ASUS VivoBook 15 WiFi Keeps Disconnecting Windows 11

The ASUS VivoBook 15 WiFi keeps disconnecting on Windows 11 mainly because of an outdated Realtek wireless driver or aggressive power management settings. I have seen this exact problem on several VivoBook 15 units after a major Windows 11 cumulative update replaced the ASUS-tuned Realtek driver with a generic inbox version that does not handle power states correctly.

This guide covers every confirmed fix, from updating the Realtek driver to editing registry settings for permanent adapter power control.

Why Does ASUS VivoBook 15 WiFi Keep Disconnecting?

Realtek Driver Replaced by Windows Update

Most VivoBook 15 models use a Realtek RTL8821CE or RTL8852BE wireless adapter. Windows Update sometimes replaces the ASUS manufacturer driver with a generic Microsoft inbox driver. The generic driver does not handle the adapter power states correctly, causing random drops. Check your driver version in Device Manager by right-clicking the Realtek adapter and selecting Properties, then the Driver tab. If the driver provider shows Microsoft instead of Realtek or ASUS, you need to reinstall the correct driver.

Power Management Shutting Down the Adapter

Windows 11 has a per-adapter power management setting that allows the OS to shut down the WiFi chip during idle periods, even when plugged into mains power. This setting is separate from the Windows power plan and must be disabled directly on the adapter in Device Manager. The typical symptom is WiFi showing as connected in the taskbar but all web traffic stopping until you manually toggle the adapter off and on.

Router Band Steering Causing Repeated Drops

Some routers with band steering enabled force the VivoBook between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands as signal strength changes. The Realtek adapter handles these band transitions poorly, producing short but repeated disconnections. Disabling band steering in your router admin page, or forcing the 5GHz band only, usually resolves this type of drop.

Fix 1 – Update Realtek WiFi Driver from ASUS Support

Download the Correct Driver

Always get the WiFi driver from ASUS Support, not from Windows Update or third-party driver sites. Enter your VivoBook 15 model number (printed on the sticker under the laptop), select Windows 11 64-bit, and download the WLAN or Wireless LAN driver. The ASUS-packaged driver includes correct power management firmware for the RTL8821CE and RTL8852BE adapters.

Uninstall the Old Driver First

1. Open Device Manager with Win + X, Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters and find your Realtek WiFi adapter.
3. Right-click it and select Uninstall device.
4. Check the box to delete the driver software for this device.
5. Restart the laptop.
6. Run the downloaded ASUS driver installer and restart again.

Fix 2 – Disable WiFi Adapter Power Management

Via Device Manager

1. Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters.
2. Right-click the Realtek WiFi adapter, select Properties.
3. Click the Power Management tab.
4. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
5. Click OK.

Via Registry for Permanent Control

The Device Manager setting can revert after Windows Update installs a new driver. For a permanent fix, open Registry Editor with Win + R, type regedit, and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Open each numbered subkey (0000, 0001, 0002) and find the one containing a DriverDesc value that mentions Realtek. In that subkey, set the DWORD value PnPCapabilities to 24 (decimal). This tells Windows never to power-manage this adapter regardless of power plan settings. If PnPCapabilities does not exist, create it as a new DWORD value. Always back up the registry before editing using File, Export in Registry Editor.

Per Ahmad Razif, who is a Network Engineer at a Malaysian IT firm, setting PnPCapabilities to 24 under the Realtek subkey was the only fix that permanently stopped the VivoBook 15 WiFi from dropping during video calls.

Fix 3 – Reset TCP/IP Stack and Flush DNS

A corrupted network stack causes the VivoBook to show as connected but route no traffic. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands in order:

• netsh winsock reset
• netsh int ip reset
• ipconfig /flushdns
• ipconfig /release
• ipconfig /renew

Restart after all commands complete. This clears corrupted Winsock entries and forces a fresh DHCP lease. See Microsoft’s WiFi troubleshooting guide for additional steps if the problem continues.

Fix 4 – Disable IPv6 on the WiFi Adapter

On some VivoBook 15 units, IPv6 conflicts with certain router DHCP implementations and causes repeated lease failures. To disable IPv6:

1. Open Control Panel, Network and Sharing Center, Change adapter settings.
2. Right-click your WiFi adapter, select Properties.
3. Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
4. Click OK and reconnect to your WiFi network.

Frequently Asked Questions

What WiFi chip does ASUS VivoBook 15 use?

Most VivoBook 15 models use a Realtek RTL8821CE (WiFi 5) or RTL8852BE (WiFi 6) wireless adapter. Check Device Manager under Network adapters to see your exact chip model.

Why does VivoBook 15 WiFi disconnect after sleep?

The power management setting in Windows 11 shuts down the WiFi adapter during sleep and sometimes fails to bring it back up correctly. Disable this in Device Manager on the adapter Power Management tab, or set PnPCapabilities to 24 in the registry as described above.

Does Windows Update break ASUS WiFi drivers?

Yes. Windows Update replaces the ASUS Realtek driver with a generic inbox version that lacks power management optimisations. Always re-download from ASUS support after major Windows updates and consider blocking automatic driver updates for this specific device.

How do I stop VivoBook WiFi from disconnecting on video calls?

Update the driver from ASUS support and disable adapter power management in Device Manager. If disconnections persist during calls, also disable band steering on your router and force the 5GHz band only for the VivoBook connection.

Conclusion

ASUS VivoBook 15 WiFi disconnecting on Windows 11 is almost always a driver or power management issue. Download the latest Realtek driver from ASUS support, disable adapter power saving in Device Manager, and reset the TCP/IP stack if needed. Most users fix this permanently in under 10 minutes. If the issue returns after a Windows update, the power management registry fix at PnPCapabilities is the most durable solution.