How to Fix Wi-Fi Disconnecting When You Lock Windows 10

If Wi-Fi disconnects whenever you lock your Windows 10 PC, first determine whether the connection drops at the moment you press Win+L or only after the computer later enters sleep. Locking the screen by itself should not require Wi-Fi to disconnect. In most cases, the problem is caused by a wireless adapter power setting, a power plan, or sleep behavior rather than the lock screen itself.

Start with the power-management fixes below. Microsoft includes both adapter power management and the Wireless Adapter power plan among its recommended steps for frequent Wi-Fi drops. See Microsoft's Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide.

1. Stop Windows from powering down the Wi-Fi adapter

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your wireless adapter and choose Properties.
4. Open the Power Management tab.
5. Clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, then click OK.

This is the best first fix when Wi-Fi disappears after the screen is locked or after the PC sits idle. If your adapter does not show a Power Management tab, skip to the next method; the available controls depend on the adapter and driver.

2. Set the wireless power plan to Maximum Performance

Windows can also reduce wireless power through the active power plan. Microsoft recommends setting the wireless adapter's power-saving mode to Maximum Performance when the connection drops frequently.

1. Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
2. Next to the active plan, click Change plan settings.
3. Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Expand Wireless Adapter Settings > Power Saving Mode.
5. Set On battery and Plugged in to Maximum Performance, then apply the change.

Maximum Performance can use more battery power on a laptop, so you can test it first on battery and change it back later if it does not affect the disconnects.

3. If the disconnect happens during sleep, check the sleep network setting

If Wi-Fi remains connected immediately after Win+L but drops after the display turns off or the PC sleeps, you are dealing with sleep behavior rather than a lock-screen bug.

On some Windows 10 PCs, go to Settings > System > Power & sleep. If you see When my PC is asleep and on battery power, disconnect from the network, choose Never when you need networking to stay available during sleep.

This option is not available on every PC. Microsoft notes that newer Modern Standby systems use Windows-managed networking behavior, and the older standby-connectivity setting was deprecated starting with Windows 10 version 2004. On Modern Standby hardware, Windows may deliberately reduce network activity during sleep to save power and reconnect when the system resumes. Read Microsoft's Modern Standby network connectivity documentation for the current behavior.

Because of that change, avoid registry edits that merely expose old hidden sleep options. The registry method commonly suggested in older guides does not directly fix Wi-Fi adapter power management and is not the preferred first-line solution.

4. Update or reinstall the Wi-Fi driver

If the issue started after a driver or Windows update, install the newest Wi-Fi driver supplied for your exact PC or adapter model. You can also uninstall the wireless adapter in Device Manager and restart Windows so the adapter is detected again. Before uninstalling, download a backup driver from the PC or Wi-Fi adapter manufacturer in case Windows cannot restore it automatically.

5. Run the troubleshooter, then use Network reset only if needed

For Windows 10, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status and run Network troubleshooter. If the connection still breaks, use Network reset as a last resort. Microsoft says Network reset removes installed network adapters and reinstalls them with default settings after restart.

Be aware that Network reset can require you to reinstall or reconfigure VPN software, Hyper-V virtual switches, and other networking tools.

Lock vs. sleep: what your symptom tells you

• Wi-Fi drops immediately after Win+L: focus on the Wi-Fi adapter driver and power-management settings.
• Wi-Fi drops only after a sleep timeout or lid close: check sleep settings and Modern Standby behavior.
• Wi-Fi also drops while you are actively using the PC: treat it as a broader Wi-Fi problem, including driver, router, interference, or signal issues.

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. The operating system still runs, but standard security updates and technical support have ended. If you continue using Windows 10, review Microsoft's Windows 10 end-of-support options, including Extended Security Updates where available, or upgrade to a supported Windows version.