, make too much noise, or see a decrease in wi-fi range. Most ISPs will also recommend upgrading the wireless router during this date.
You don’t want to push the wireless router to the point where it crosses the five-year mark.
This is when most wireless routers are going to begin aging out and underperforming. While it might still work, it will not get to the 100% mark as you might want.
It’s best to take action and make sure you remain on top of this before things get worse.
Final Thoughts
Can wireless routers go bad?
Wireless routers can go bad. Some of the signs to look for with a bad wireless router would be excessive noise, overheating, a decreasing wi-fi range, poor connectivity issues, and/or lagging. It’s best to change the wireless router within 2-3 years.
This will ensure the connection doesn’t drop and you continue to see the results you’re after as a user.
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