Slow Wi-Fi can be very annoying, especially when you’re studying or working from home. Whether you need to upload work-related files to the cloud or stream your favorite show on Netflix, slow internet speeds can ruin your day. Thankfully, the problem of slow Wi-Fi speeds can be solved. In most cases, slow Wi-Fi problems can be fixed with just a few simple steps. Follow this guide as we list some ways to fix Wi-Fi connection issues.
Slow Wi-Fi: How to fix it
There are many factors that can cause Wi-Fi to slow down. Here are some methods you can follow to identify and resolve Wi-Fi connection issues.
1. Is your internet speed slow?
Before you jump to the conclusion that you’re struggling with slow internet speeds, make sure the speeds advertised by your internet plan match the internet speeds you’re actually getting. To do this, visit any website that measures Internet speed, such as speedtest.net or fast.com. If the speed results match the advertised speeds offered by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), we’d say your connection is definitely good, and to speed things up you can always opt for an upgrade plan that offers faster internet speeds.
2. Restart the Wi-Fi router to resolve Wi-Fi issues
Sometimes, a quick reboot of your Wi-Fi router is all you need to resolve Wi-Fi connection issues. Just turn off your Wi-Fi router, turn it on after a few seconds, and check if your internet speed is still slow. If this doesn’t resolve the Wi-Fi issue, try restarting your computer, phone, or other device. Sometimes, the cause of slow internet speeds may simply be one of your devices and not your internet connection.
3. Placing a Wi-Fi router can solve the problem of slow Wi-Fi speed
Despite having a high-speed internet connection and a good enough Wi-Fi router, are you still facing slow internet speeds? The problem may lie in the location of the router. It is always recommended to place the router in a higher location, such as above a wardrobe. Additionally, you can always place your Wi-Fi router in different locations around your home or workplace to see which area has the best signal strength before settling on a location. Note that generally Wi-Fi signals are able to pass through walls and other objects, but in some cases thicker walls or certain metals can block the signal. In this case, it is always recommended to keep the router away from the microwave or refrigerator and, as mentioned above, place the router at a higher height and in an optimal location.
4. Adjust the router antenna
Placing the antenna on your Wi-Fi router vertically redirects the Wi-Fi signal in one direction. This is why you should always point your antennas in different directions. For example, many Wi-Fi routers come with two or three antennas. In this case, make sure the antenna is pointed vertically and horizontally so that the Wi-Fi signal covers a wider area.
5. Use strong Wi-Fi security standards
If your Wi-Fi security is not strong enough, passwords can be easily obtained. Our neighbors may be stealing your Wi-Fi connection, which may be the reason why your Wi-Fi speed is slow. Therefore, it is always recommended to use WPA2 security protocol with your router. You can change this setting through your router’s settings. To set a WPA2 password, access Wi-Fi settings by entering your router’s IP address into any browser on your phone or computer. You can find the router’s IP address on the back of the router, or through the Wi-Fi network settings on your phone or computer.
6. Single connection, multiple users
You may have a high-speed Internet connection shared by multiple users at home or work, and while a Wi-Fi router won’t slow down your Internet speed when used by multiple people, your available bandwidth does suffer. This means you can download files from the cloud, your kids can download the latest games from PlayStation Network, and your partner can stream their favorite movies or TV shows. In this case, everyone may face slow Wi-Fi speeds since each device uses a large portion of the available bandwidth.
In this case, you can try to reduce the load on your Internet connection by pausing any one stream or download. This may increase Wi-Fi speeds for others. Modern routers support technology that ensures the same bandwidth across all devices, and if you’re having trouble using even one of these routers, the bottleneck may be your internet speed.
7. Use QoS to solve the problem of slow Wi-Fi speed
QoS, or Quality of Service, is one of the best tools available that is often overlooked, and essentially divides the available bandwidth on a Wi-Fi network between applications. With optimal settings, you can watch wildlife videos on YouTube in 4K resolution without any stuttering, while ensuring your latest games are downloaded to Steam. With QoS, you can prioritize services on your Wi-Fi network and allocate bandwidth accordingly. Note that there are multiple ways to access router QoS settings, which means accessing QoS on a Netgear router will be different than on a TP-Link router. To check your router’s QoS settings, enter the router’s IP address into your browser and then look for the QoS tab to access the settings.
8. Update router firmware to fix Wi-Fi connection issues
Software updates for your router are important because they improve its stability, performance, and security. Most routers available today are capable of automatic updates, but if you have an older router, you may need to manually install software updates. Different routers have different ways of updating software. To learn more, access your router’s Wi-Fi settings by entering your router’s IP address into any browser on your phone or computer.
9. Change DNS servers
Every ISP, regardless of their internet plan, uses DNS (Domain Name System), which basically helps convert a server’s IP address into a domain name, such as youtube.com or facebook.com. Most of the time, the default DNS servers provided by your ISP are slow and unreliable, which is why simply changing your DNS servers can give you a sigh of relief and get the much-needed boost in internet speed and performance. To learn how to change DNS, you can check out our guide on how to change DNS on iOS or on your computer. For those using Android, go to the Wi-Fi settings on your phone and look for the “Private DNS” option. It’s turned off by default on most Android phones, but you can choose to set it to “Automatic,” or even set it up manually by tapping “Private DNS provider hostname.”
10. Use a Wi-Fi analyzer
Wi-Fi analyzer apps can be an effective tool in determining the best channels that are less crowded and have minimal interference. Wi-Fi communications primarily use two frequency bands—2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 5GHz band is less crowded but has less range, so keep that in mind when analyzing the results from these tools. These bands are further divided into channels, and a Wi-Fi analyzer can help you find out which Wi-Fi networks are broadcasting on the same channel so you can choose an alternate channel. There are various free and paid Wi-Fi analyzer applications available on the Internet that can help you solve such problems. You can check out some popular Wi-Fi analyzer options for phones and computers, such as NetSpot, InSSIDer, NetX, Network Performance Monitor, and more.
11. Change Wi-Fi channel
If you find your router’s IP address and use it to access the Wi-Fi settings in any browser, you’ll see the channel under Wireless Settings. There are 14 channels in total, and you first need to find out which Wi-Fi channel is most commonly used in your area. Once you’ve determined this, you can always try to find and select a non-overlapping channel that’s far enough apart from the others. Most ISPs set channel settings to automatic, but if you have slow internet speeds then we would recommend digging around for the clearest channel for the best experience.
12. Reset your device’s network settings
If resetting your Wi-Fi router doesn’t solve your problem, you should probably consider resetting your device’s network settings. By resetting your device’s network settings, you essentially set them to their default values. From there, you can reconfigure Wi-Fi on all your devices and check if doing so fixes your issue. The steps are different for each device, and you must re-enter your Wi-Fi password before you can use the Internet. If you’ve forgotten your Wi-Fi password, you can check out our handy guide to finding your Wi-Fi password.
13. Buy a new Wi-Fi router
Getting a high-speed internet package doesn’t solve the problem of getting high internet speeds, instead, your Wi-Fi router also plays an important role. You see, you can get a high-speed Internet plan, but if your Wi-Fi router is old or doesn’t comply with new Wi-Fi standards, you won’t be able to take full advantage of it. To fix this problem, try buying a new Wi-Fi router that supports 802.11ac (commonly known as Wi-Fi 5) or at least 802.11n (also known as Wi-Fi 4). However, if you’re looking for a super-fast Wi-Fi router, you can also buy one that supports the latest 802.11ax standard, called Wi-Fi 6. Although keep in mind that since the technology is still under development, routers that support the Wi-Fi 6 standard are actually quite expensive.
14. File a complaint with your ISP
If none of the above methods work for you, then you should probably contact your ISP and let a professional take care of the problem. Sometimes it’s always better to simply call and file a complaint than to try to resolve the issue yourself, and if your ISP has a good track record with customer service, your issue will likely be resolved in the shortest possible time.
15. Change your ISP
If your current ISP isn’t meeting the needs of your area and you continue to experience slow speeds, your last option is to find a better connection and change. In this case, it’s best to do some research and find out which connection offers the best value for money in your area. It’s also good to talk to your neighbors and find out what kind of connections they are using and how well they are being served.
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