There are several ways of boosting your internet speed including router reboot and update, clearing cache and more. Let’s uncover these fixes to achieve optimum internet speed.
A slow internet is as good as no internet, period. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to watch your favorite show or scrolling Instagram, and your internet is slow like a turtle. I’ve been through this a lot but it helped me come up with some pretty solid solutions for slow internet speed that I’ll be sharing with you today. So, let’s check these out:
The first thing to do is to find out ‘WHY’ is your internet so slow? Well, here are the top reasons why your internet’s being sluggish:
If you’ve been sharing your Wi-Fi’s passwords with your neighbors, then it’s time to stop. Too many users connected to your Wi-Fi can slow it down. This and connecting too many devices.
Multiple devices running too many online tasks will choke your internet speed. So, if you’re experiencing slow speeds, try disconnecting all the devices connected and reconnecting only the selected ones.
2. Insufficient Speed in Your Plan
Here’s a little fact: your internet plan doesn’t offer the exact amount of speeds being advertised. If you’re buying a plan with, let’s say, 1000 Mbps speed, then you’ll get less than 1000 Mbps. This is because of various factors like connection cable, internet equipment used, etc.
But if the speed is way too low, like below 900 or less, then you should contact your internet provider to know about the issue. That said, the plan you pick should be sufficient for your needs.
Don’t think that a 100 Mbps plan will work out for your 4K streaming or multiplayer gaming needs. Know what your internet needs are and then get a plan accordingly!
Poor Wi-Fi signals also cause slowness in your internet speed. The farther your devices are from the Wi-Fi range, the more interference you’ll face; hence, slower the speed.
And if it’s in a closed space like your room, then don’t expect strong signals at all, let alone fast speed.
Let me explain why choosing the right connection type is important. A connection type is just like the mode of travel for when you’re headed to any destination. You can choose to go by road, take a cruise or book a flight: it’s your choice!
It’ll be cheaper to go by the road but it’ll take some time before you reach. In internet terms, a cable connection is going by road while fiber internet is going by air. You can get a cable connection at a lower price but it’s slower than a fiber.
Yes, you can get it from a reliable provider that offers a dedicated cable connection. I’ve been using Xfinity Internet and the internet speed has been a breeze ever since. But you should buy a fiber internet or a fiber-backed connection, just like what Xfinity offers, if it’s available near you.
That being said, get yourself a good internet gateway too. Why? Because modern routers come with the latest network standards that help strengthen the internet connection and ensure good speeds.
Forget about those high-end routers and just buy the latest model of TP-Link, NETGEAR or Linksys, and you’ll be sorted.
Quick Fixes for Boosting Internet Speed
Now that we’ve seen some common culprits for slow internet speeds, it’s time to check out the fixes for them too. I’ve tried them too countless times and they have worked just fine for me. So why not keep them handy?
1. Reboot Your Internet Device
A simple reboot can fix slow internet or even the no-internet problem. In most cases, your router isn’t able to establish connection a.k.a. send data packets effectively. Rebooting it resets the configuration and resends the packets swiftly.
Honestly speaking, when I connected my laptop to an Ethernet cable, things improved and I got the speed that I opted for in the plan. You can do the same, and switch to an wired connection for most of your devices.
An Ethernet connection removes all hassles that occur when using a Wi-Fi connection. Yes, you’ll need to think about how to adjust the wiring at your place, but for what it’s worth, you’ll at least get boosted internet speeds and enjoy online activities lag-free!
My internet router was initially placed in the lounge. But I used to spend most of my time in my room where I set up my work and gaming station. Evidently, I used to get so much lag until I finally started using the Ethernet cable.
But, what I learned is that the closer you are to your router, the better are the signals and the quality of the connection. So, if you’re experiencing slow speeds, then try getting closer to your router.
Have it placed somewhere where you frequently use the internet. Also, keep it away from appliances to prevent any interferences between the router and your device.
If you’re not able to get closer or change the placement of your router, then try adding a Wi-Fi extender. I managed to enhance my network’s coverage by manifolds by adding a Wi-Fi booster, and the connectivity improved exponentially.
You can place the Wi-Fi extender at the spot where you feel that the signals aren’t strong enough. But know this that an extender will only amplify the range, not the speed. So, don’t get the wrong idea here. However, if you resolve signal issue and you’ve got a high-speed plan too, then you’ll be sorted.
When in doubt, double check. If you think that there are too many users or devices connected to your Wi-Fi, then change the credentials and disconnect them all. Once you do, start connecting the devices that you use frequently and run a speed test to know if it has boosted your speed or not.
In most cases, we connect devices unconsciously while allowing them permissions to use the internet for downloading updates automatically. As a result, you get slow speeds on your primary devices.
If you, like me, have smart doors and thermostat in your house, then try doing this. While you’re at it, run it by the smart apps to only update firmware manually.
Advanced Fixes for Boosting Your Internet Speed
I listed some of the easy fixes for you that would do the trick and boost internet speed for you. But, here are some advanced fixes for when the above-mentioned tips fail to work for you. It’s better to be equipped than just sit frustrated not knowing what to do. So, let’s check these out:
1. Changing the Frequency Band
If you haven’t changed your internet router in a while, then it’s about time you do that. Modern routers have better features, such as multiple frequency bands. Remember when I mentioned earlier to keep your router away from appliances? There’s a reason for that.
Appliances transmit electromagnetic waves at the same frequency that routers do by default (2.4 GHz). As a result, you face immense interference with your Wi-Fi signals. However, modern routers can change this frequency band to 5 GHz or 6 GHz.
Changing the frequency band allows your router to minimize interference, ensuring robust signal strength and connectivity. So, the next time you’re facing such an issue, log into your router’s administrator panel, head to the Wi-Fi settings, and change the band.
I, for one, have been a victim of viruses and ransomware (though I didn’t pay for anything, but I lost my data). That also put a significant dent on my internet connection.
While downloading files from the internet, you should make sure to never download stuff from any unprotected website or link.
Don’t make the mistake of accessing files or documents from any unauthorized websites. Meanwhile, ensure that you have a reliable, paid antivirus program to scan for such malware. Doing so will remove any malware and help smoothen your internet speed.
Clearing cache is also one of the methods you should try frequently for boosting your slow internet speed. Trust me when I say that I really felt my internet was working smoothly after I cleared all the caches.
For those who don’t know, the cache is like your go-to box where you’ve got the most frequently-used tools or items. It’s convenient but it takes additional space. The cache stores your most frequently used processes on the expense of your device memory, storage space and network resources.
When you clear it, especially your browser cache, you release the occupied resources, which ultimately amp up device and network performance. So, do this once every month but don’t forget to store your credentials as clearing cache removes them too.
Your internet router also has updates. Yes, like the ones we usually defer or delay on our PCs and laptops. Speaking for myself, I do that a lot!. And just like them, if you keep delaying your router updates, it’s unable to perform the same.
Some router updates are relevant to security, performance and other factors, making them important. However, by delaying or deferring them, you’re unintentionally leaving your router vulnerable.
Hence, take it from an experienced person, you should check up on your router for these updates. You can even contact your internet provider for any pending update or just log in the administrator panel of your router to view and install them.
5. Disable Background Processes
If you’re think that downloading The Boys in the background while you play a game is a good idea, then you’re not the only one who’s wrong. Running background tasks is only great when you’re not working on something that uses the network intensively.
For instance, if you’re downloading content, then evidently, the entire network speed will go to this task. You’ll experience slowness and sometimes a simple feed refresh won’t even work, leaving you stranded.
Hence, if you’re truly looking to enjoy good speed internet, then disable and close background processes as much as possible. You’ll be surprised at how much bandwidth you can actually find and the improvement in speed you can get by doing this simple task.
Just open your task manager and check which programs are using more processing power, especially on startup. Close them, and reassess the overall performance.
When to Contact Your Provider?
If all else fails, it’s time to call in the big guns. If your internet speed is still not improved, you need to contact customer service.
Here, you can expect the following:
• The support will tell you another fix, or maybe send a team over to your place for equipment fixes, replacement or more.
• Or, they will ask you to upgrade your internet plan, which is also a good option since in most cases, your internet speed is just not up to the level of your desired activities.
Either way, you should not refrain from contacting support. You can try checking for outages too. In some cases, there’s maintenance undergoing at the provider’s end which is causing the problem.
You can also ask if your provider can change the connection type for you. If you’re using cable or DSL internet, then check if fiber internet is available in your location. If yes, then opt for it since it’s ‘THE’ best option out there!
Why is my internet slow?
Your internet can be slow due to several reasons, including:
• Too many connected devices
• Low-tiered plan
• Too much interference
• Poor coverage
• Outdated router
• Unclear cache
How do I fix slow internet speed?
You can fix slow internet speed by:
• Rebooting your router
• Changing your internet connection
• Connecting an ethernet
• Changing Wi-Fi frequency
• Disconnecting and reconnecting devices
How to increase Wi-Fi speed?
You can increase your Wi-Fi speed by:
• Placing your router closer to your devices
• Changing the Wi-Fi band
• Placing your router in an open space
• Connecting only necessary devices on the Wi-Fi
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