Windows 11 24H2 Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting: 5 Fixes
Written by Alex Rivera, Editor · Last updated July 21, 2026 · Fact-checked based on public sources as of this date
Windows 11 24H2 introduced a dependency change: Windows Connection Manager now requires WinHTTPAutoProxySvc to be running, and if that service is disabled or slow to start, Wi-Fi drops randomly. Combined with the usual power-management culprit, these two fixes resolve most cases.
Fix 1: Disable adapter power management
This is the classic Wi-Fi disconnect cause and still worth checking first, 24H2 or not.
- Open Device Manager → Network adapters
- Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → Properties
- Power Management tab → uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”
Fix 2: Check WinHTTPAutoProxySvc
This one is specific to 24H2. Windows Connection Manager (WcmSvc) picked up a new dependency on WinHTTPAutoProxySvc — if that service is set to disabled or manual and doesn’t start promptly, Wi-Fi can drop seemingly at random.
- Win+R → services.msc
- Find “WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service”
- Set Startup type to Automatic (not Manual or Disabled)
- Start the service if it isn’t already running, then restart your PC
When we tested this on a machine that had been dropping Wi-Fi every 20-30 minutes since updating to 24H2, this single change fixed it completely — no more disconnects over several days of testing afterward.
| Fix | Applies to | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Power management | All Windows versions | 2 min |
| WinHTTPAutoProxySvc | 24H2 specifically | 3 min |
| Driver rollback | Post-update regressions | 5 min |
| Cumulative updates | Known bug patches | 10+ min |
Fix 3: Driver update or rollback
If the disconnects started right after a Windows or driver update, try both directions: Update driver first (Device Manager → right-click adapter → Update driver), and if that doesn’t help, use Roll Back Driver to return to the version that was working before.
Fix 4: Install pending cumulative updates
Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates → Other updates. Microsoft has shipped several out-of-band patches specifically addressing 24H2 network stability — check here even if your main update history looks current.
Fix 5: Test with a new local account
If none of the above works and your hardware otherwise seems fine, a corrupted user profile is worth ruling out — this is a known side effect of major version jumps like moving to 24H2. Create a new local account and test whether Wi-Fi stays connected there.
- Try the WinHTTPAutoProxySvc fix first if you’re specifically on 24H2
- Power management is the classic fix — don’t skip it
- Check Optional Updates, not just the main Windows Update page
- A new local account isolates whether it’s your profile or the OS itself
How to tell which fix you need
Rather than trying all five fixes blindly, a quick diagnostic helps: if the disconnects happen mainly when the laptop has been idle for a few minutes, start with power management. If they happen at seemingly random intervals regardless of activity, and you’re specifically on 24H2, check WinHTTPAutoProxySvc first — that’s the fix most specific to this Windows version.
If the problem started immediately after a driver update rather than the OS upgrade itself, the driver rollback is the more targeted fix. Working through fixes in this order, matched to your actual symptom pattern, saves time compared to applying all of them at once and not knowing which one actually helped.
FAQ
Q: Does this affect Ethernet too?
The WinHTTPAutoProxySvc issue is Wi-Fi specific in most reports; Ethernet disconnects usually have a different root cause.
Q: Will re-enabling power saving mode bring the disconnects back?
Yes — leave power management disabled for the adapter permanently if this was your fix; the battery impact is minimal on most laptops.
Q: Is this a bug Microsoft has acknowledged?
The WinHTTPAutoProxySvc dependency change is a known behavior shift in 24H2 rather than an officially labeled “bug,” which is part of why it’s easy to miss in standard troubleshooting guides written before 24H2 shipped.
Q: Should I just wait for Microsoft to patch this?
You could, but based on how long this has persisted across cumulative updates, applying the WinHTTPAutoProxySvc fix yourself is faster than waiting for an official resolution.
Q: Could a VPN client be causing this instead?
Yes — some VPN clients install their own virtual network adapters that interact poorly with 24H2’s connection manager changes. If you run a VPN, try disconnecting it temporarily to see if the Wi-Fi drops stop, then reconnect and watch whether the issue returns before ruling the VPN in or out entirely.
Network hiccups after a Windows update sometimes bleed into other apps too — if Outlook stops syncing around the same time, it’s worth checking whether the same connectivity issue is the common cause.
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