Do you want to improve the speed of your Wi-Fi? Follow these steps to get rid of poor internet speeds that are ruining your online experience.
You can dominate the latest online game while downloading big files in the background one minute and then struggle to load a basic webpage the next. Perhaps the connection is weaker on one device or in one area of the house. Your router doesn't appear to be able to provide you with full internet speed.
It's critical to address fluctuating internet connections and overcome unpredictable Wi-Fi speeds if you rely on Wi-Fi for your home network. So, if you're not sure why your internet speed is falling, we'll walk you through the procedure...
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1. Perform an Internet Connection Test
Before you start looking into your Wi-Fi network, be sure it's not an issue with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Use a website like Speedtest to test your connection whether you have a laptop, PC, or mobile device. If you want to test not just Wi-Fi speeds but also internet speeds when physically connected to your router, use an Ethernet cable to connect your device to the network and check if your download speed and connection vary.
This may also be used to measure gaming console internet speed. However, to ensure an accurate result, avoid frequent Wi-Fi speed test blunders.
Keep in mind that cabled connections will have faster speeds, thus Wi-Fi-connected devices might see a slight slowdown.
If connecting through cable doesn't significantly increase speeds, your ISP is most likely to blame. Many providers provide remote diagnostics, so it's worth calling their customer service department to figure out what's wrong. You may also see if internet access is affected by a regional issue or defect.
If your speeds considerably increase when you physically connect to your router, you may have an issue with your Wi-Fi network. In such situation, we suggest attempting some of the alternative solutions.
Whether you're having trouble accessing a website, check sites like Down For Everyone or Just Me to see if it's down for other people as well.
2. Update the Firmware on Your Router
You should keep your router's firmware up to date, just like the rest of your digital life. These updates frequently include numerous bug fixes as well as critical security patches, which can improve your Wi-Fi performance and resolve all connection difficulties.
Before proceeding with any more troubleshooting, make sure your firmware is up to current, as this might save you hours of time and effort. Reboot the router to clear the cache and reset the program if you were previously using the newest firmware.
Check for any overdue software upgrades if you're having slow speeds on a particular device. System and app upgrades are available on the majority of connected devices. Before continuing to troubleshoot, double-check that all updates are installed and that the problem still remains.
3. Change the Wi-Fi Channels
Wi-Fi networks use a variety of channels and two distinct frequency bands to send their signals. There are 11 common Wi-Fi channels in the United States, although there are normally 13 across the world. Routers only transmit at 2.4 GHz in the early days of wireless networking.
However, as more people use Wi-Fi networks at home, the number of channels has required to grow. Many new routers now have the option of broadcasting at 2.4GHz or 5GHz. Wi-Fi 6E routers also transmit at 6GHz.
While this provides you additional alternatives, another neighboring Wi-Fi network or other electrical equipment might be transmitting at the same frequency as your network. Overcrowding a frequency might cause your network to slow down, which could be the source of your Wi-Fi issues.
To rule this out, check sure your router is set to the best Wi-Fi channel.
4. Monitor Bandwidth Usage
If you notice that your Wi-Fi speeds are dropping on a regular basis or at specific times of day, it's conceivable that software or other devices are using your bandwidth. Large downloads, video streaming, and online gaming may all eat up a lot of bandwidth, so keep an eye out for them.
You may use your router or a third-party software to see who is using your Wi-Fi bandwidth. You should be able to find out which devices are linked to your network by looking through the settings on your router. If you see any that you don't recognize, you should get rid of them.
Malware might potentially be the reason for your poor speeds, so make sure you have antivirus protection turned on and conduct a check.
5. Adjust the Wi-Fi Router's Position
When you're first setting up your network, the location of your router is usually the last item on your mind. The surroundings around your router, on the other hand, might have a big influence on the quality of your Wi-Fi network.
Wireless signals are all around us, even if we can't see them. They can, however, be delayed or, in rare circumstances, completely prevented. Faraday cages are made of concrete and metal because they are so good at blocking wireless transmissions. To get around this, you'll need to improve your home's Wi-Fi reception.
So, if your router is in your concrete-walled basement, it's time to relocate it. It's also a good idea to put the router in the middle of your house. Because Wi-Fi signals are disseminated in 360 degrees, they don't have to be at one end of the house to provide the optimum coverage.
One of the reasons your Wi-Fi is so sluggish might be electrical interference from gadgets like microwaves and even Christmas lights.
If your internet speed is being hampered by a poor signal and you can't move your router, try purchasing a Wi-Fi extension. You may even utilize an outdated router to amplify or extend the signal across your house.
If you prefer to purchase a new gadget, one of the best Wi-Fi extenders does not have to cost a fortune.
6. Boost the security of your network
You may have discovered strange gadgets linked to your network during your investigations. You most likely deleted it from your network in that scenario. This, on the other hand, indicates that illegal access to your Wi-Fi network has occurred.
This might range from anything as little as a neighbor using your network to something significantly more dangerous.
There are several methods to safeguard your home network by configuring your router. At the very least, you should change the default admin login on your router. User: admin and password: password are often used. These default credentials are easy to abuse since they are used by practically every router.
You should also make sure that your Wi-Fi network is password-protected. Most routers have this feature turned on by default, with the password stored on the device.
If you wish to change it, log in to your router with your freshly generated credentials and set a new wireless password manually.
7. Replace any outdated router hardware.
If your router has been the same for more than a few years, it may be time to replace to improve your Wi-Fi signal. Fortunately, you won't have to spend a lot of money to notice a significant change.
One of the simplest is to update the antenna on your router. The conventional antennas that come with most routers have a restricted range. An aftermarket antenna may be purchased for as little as $10, so it won't put a hardship on your wallet.
It's worth mentioning, though, that router hardware might cause a speed bottleneck on your network. If you have a high-speed internet connection, you may want to consider upgrading to a modern router to take advantage of the increased capacity.
Check to see if your router can manage the amount of devices linked to your network.
Get a Glimpse of Your Wi-Fi Speed
When it comes to constructing the ideal Wi-Fi network, it's not always easy, but it's definitely worth the effort. You'll be glad you took the time to optimize your network the next time you want to play an online game, watch Netflix, or browse the web.
Keeping your router's hardware and software up to date, as well as properly locating it and picking the appropriate channel, will significantly improve your Wi-Fi performance. Even with all of these tweaks, you may still require some performance enhancements.