Slow WiFi can be frustrating especially when you’re working, having a business meeting or on a call with a loved one. There are a number of reasons why your WiFi isn’t moving at the normal speed. It might be as a result of external factors, your PC’s software or hardware, your ISP, or someone tapping from your WiFi.
Whichever the case may be, detecting and fixing issues related to slow Wi-Fi speeds can be cumbersome. But in this post, we will show you the 5 effective ways to fix slow WiFi speed along with how to detect the issue. From the most basic troubleshooting techniques to the tricky ones, we’ll break it down for you to equip yourself with the DIY of fixing WiFi network speed.
The Causes of Slow WiFi Speeds
When a plumber comes to fix a broken pipe in your home, the first thing they will do is to check the root cause. So the first step of fixing a slow WiFi is to check what Is affecting its speed. Some of the common causes for slow internet speeds on Wi-Fi include:
Too Many Connected Devices
When your home network is overloaded with the sheer number of devices trying to connect simultaneously, it may affect the network speed. This is technically known as “network congestion.” Movie streaming, video calling, emailing, and playing video games on the same WiFi connection take a significant slice out of your internet bandwidth. If they’re all happening at the same time, they’ll inevitably compete for resources. So, grasping the concept of network congestion and the affects it has on your connection speeds can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth online experience.
Router Longevity And Status
The device may be running outdated firmware capable of affecting its performance and/or in need of a refresh. Usually, the efficiency and age of your router play a significant role in the speed of your internet. Routers, like most devices, generally, have a finite lifespan. However , as years pass, newer, faster wireless models emerge. So if an older router runs on an outdated model, it can’t provide efficiency from the speeds your ISP offers without getting the right tech standards.
Malware or Virus
Malware or viruses on devices can also affect your healthy internet connection. When viruses or malware enter your device, they’ll operate silently in the background. And unknowing to you, they might be using your device’s resources, such as its internet connection. This unauthorized usage can go as far as stealing your bandwidth, significantly reducing your online activities and causing unresponsive sluggish or sluggish WiFi connection.
Some malicious software don’t only reduce speeds. They can redirect your internet traffic, bombarding you with unwanted ads, or engaging in other activities that affect your connection.
Data Cap Restrictions
In some cases, the reason why your WiFi speed is slow might be due to something called “data cap restrictions.” Mostly, we are on ISP plans that allows a limited amount of data we can use each month. However, while many of these limits are quite generous, frequent online gaming, streaming, and downloading can easily surpass the cap.
Once you hit the limit, some ISPs might not just immediately cut off your internet. Instead, they’ll throttle your speeds, meaning it’ll reduce your internet connection speed.The good thing is some ISPs will send you a notification warning that you’re nearing your data cap.
Wi-Fi Signal Interference
Wi-Fi can interfere with various sources, causing a reduction in the quality of your internet connections. First, your Wi-Fi signal may interfere with other Wi-Fi networks, especially if you’re living in densely populated areas such as apartment complexes. If they’re multiple networks operating on the same or nearby channels, they can interfere with each other, reducing the network connection quality.
Furthermore, everyday household devices, like smart refrigerators or baby monitors, can also be sources of interference. Lastly, the materials and layout of your home can cause WiFi sluggishness, too. Certain building materials can block or weaken Wi-Fi signals. So, remember — how you place your router can make a difference.
5 Effective Ways To Fix Slow WiFi Speeds
1.Restart Your Modem And Router
For any device giving your problems, the first thing to do to get it back to work is to turn things off and on. Your gateway or modem is the translator and bridge between your provider’s network and your home network. A power cycle can be any possible errors if the connection between them is acting up. It might be what might just bring your connection back up to speed.
To power cycle your gateway or modem, simply unplug the power connector from the wall outlet, and wait for 30 seconds before plugging the power connector back into the wall outlet. Repeat the process if you have a mesh system or standalone router. Like with the gateway or modem, a power cycle will clear your router’s memory and give it a fresh start on tasks bogging it down before.
Next you can try restarting your device’s Wi-Fi. This may be overkill if you are experiencing slow Wi-Fi on all your wireless devices, as your problem isn’t just related to just one device. However, if only one phone, laptop, or some other wireless device still experiences slowdowns, simply go into the settings and switch off Wi-Fi and wait for 30 seconds. Then switch Wi-Fi back on and reconnect.
If all of these still doesn’t work, try power cycling the device (switch it off and on, not reboot), forget the Wi-Fi connection and reconnect, update drivers or firmware, or factory reset the device. We recommend rebooting your equipment often—at least once every two months. Some modern routers and gateways even let you to schedule reboots when every device is offline, like during bedtime hours.
2. Get A Stronger WiFi Connection
Distance, walls, and interference from other Wi-Fi networks is capable of weakening your Wi-Fi signal. A weak Wi-Fi signals means slow speeds and frequent disconnections. To check if the signal interference and weak Wi-Fi signals are your issue, look at your devices Wi-Fi meter. For fast connection, ensure that you have a minimum of three bars of signal strength.
To fix weak Wi-Fi signal, first, check your router’s placement. Ensure that your router is in a central and elevated position and away from things capable of affecting your Wi-Fi signals (like obstructions, walls, Bluetooth speakers, etc.). Sometimes, moving your router a few feet can make a huge difference. If that doesn’t work, then you might need to replace your router with one created for longer ranges or better coverage—or you can simply add an extender to your network to place your Wi-Fi signals into a previously unreachable area.
3. Switch ISPs
Sometimes it’s best to go for a change especially if the problem persist. Your slow WiFi issues may just be as a result of your ISP suffering from network congestion. When the congestion gets bad, your internet provider may throttle internet speeds in your location to reduce traffic for the network.
Unfortunately, there’s no way you can control large-scale network congestion. But you can try to work around it by scheduling heavy downloads during non-peak hours, such as in the middle of the night. However, the best way to deal with heavy ISP slowdowns that don’t resolve is to switch ISPs. Luckily, there numerous new services available, like Satellite, 5G home internet, and new fiber developments.
4. Check if You Have Exceeded Your Data Caps
Most internet providers have data caps, and some can slow your speeds to a crawl as soon as you exceed your plan’s data limit. So it’s best to check to see the amount of data you’ve used on your online account or via your ISP’s app. Providers such as Xfinity give customers a relatively high data caps—1.2 TB for this instance—and shouldn’t cause too many issues for most households.
On the other hand, satellite internet providers usually charge for internet use by data rather than internet speed. It’s similar to how mobile phone plans usually work: once you exhaust your data allowance for the month, your internet speed will be throttled.
5. Slow Or Outdated Devices
The problem if your slow WiFi might not be with your internet connection or router—it might be with the device you’re using. Your phone, tablet, computer, or gaming console could be outdated and incapable of processing today’s Wi-Fi speeds.
For instance, the old PlayStation Vita handheld console supports only up to 150 Mbps per second because it is using a Wi-Fi 4 radio. That speed can decrease according to the router it connects to and based on the security protocol it uses. The Vita will never connect with speeds beyond that 150 Mbps limit.
If you have speed issues on a laptop or desktop, try power cycling the device. Doing this will clear the memory of any junk, refres your connection, and clears out unnecessary processes and temporary files. Speed issues tend to occur due to an overworked processor. But a quick power cycle—shutting it down completely for thirty seconds—will “clear its head.”
Other things that could slow down your devices include too many open applications, too many open browser tabs, outdated software, outdated drivers, patch downloads, app downloads, or malware.
Bottom Line
Working out the root cause of a slow Wi-Fi connection can be a case of trial and error. But working with a workable checklist will hopefully get your wireless internet connectivity coming back to normal.