Is your Wi-Fi giving you problems every day despite having the best router in the market? Guess what, your microwave could be the problem. Yup. You read that right. Wi-Fi and microwave interference is a thing. Lots of people ask, “Do microwave ovens interfere with Wi-Fi?” Well, you have the answer now. All is not lost though. Blocking microwave from affecting Wi-Fi signal will solve this problem.
Now you are wondering, how on earth does my microwave oven interfere with my Wi-Fi signal? Let’s get into that right away. Stay right here with me, alright? Deal.
Wi-Fi-Microwave interference
Like you already know, microwaves use electromagnetic waves to cook and heat food. What you possibly didn’t know is that Wi-Fi, too, relies on electromagnetic waves to transfer wireless internet.
For a microwave to work, it emits electromagnetic waves which in return cause friction amongst the millions of water particles in your food hence producing heat. Think of it as how you’d rub your palms against each other for some warmth. Only that these waves are in high frequency hence produces a lot of heat in a short period.
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Now, the reason microwaves interfere with your Wi-Fi signal is because both of them operate on the same frequency (about 2.4 GHz) hence they overlap. That’s to say that whenever your microwave is on, your Wi-Fi signal gets affected. It might slow down or it might cease working until you put off your microwave. (If you’ve never experienced this, you can experiment). The other thing is that while a router only emits around 100 milliwatts of power, the microwave emits around 1100 watts. That’s a huge difference so the microwave power tends to overwhelm the router.
Even though most of the power is retained in the microwave while heating food, even the tiniest leakage of waves will interfere with your Wi-Fi signal.
How to block microwave from affecting your Wi-Fi
Thanks heavens there’s a solution to almost every problem on this planet! Scientists knew how hectic it is when your Wi-Fi signals keep on buffering and created solutions that we can use to solve the problem of having your microwave oven interfering with your Wi-Fi signal.
Does your microwave affects your Wi-Fi signal? Try these methods to fix it.
Upgrade your router
This is by far the best solution to this problem. As I earlier mentioned, most microwaves operate in the 2.4GHz band which is why they affect your Wi-Fi since most routers also operate within this band.
The good news is that there are modern routers like 802.11n which operate in the 5GHz band. This means there will never be overlapping. You can heat your water and make your favorite dish without worrying about Wi-Fi signals. With these kinds of routers, you will not only minimize Wi-Fi interference from various appliances but you will also have better Wi-Fi connectivity. Even though the problem might not be fully solved, you will experience less of it, at least.
Keep your microwave away from the router
Not yet ready to upgrade your router? A cheap alternative is to place it away from your microwave and other appliances that might affect your Wi-Fi signals. If your router is right next to the microwave, you’ll be affected more.
Depending on what’s easier for you, you can either change the location of your router or your microwave in your favor. The further apart the two are, the better. If possible, let there be a wall between the microwave and the router. A wall does a better job in blocking the microwave from affecting your Wi-Fi signal. Of course, if space is an issue, this might not work for you. Hence, see more methods below.
Clean or replace your microwave
How often do you clean your microwave? If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned it, chances are that there’s too much dirt around the door hence leaving some space even when the door is locked. This allows the microwaves to leak and interfere with your Wi-Fi.
If your microwave is too old, it might be damaged and cause the waves to escape. Remember that the waves are supposed to be trapped in the microwave to allow heating. So, if there’s even a tiny space left since the microwaves are “micro”, they will escape.
Use Wi-Fi extenders for signal boosting
Wi-Fi extenders will be of great help when it comes to dealing with bad Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s not that they will entirely eliminate the microwave-Wi-Fi interference, but they at least boost your connectivity. They will increase your Wi-Fi’s speed, fill in the dead spots that are caused by the microwave interference and allow you to have connectivity outside your house. They are available online so do look them up and get yourself one if you have Wi-Fi issues.
Using Ethernet cables To connect your computer
The other option that can help you deal with poor Wi-Fi due to microwave interference is using an ethernet cable. In as much as we are going for everything wireless, wired internet connection tends to be stronger. So, if you really must attend a Zoom meeting while making lunch in your microwave oven, get an ethernet cable. You only have to connect the cable with your router and your computer.
Don’t use the microwave when using the internet
Lastly, if all the above solutions are not viable in your case, avoid using the microwave while using the internet. Schedule your activities in a way that you won’t have to use the two at the same time. If you are cooking something, make sure you are not Netflixing.
Conclusion
You need both the Wi-Fi and the microwave. I mean, how can you operate without either of them in these times while we have to stay connected and save on time? That means you have to come up with a way so that both your router and your microwave can “co-exist” without sabotaging your work. With all the above solutions I have listed, I believe you can solve your problem. At least, there must be one that will work for you. All the best.
