Why Your Microwave Oven Is Waging a Silent War on Your Wi-Fi Signal — And What You Can Do About It
Your microwave oven and Wi-Fi router both operate near 2.4 GHz, creating electromagnetic interference that disrupts wireless connections. Understanding the physics behind this conflict reveals practical solutions, from switching to 5 GHz networks to strategic router placement. You’re on a critical video call, streaming a movie, or in the middle of an intense online gaming session when someone in your household decides to reheat last night’s leftovers. Within seconds, your Wi-Fi connection stutters, buffers, or drops entirely. It’s not a coincidence, and it’s not your imagination. Your microwave oven — that indispensable kitchen workhorse — is actively interfering with your wireless internet signal, and the physics behind this conflict are both fascinating and frustrating. The root of this technological turf war lies in a shared slice of the electromagnetic spectrum. Both microwave ovens and Wi-Fi routers operate at approximately 2.4 GHz, a frequency band that has become one of the most...