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Download Article Explore this Article parts. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Understand what might be causing slow Internet speed. There are virtually countless reasons why your Internet might not be performing as you expect it to, but a few common reasons include the following: [1] X Research source Old software or hardware Too many other computers or mobile items on the network Ongoing downloads Signal interference from walls or other appliances Low Internet speed from your Internet Service Provider.
Check your Internet speed. You pay for a certain amount of Mbps megabits per second of upload and download speed; checking your actual upload and download speed will give you an approximate idea of how close you are to the advertised speed. Many Internet Service Providers advertise speeds of "up to" a certain number, meaning that the top speed itself isn't guaranteed. Most of the time, your computer's highest upload or download speed will be a little bit lower than the advertised speed.
If the actual speed is close to the advertised speed, your ISP isn't the problem. Compare your speed results against your plan. Check your service plan to see what speed you are paying for, then compare that number with the actual speed that you found.
If the speeds aren't anywhere close to each other, you'll need to call your ISP. Check all of the providers in your area. ISPs advertise in megabits, not megabytes. There are 8 megabits Mb in a megabyte MB , so if you are paying for 25 megabits per second Mbps , then that's just over 3 megabytes per second MBps of actual transfer speed. Decrease the distance between your computer and your router. If you are connected to the internet via a Wi-Fi router, you'll find that your Internet speed drops as you move further away from your router.
Stay as close as possible to your router for maximum Internet speed. Establish a line of sight between your computer and the router. If your router's signal has to travel through even one wall or appliance e. A good rule of thumb is to have your router visible from where you're using your computer or mobile at all times. Minimize the number of items on the network. Like a freeway, your Wi-Fi network can only handle a certain amount of traffic before it slows down.
If possible, make sure that your computer is the only connection to your router; this will give you the best Internet results. Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. Most computers can plug directly into the back of the router using an Ethernet cable, which removes the lag time between the router's signal departing and your computer receiving the signal.
You cannot connect mobile platforms e. Part 2. Determine how old your hardware is. Routers, modems, computers, smartphones, and tablets all suffer a certain amount of depreciation after a few years. If one or more of these items is exceptionally older—four or more years, to be precise—you will invariably encounter some Internet problems. Unfortunately, the best solution to old technology is purchasing new technology. Another situation in which you'll notice problems is if you recently installed a brand-new operating system on an old computer or mobile platform.
Unplug your router and modem for a few minutes. This is commonly known as "power-cycling", and it allows your router to clear out its internal cache and start from scratch. Restarting your router will also prompt it to re-select the least busy Wi-Fi channel, which is something that may change daily depending on your location.
Upgrade your router's firmware. I bet most of you have an iPhone, iPad, sound system, and at least one other form of electronic device in your modem area. Am I right? Well, if so, then you need to check to see whether these things are causing electromagnetic interference. This may mean that a worker from the company will be sent out to your house, and this can cost an additional fee.
But, you might discover the root of your problem. For instance, a worker could find that the wires in your roof are almost totally chewed away and need replacing.
This would be nearly impossible to figure out without a proper investigation. Have any other suggestions for boosting download speed? Let us know in the comment section below. If you liked this article, you might want to check out our post on how to speed up your WordPress website and how to install WordPress.
See all similar articles in this category Let us help you build a blog to support your family's income and help the community while you're at it! Type in your keyword and press enter to search:. Facebook Tweet LinkedIn Shares In This Guide: 1. Scan for Viruses 4. Check for On-System Interference 5. Use a Fast VPN 6. Move Your Router 7. Protect Your Wifi Network 8. Connect Via an Ethernet Cable 9. Check Your Filters Make sure the maximum supported Wi-Fi standard e.
An alternative to extenders is a powerline kit. Digital signals can pass through electrical wiring, and powerline devices are designed to take advantage of this. It works like this: You connect a powerline plug to your router, then put the plug into a wall socket. Add another powerline plug in any other room in your house, and it can provide a wired or wireless connection to that room. There will be some drop in speed, but it's a simple and effective option.
Unless your home is particularly old, it should have electrical wiring that supports this, but it's best to buy your kit from a retailer with a robust return policy just in case. We probably don't have to tell you this, but you need a password on your Wi-Fi network.
It's good for keeping hackers away and keeping neighbors from Netflixing off of your bandwidth, which will definitely slow you down.
Make sure you use AES encryption, which is both the most secure and most speed-friendly security option. Having dozens of things tapping into the Wi-Fi at once can be problematic. Plug anything you can into Ethernet, and unplug anything you have connected but don't need like that "smart" tea kettle you never once got to work. Make sure only the things that need internet get internet.
Good routers all of the routers listed above, for example offer controls to prioritize a particular device or service. It's a handy way to make sure your games never get interrupted by someone else streaming videos on Facebook. This tip is specific to computers: If the internet on your PC or laptop is perpetually slow, but other devices seem fine, open your Task Manager or Activity Monitor and see which programs are running in the background. Certain programs could be set to auto-update that don't need to be.
If they're always updating in the background, that could be the cause of your slow internet. Check it out and adjust the settings. We've read this tip many times on the web, but we were skeptical. Restarting your router on a regular basis sounds like an extension of the age-old pseudo solution to everything digital: Reboot it.
Speak to one of our experts. Call: Data caps. Download speeds. Transfers data to your home for activities like streaming, shopping and browsing social media. Mbps Megabits per second. A unit of measurement used to indicate download and upload speeds. Upload speeds.
Transfer data from your home for activities like video calls, uploading large files, working on online documents and live gaming. Get the latest internet, streaming, wireless, TV and home security news directly to your inbox. On this page 12 ways to improve your internet speed Update your security Optimize your router settings Choose a new Wi-Fi channel Purchase a newer, high-end router Reset your router Angle one Wi-Fi antenna up and one to the side Antenna upgrades and omnidirectional antennas Move your wireless router to an elevated, clear spot Move your wireless router to a central part of your home Configure or purchase a Wi-Fi repeater Add an internet extender Take a speed test.
Your speed test results:. Download Speeds. Upload Speeds. Need more for the price? View providers near me Rather chat? Give us a call: Rather chat? What to read next Read more. Internet speed classifications: What counts as fast internet?
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