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Why is my internet so slow? 11 ways to speed up your connection
Are you suffering from slow internet speeds at home?
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After 2020, many of us found ourselves spending a substantial amount of time at home. Especially when multiple people are in the same property, the fight for capacity can lead to a host of connectivity issues.
Connectivity drops, bottlenecks, lagged content streaming and downloads, and slow speeds are all common problems with home internet services -- and it may not be the fault of your provider.
Also: How to optimize your network for remote work and learning
Below, we explore common reasons why your internet might be slow and offer suggestions for how to fix them.
Table of Contents
- Assess your bandwidth
- Check your speed
- Reset your router
- Check your router's location
- Consider a mesh network
- Check your wiring
- Find and unload internet hijackers
- Switch to less crowded channel
- Try a different VPN location
- Scan for malware
- Check your background usage
1. Assess your bandwidth
If you have constant speed problems, your bandwidth is the first thing you should consider.
Make sure you are on a package that can cope with today's array of devices and their demand for bandwidth. ZDNet's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols noted that a minimum speed of 30Mbps is recommended. While many areas are only served with cable connections, it should provide improved speeds if fibre is available.
Also: Slow Wi-Fi? 8 ways to speed up your home office network
The general rule is that you will need more bandwidth if you have multiple devices and streaming services on the go. Your internet provider may have imposed a throttle on your service if you are considered to be using 'too much' bandwidth -- and if this is the case, you will need to call your service provider. You might also need to renegotiate your package, upgrade, or, if you aren't being offered a good deal, switch providers entirely.
2. Check your speed
If you are already on a high-speed package and there's no reason why you are suffering slow internet speeds because of what you are paying for, head over to Speedtest.net or Fast.com for a real-time analysis of your connection.
These free services will ping and check your download and upload speeds, as shown in progress below:
If you are paying for a package of up to 30Mbps and are only receiving speeds of 2 or 3Mbps, for example, it may be an issue with your internet service provider (ISP).
At this point, it's worth checking in with your provider to see if there is an outage in the area. An easy way to do this is to type your ISP's name and "outage" into a search engine or to visit their website. You could also ask a neighbor or two if they are having trouble.
Flickering lights on your router may also indicate a problem outside of your home, such as with cables or junction boxes.
However, if it is only a specific service online that you're having trouble with, go to Down for everyone or just me, type in the address, and check to see if your slow speed or failed connection to a domain is a third-party problem or outage. Sometimes, being unable to access web domains is not down to your service but rather ISPs or content delivery networks (CDNs). An example is when Fastly made vast swathes of the web inaccessible due to an outage in June 2021.
Also: The best internet speed test
3. Reset your router
Sometimes, the simplest explanation is the right one. If your speed is suffering, try unplugging your router, leaving it off for 10 seconds or so, and restarting. In the same way that a PC sometimes needs a refresh, routers sometimes do, too.
4. Check your router's location
There are two general categories of hardware used to connect your home: a traditional router or a mesh network (unless you are relying on a mobile device and cellular 3G/4G/5G setup).
Traditional routers act as a central hub to link you to your ISP service. These routers manage traffic through one access point.
In comparison, mesh networks are more modern entrants on the market that create a web of nodes for internet access. Instead of every home device connecting to one router, these products include a hub and nodes that can be dotted around different areas of your home, and devices will connect to the closest physical node to access the web.
If you are using traditional hardware, such as a default router provided by your ISP, you need to remember that the farther away you are, the higher the risk of connection problems, slow speeds, and dropouts. A simple solution is to move your router -- perhaps closer to your home office -- or invest in a Wi-Fi extender to boost signal strength.
Objects, too, can impede connections between your devices and a router. If possible, try to keep clutter around your router to a minimum.
5. Consider a mesh network
Larger properties or home offices located in a garden or yard may simply not be serviceable by one centralized internet hub. If this is the case, moving your router won't be enough, and it may be time to consider a mesh network instead.
Also: Mesh networking vs. traditional Wi-Fi routers: What is best for your home office?
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Both categories can provide reasonable speeds, but mesh networks do tend to sacrifice some speed for improved connectivity. If you require direct, high-speed connections for streaming, gaming, and power-hungry work applications, an upgrade to your standard router is a worthwhile investment and will likely perform better than a mesh setup. The default router usually provided by an ISP simply might not meet bandwidth demands in today's homes.
It's also worth noting that you can mix-and-match a router with a LAN cable if you want a stable, rapid connection for a PC in one room as well as wireless connectivity in general.
There is also no point in signing up for a high-speed internet plan if your old hardware can't support it. So, you also need to consider the age of your router if slow speeds are a problem.
See also
- Best mesh Wi-Fi system for the office or home
- TP-Link Deco M4 review: A reliable mesh Wi-Fi system on a budget
6. Check your wiring
Something that may be overlooked but could cause connectivity or speed issues is the wiring linking your router to a switch, phone jack, or PC. If your wires are old, you may want to consider refreshing them and replacing older ADSL/Ethernet wires and see if this solves the issue.
7. Find and unload internet hijackers
If you are suffering slow speeds, this may be because someone else is hijacking your internet subscription. Routers usually come with a randomized password set as default and printed on a sticker on your router, but if you have changed your password to something easy to guess, are using an insecure protocol, or have a Wi-Fi hotspot open, you could be at risk of other people using your network without your consent.
To lock your connection or change your password, head over to your router's configuration page in a browser. You will need to check your vendor's specific router address -- which is usually something like 192.168.0.1 -- or perform a Google search with your router type, which should provide the address you need to access router settings and boot out any unwanted users.
Also: These states pay the most for the worst-quality internet
8. Switch to a less crowded channel
Wi-Fi channels facilitate the sending and receipt of data. Bottlenecks may form when you have too many connections, slowing down your broadband. Depending on which channels your router uses, you may be able to switch to less congested traffic paths.
There are different Android and iOS apps to analyze your Wi-Fi channels easily and reveal what devices are connected to your network. To change channels, sign in to your router's configuration page and select the channel you want from available options.
9. Try a different VPN location
A virtual private network (VPN) is software that adds a layer of encryption to connections made between your device and servers, as well as masks your IP address. Many of us work from home, so offices may require you to use a VPN to access corporate resources securely.
You can either subscribe to a VPN as a paying customer or opt for a free service. Paid options are usually faster but can still slow down your internet as you are using a relay for traffic -- and if the VPN service is being used at peak times, there also may be congestion.
Also: Best VPN services: Safe and fast don't come for free
A quick fix is often to try a different location option offered by your VPN; for example, London users set to a New York server could try using a different server located in the UK. However, not all VPNs are created equally, and there can be substantial differences between the speeds on offer.
Free VPNs are generally not recommended because, in return for the free access, there is always a tradeoff -- whether this is in security, your personal data, or speed. If you are using a free VPN option and the low speed is intolerable, you may want to consider signing up for a paid service instead.
Our current top picks include ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN.
Read on:
- How to find the best VPN service: Your guide to staying safe on the internet
- The best free VPNs: Why they don't exist
10. Scan for malware
Another reason your internet may be slow may have nothing to do with your hardware or ISP. If your computer has been infected with malware, such as nuisanceware or adware, it may be that the program is throttling overall performance by taking up memory reserves. Run an antivirus scan just to make sure. Suspicious behavior to be on the lookout for includes unwanted pop-up ads in high numbers, changes to default your search engine, and redirects to unusual websites.
Also:
11. Check your background usage
Finally, some mobile apps and PC programs with heavy resource demands or streaming requirements may take up bandwidth that you otherwise need without your realizing it. Shut down any software you don't need to be active.
What causes slow internet?
While there is no "one size fits all" answer to this question, the router is often the root cause. Your router may be outdated or in an inconvenient location to effectively reach your office computer, laptop, or appliances. Routers, modems, and mesh networks (if you have one) can also be overwhelmed with connections and require a good old restart. Worst case scenario, your ISP could be guilty of bandwidth throttling.
What is a good internet speed?
A "good" internet speed is, first of all, subjective to your needs. If you simply want to check and send work emails on time, stream the new show you're binging, or Google a quick question, 25 Mbps would be a "good" internet speed. 50-100 Mbps, however, are "good" for those working from home, gaming, or wanting to stream in HD. If multiple people in your house are surfing and streaming at the same time, 50 Mbps and above is ideal.
How do I test my internet speed?
Getting an accurate test of your internet speed can require multiple diagnoses to get a reliable reading, but it is simple and possible to do. Click here to see some of our top picks for the best internet speed tests.