Your Guide To Fix Wireless Interference with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Wireless internet and connections have most definitely made our lives so much easier. From cordless phones to wireless chargers and earpieces, everything seems to be following a trend. Wireless is the future. Anyone can see that much! However, as easy as our lives have become with wireless gadgets and devices, nothing is perfect. No matter what model of the iPhone you have, you may still be facing some issues like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interference. This is basically wireless interference.

Wireless interference has become a constant issue with many people, unfortunately. Most people don’t even realize that they are facing this problem since they don’t know the indications. So today, this is what our blog is focusing on. We will talk about the telltale signs of wireless interference and then we will discuss how you can avoid or fix this problem.

How Do You Detect Interference?

Sometimes we confuse internet connectivity problems with wireless interference problems and vice versa. It’s totally understandable since the signs for both of them can be quite similar. So, let’s take a look at some of the most prominent or obvious signs and see how we can best differentiate.

Slow Internet Speeds

If your internet speed is slower than usual, then it is possible that there is some interference with Bluetooth. Since Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi devices both use and compete for the same frequencies to communicate, this could cause interference with either of them. Naturally, this distorts the connection and can slow down your internet speed.

Impacted Range

If you are experiencing wireless interference issues, then you will also experience issues with connectivity more often. This means that your devices will keep disconnecting from the internet and then they will take a while to reconnect once again. Sometimes, the interference will be so bad that your devices won’t reconnect unless you are sitting close to the modem or router.

Intermittent Connection Issues

Experiencing connectivity issues has been brought up before and we have mentioned it here again because it is a crucial sign. Keep in mind that you won’t just experience issues with your internet connectivity, but the same problem applies to your Bluetooth connections. Your devices will keep losing connection and then reconnecting and the cycle goes on. The more devices you have and the more connections you make, the higher the connectivity issues.

Bluetooth Communication Lag

Another telltale sign of wireless interference is the communication lag between your Bluetooth devices. For example, if you are using your Bluetooth gamepad, you will notice a delay in input and reaction on screen. This can obviously cause problems − especially if it was at critical moments like during conferences, gaming, etc. 

Bluetooth Audio Issues

If you notice any problem with the audio, like when using Bluetooth headphones, then that is another telltale sign. Maybe your audio is too delayed or very choppy and incomprehensible while gaming, streaming a movie, or some music. This can be irritating and also very inconvenient.

Network Issue Alerts

You will most probably be informed of wireless interference by your network. How is that so? Your network will sense that there is some sort of interference, most likely interference with Bluetooth devices or signals, and they will notify you. You might even have gotten a message like that regarding an unstable connection.

Sources Of Interference

Knowing the signs of interference, the next thing you should learn about is the source of interference. Well, there are multiple sources of wireless interference. The most common ones are as mentioned below:

How Can You Stop Interference?

Let’s take a look at how you can fix and/or avoid interference problems now!

Switch to a 5 GHz Frequency Band

One of the easiest ways to resolve this issue is by switching the frequency band from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz. The 5 GHz band is made to resist interference and so, it should not be a problem if you just switch to the new one. You will find this option in dual-band routers so if you don’t have one, we recommend that you get one. With this new router, you will notice many other improvements aside from no interference.

Change the Channel for the 2.4 GHz Frequency Band

If you don’t want to or can’t afford to get a new dual-band router and wish to stay with your current one, then you can make something of that too. You should just change the channel of your 2.4 GHz frequency band. Our advice: Use channels 1, 6, or 11 as these are mostly non-overlapping. Note that some routers might label their channels as 1, 6, and 11, while others may have them labeled as 2.4.1, 2.4.6, and 2.4.11 GHz.

Reconnect All Your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Devices

If changing the channels and frequency band did nothing, you might want to disconnect all your devices, whether connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and then reconnect them. This will refresh the connection and if there were any underlying issues, then you will be rid of them. You can also just choose to restart the router.

Update Your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Hardware

Reduce interference by keeping your devices updated. Whatever software or firmware updates are required, you should make sure to install them right away so that your devices are in the best condition. If your device is too old, you will need to buy a newer updated device to keep up with the latest connections and technology. You should also check if your device is compatible before purchasing it.

Change the Router’s Location

Bluetooth and the router don’t exactly go hand-in-hand and thus, they shouldn’t be placed close together. While interference can even happen when devices are placed further apart, it just gets worse when placed closely. So, make sure that they are not placed together and try to put a significant distance between them. Additionally, you should also make sure that no other devices that can cause interference are placed close by too, like a microwave.

In Short

You have learned the reason for interference and you know the telltale signs of interference as well. So, that means you know how you can identify if you are facing any issues with wireless interference. After that, we discussed the sources briefly and then moved on to how you can fix the interference problem. And with this, we come to an end!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can Bluetooth cause Wi-Fi interference?

Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi use the same 2.4 GHz frequency to communicate with other devices. This is the reason they can cause wireless interference together. To be precise, they can overlap each other and then cause interference or disruption.

How do I get rid of Wi-Fi interference?

You can get rid of interference by changing your router position, changing your Wi-Fi frequency, using Ethernet cables, and changing the frequency’s channel among many others.

Why Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are not working together?

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi use the same 2.4 GHz frequency to connect with other devices, which is why they can cause major interference issues for each other. You might notice that your devices keep disconnecting and then reconnecting and so on because of this problem.