Why Does My Phone's Internet Disconnect When I Turn It Off?

Many users have experienced the frustration of having their internet connection drop when they turn their phone off or close its screen. This issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including hardware and software issues. Understanding the underlying causes and implementing the necessary solutions can help ensure a seamless internet experience.

Troubleshooting Common Causes

There are several common reasons why your phone might disconnect from the internet when you turn it off:

Electromagnetic Interference: Nearby electronic devices, such as a micro-vacuum fridge or other appliances with motors, can cause electromagnetic interference. This interference can disrupt your Wi-Fi connection. Make sure no such devices are in close proximity to your phone's Wi-Fi antenna. Data Corruption: Issues with your phone's operating system due to data corruption during an update can cause instability in your internet connection. To resolve this, back up your data, perform a factory reset, and then reinstall all apps. Network Settings: Your phone might be configured to forget the Wi-Fi network when it powers off. Ensure that the network is saved and set to connect automatically in your Wi-Fi settings. Power Saving Mode: Some phones have a power-saving feature that disables Wi-Fi to conserve battery. Disable this if it is activated. Router Settings: Check if your router has settings that affect how devices reconnect. Ensure that your router is configured to allow automatic connections. Software Issues: There could be a bug or issue with your phone’s operating system. Make sure your phone is updated to the latest software version. Network Configuration: If your phone uses static IP settings, it might not reconnect automatically. Check if your network settings are set to DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to allow automatic IP assignment. Forget and Reconnect: Try forgetting the Wi-Fi network on your phone and then reconnecting to it. This can sometimes resolve connection issues.

Advanced Troubleshooting

Here are some additional steps to further troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

The problem could be related to the initial release of your phone's operating system, where some WiFi connectivity issues were patched by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). For example, LG phones had a patch that required turning off WiFi before restarting the phone to apply the fix. However, this was not always automatic and could be a contributing factor if your phone is LG V20 running on Oreo update.

Another potential cause could be cellular network problems, such as being in a roaming area or using a non-optimal service that your carrier prefers to avoid. For instance, your carrier might provide less superior 3G or 4G/5G services. Additionally, prepaid service providers often turn off data by default to avoid unnecessary credit usage.

A defaulted behavior of Android phones is to continuously search for a node to connect to before turning off the Wi-Fi. Android 8 introduced a change where after a timeout, Wi-Fi would stop searching but remain on and wait for you to choose a network, reducing unnecessary traffic and energy consumption.

Lastly, an app might be controlling your WiFi and cellular data connections, usually a carrier app, that defaults to connecting via cellular then exits. It might not be automatically turning WiFi back on, leading to the disconnection issue.

Conclusion

Internet disconnection during phone shut-off can be a frustrating experience, but it is usually easy to troubleshoot. By checking network settings, ensuring proper software updates, and handling potential interference from nearby devices, you can generally resolve the issue. If the problem persists, backing up your data, performing a factory reset, and consulting the manufacturer’s support documentation might be necessary steps.