[SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

z5kb · 2026-01-26 23:44:14

My WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted every ~5-15 minutes (different each time). The connection to the router itself is stable but it looks like the computer "stops communicating" with the router for some reason (e.g. I am connected to the router itself but there is no internet). If I disconnect and reconnect to the network the problem gets fixed until after 5-15 minutes when the same thing happens again. If I do not manually reconnect to the network, the internet starts working again after 0.5-2 mins (different each time).

This started happening around the beginning of January after I did a full system update. I looked through the packages which were updated and tried downgrading linux-firmware-realtek, linux-firmware-broadcom & linux-firmware-mediatek, to no avail. I also looked through the settings of my router but couldn't find anything suspicious.

Apart from that, I checked if I have more than 1 network service running since I was messing around some time ago trying out different network servers/services (I tried systemd-networkd; don't remeber if I tried any others). It seems like the only one which I have running currently is NetworkManager:

$ systemctl list-unit-files | grep enabled
...
NetworkManager-dispatcher.service            enabled         disabled
NetworkManager-wait-online.service           enabled         disabled
NetworkManager.service                       enabled         disabled
...
systemd-network-generator.service            disabled        enabled
systemd-networkd-wait-online.service         disabled        enabled
systemd-networkd.service                     disabled        enabled
...

I don't have any other ideas left. Any help is appreciated.

Edit: In case it matters, I'm using Archer TX20E for WiFi & Bluetooth since I'm on a desktop PC.

Last edited by z5kb (2026-02-06 01:37:48)

twelveeighty · 2026-01-27 14:48:04

What is in your journal around (and just before) the time that the Wifi drops?

z5kb · 2026-01-27 16:56:46

I tried checking the journalctl logs by opening a live session for NetworkManager:

journalctl -u NetworkManager -f

No logs were logged. I also tried checking all "wifi" logs as well as the wpa_supplicant logs - same result.

journalctl -b | grep -i wifi
journalctl -u wpa_supplicant -b

After the issue got resolved by itself (it took 10-15 seconds this time), I reconnected to the network manually and got the logs for that in case they're helpful (these logs are from the NetworkManager "live session"):

Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.7974] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: activated -> deactivating (reason 'user-requested', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.7976] manager: NetworkManager state is now DISCONNECTING
Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.7982] audit: op="device-disconnect" interface="<wireless-device-name>" ifindex=3 pid=2268 uid=1000 result="success"
Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.8033] audit: op="statistics" interface="<wireless-device-name>" ifindex=3 args="0" pid=2268 uid=1000 result="success"
Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.9653] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: deactivating -> disconnected (reason 'user-requested', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.9656] dhcp4 (<wireless-device-name>): canceled DHCP transaction
Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.9656] dhcp4 (<wireless-device-name>): activation: beginning transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
Jan 27 18:33:41 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531621.9656] dhcp4 (<wireless-device-name>): state changed no lease
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.0042] device (<wireless-device-name>): set-hw-addr: set MAC address to <mac_address_1> (scanning)
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.1181] manager: NetworkManager state is now DISCONNECTED
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.1185] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: completed -> disconnected
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.1185] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: completed -> disconnected
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.1188] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> interface_disabled
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.1188] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> interface_disabled
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.1232] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: interface_disabled -> disconnected
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.1232] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: interface_disabled -> disconnected
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.2558] device (<wireless-device-name>): Activation: starting connection '<wireless_network_name>' (57a6021c-a8c8-42cf-9546-006437d72fba)
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.2559] audit: op="connection-activate" uuid="57a6021c-a8c8-42cf-9546-006437d72fba" name="<wireless_network_name>" pid=2268 uid=1000 result="success"
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.2560] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.2561] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTING
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.2683] device (<wireless-device-name>): set-hw-addr: reset MAC address to <mac_address_2> (preserve)
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3829] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3831] device (<wireless-device-name>): Activation: (wifi) access point '<wireless_network_name>' has security, but secrets are required.
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3831] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: config -> need-auth (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3834] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> interface_disabled
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3834] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> interface_disabled
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3886] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: need-auth -> prepare (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3887] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3888] device (<wireless-device-name>): Activation: (wifi) connection '<wireless_network_name>' has security, and secrets exist.  No new secrets needed.
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3889] Config: added 'ssid' value '<wireless_network_name>'
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3889] Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1'
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3889] Config: added 'bgscan' value 'simple:30:-70:86400'
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3889] Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'WPA-PSK WPA-PSK-SHA256 FT-PSK SAE FT-SAE'
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3889] Config: added 'psk' value '<hidden>'
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3894] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: interface_disabled -> disconnected
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.3894] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: interface_disabled -> disconnected
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.5797] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> authenticating
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.5797] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> authenticating
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.5804] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> associating
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.5804] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: authenticating -> associating
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.7184] device (<wireless-device-name>): supplicant interface state: associating -> completed
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.7184] device (<wireless-device-name>): Activation: (wifi) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful. Connected to wireless network "<wireless_network_name>"
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.7184] device (p2p-dev-<wireless-device-name>): supplicant management interface state: associating -> completed
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.7185] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: config -> ip-config (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.7188] dhcp4 (<wireless-device-name>): activation: beginning transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.7225] dhcp4 (<wireless-device-name>): state changed new lease, address=<ipv4_address>, acd pending
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8798] dhcp4 (<wireless-device-name>): state changed new lease, address=<ipv4_address>
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8827] policy: set '<wireless_network_name>' (<wireless-device-name>) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8875] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: ip-config -> ip-check (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8954] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: ip-check -> secondaries (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8955] device (<wireless-device-name>): state change: secondaries -> activated (reason 'none', managed-type: 'full')
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8957] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_SITE
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8960] device (<wireless-device-name>): Activation: successful, device activated.
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.8962] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_GLOBAL
Jan 27 18:33:42 archlinux NetworkManager[1829]: <info>  [1769531622.9038] audit: op="statistics" interface="<wireless-device-name>" ifindex=3 args="2000" pid=2268 uid=1000 result="success"

I also remembered that some time ago I tried resolving the issue by disabling power management for the network device - which did not help. Power management is currently enabled as I didn't see a reason to disable it permanently if it doesn't fix the problem. Let me know if you think I should disable it.

Last edited by z5kb (2026-01-27 16:59:11)

seth · 2026-01-27 21:25:18

Please post your complete system journal for the boot:

sudo journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

z5kb · 2026-01-28 14:56:20

There you go:
https://0x0.st/PN3W.txt

seth · 2026-01-28 15:08:22

... (boot logs which seem unrelated)

https://bbs.archlinux.org/misc.php?action=rules

Fwwi, the journal has one voluntary disconnect at Jan 28 15:18:11
Most likely any network issues are related to the VPN.

Last edited by seth (2026-01-28 15:11:01)

z5kb · 2026-02-06 01:36:09

The VPN was not started by me. I guess it tries making connections by itself after booting. I removed it and rebooted but the issue did not get fixed.
After 1-2 days the issue got fixed by itself. Maybe I did a full system update? I'm not sure, but I had done that many times before so I doubt that this is the thing that fixed it.

Thanks for the help anyways. Marking as resolved.

Arch Linux

#1 2026-01-26 23:44:14

[SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

#2 2026-01-27 14:48:04

Re: [SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

#3 2026-01-27 16:56:46

Re: [SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

#4 2026-01-27 21:25:18

Re: [SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

#5 2026-01-28 14:56:20

Re: [SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

#6 2026-01-28 15:08:22

Re: [SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

#7 2026-02-06 01:36:09

Re: [SOLVED] WiFi connection keeps getting interrupted

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