The WiFi is fine on the sofa and hopeless in the bedroom. Or it works downstairs and drops the moment you go into the back garden. Dead spots are very common in homes and flats across Neasden, Willesden, Wembley and the rest of London. The good news is that they are usually fixable without buying anything expensive.
Why dead spots happen
WiFi is radio, and radio gets weaker with distance and with whatever is in the way. The usual culprits are:
- Thick walls and floors. Solid brick, concrete floors and older plastered walls absorb a lot of signal. Many modern flats also use metal-backed insulation and foil-faced materials, which can block it further.
- Router in the wrong place. Internet providers often install the router where the cable enters the house, which is rarely the middle. A router in a cupboard, behind the TV or at the front door is wasting its signal.
- Interference. Microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, fish tanks and, in flats, dozens of neighbours' networks all compete for the same airwaves.
- An old router. Routers supplied years ago may only support older, slower WiFi standards.
Fix 1: move the router
This is free and surprisingly effective. Put the router as central as you can, up off the floor (a shelf is ideal), out in the open and away from metal objects and the microwave. If the broadband socket is in an awkward corner, a longer cable between the socket and the router often allows a better position.
Fix 2: pick the right band
Most routers broadcast on two bands. The 2.4GHz band travels further and goes through walls better, but is slower and more crowded. The 5GHz band is faster and less crowded, but weaker through walls. For a device in a distant room, 2.4GHz may actually give a steadier connection. For a laptop in the same room as the router, use 5GHz. Many routers merge the two under one name, and you can usually split them in the router settings if you want control.
Fix 3: restart and update
Switch the router off for 30 seconds and back on. Check that it has the latest firmware, as updates fix performance and security problems. If your router is more than five or six years old, ask your provider about a newer one, which is often free if you are in contract.
Fix 4: mesh WiFi, rather than extenders
Plug-in range extenders are cheap, but they repeat the signal and often halve the speed. A mesh system uses several matching units that work as one network, so your phone moves between them smoothly. Mesh works well in bigger houses and in awkward layouts, such as a long terrace or a multi-floor home. For the best results, connect the units by cable where you can, or place each unit roughly halfway between the router and the dead spot, not in the dead spot itself.
Fix 5: use a cable where it matters
For a desk, a games console or a TV that streams a lot, a wired connection is more reliable than any WiFi. If running a cable is not practical, a powerline adapter, which sends data through your electrical wiring, can work in some homes, though results vary with the age and condition of the wiring. The best long-term fix is a network cable to a second access point upstairs or in the garden office.
How to test properly
Before and after you change anything, run a speed test on your phone in each problem room and note the results. If the speed is fine when you stand next to the router but poor elsewhere, it is a coverage problem. If it is poor everywhere, even wired, the problem may be your broadband line or provider, which is a different fix.
When to get help
If you have tried these and the signal is still patchy, a proper survey will find the cause faster than guessing. Our WiFi audit is normally £95 and £75 during our Halloween sale, which runs until 31 December 2026. It includes a survey, a signal map and a written recommendation. Any equipment is quoted separately before we buy or fit it. Learn more on our WiFi setup page.
We come to you across London, including Neasden, Willesden, Wembley and nearby, so we can check the actual rooms and walls rather than guess over the phone. If dodgy connections are also making your devices run slowly, our slow laptop checklist covers the other half of the problem.
We also visit Kilburn, Golders Green, Cricklewood and the rest of our London coverage area. To arrange a visit, send us a message or call 07766 760516.