Are you tapping your fingers on your desk, rolling your eyes, waiting for a website to load? Does it feel like it’s taking ages for a YouTube video to load? You’re not alone my friend. There are a lot of reasons for a slow internet connection. Thankfully, these are extremely easy to fix.
So, let’s unravel some reasons you have slow internet, and more importantly, how you can fix it.
Reasons Why You Have a Slow Internet Connection
Whether you’re experiencing slowdowns on your phone, computer or gaming console, here are some reasons why your internet might be slow.
Too Many Devices on Your Network
A WiFi router can generally only support around 15-20 devices before you start experiencing frequent slowdowns and disconnections. This has nothing to do with your internet provider since your router assigns bandwidth to your devices.
Outdated Router or Modem
Your router or modem adds a lot to how fast your internet is. WiFi routers, like all other technology, have a limited life. As the years pass, and the internet technology evolves, the speeds causing the older WiFi tech to become slower and outdated. While these can be managed to an extent with software updates, this can only go on for a little while until you need a replacement router.
Data Throttling by the ISP
While your devices might be perfectly fine, there might be an issue from the backend with your ISP that can cause slow downloads. If your ISP has imposed a data cap on your connection then you might have exceeded it, which can cause throttling from your ISP.
Damaged Ethernet Cables
If you’re having connection issues with a device that’s connected to your router using a wire, chances are that your Ethernet wire is damaged or faulty. The clip in the Ethernet connector can break, which causes it to wiggle in the port. A failing Ethernet cable can cause your internet speed to become drastically slower.
Background Apps Consuming Bandwidth
Oftentimes, we forget that there might be background apps using up all of our bandwidth. Your consoles can download updates or game files in the background. Windows often downloads large update files and your phone can update your apps which can use up huge amounts of data.
Heavy Network Traffic at Peak Times
Internet rush hour happens when multiple users are using the bandwidth at the same time. During this, users can face slower speeds while downloading, uploading, or browsing. This can have a more drastic impact on your connection if you're using multiple devices in your home at the same time.
Issues with Devices on the Network
Your internet connection or router isn’t always the culprit when you’re having internet speed problems. Oftentimes, it can be one of your devices. If your internet slows down to a crawl on a few amount of devices on your network, try troubleshooting issues with your device rather than your connection.
7 Proven Ways to Fix Slow Internet
Now that we’ve looked at some of the issues that might occur with your internet connection to cause it to slow down, here are some internet troubleshooting tips to help you get back your internet speeds.
Reboot Your Router
WiFi routers are essentially low-powered computers. When they run for too long, their memory can get clogged as processes pile up, which can reduce their performance. Rebooting your router can clear away the unneeded files and free up memory.
To reboot your router, follow these simple steps:
Unplug your router’s switch from the power outlet.
Plug the router back into the power outlet and turn it on.
Wait for 2-3 minutes to let the router power on fully before testing your connection.
Wait for 60 seconds so that the router completely powers down. If your router is hot to the touch, let it cool for a while.
Limit the Number of Connected Devices
Limiting the amount of devices connected to the network can reduce the number of activities that use bandwidth, which can improve your connection speed. Try to make sure that only one bandwidth-intensive process is running at a time.
If your router has Quality of Service (QoS) settings, turn them on. This will allow you to manage your bandwidth, allowing you to prioritize bandwidth for specific devices, programs, services, or clients.
Upgrade to a New Router or Modem
Getting a new router won’t magically increase the internet speed more than the one that’s promised by your ISP. However, a new router can make your WiFi network faster, especially if you have a faulty router or an old one.
Depending on your ISP, you might be able to get a replacement router for free or at a discount.
Check and Replace Damaged Cables
Damaged cables can often be the reason why you face constant slowdowns or disconnection. Here are some things you can do.
Check the fiber optic or coaxial cable that plugs into your router for any external damage.
Replace any faulty Ethernet wires and check if your connection gets better.
For wired connections, check to see if the light is turned on and blinking when the device is connected using Ethernet.
The connecter that plugs into your router can become damaged over time. Disconnect it and check for any damage. Clean it with isopropyl alcohol to clean dust particles.
The clip onclip-on Ethernet wires often break after several connections. This causes the cable to become loose, causing disconnections. Replace the connector on the cable to ensure a solid connection.
In case you still face slowdowns after all these fixes, the problem might not be with your hardware.
Close Background Apps That Drain Bandwidth
Background apps can be sneaky. They can use up all your bandwidth and you’ll be none the wiser.
This can happen on most internet devices you own, whether it's your phone, computer, gaming console, or your smart home device.
Check your apps to see if any of them have downloads running in the background. Apps like Netflix and YouTube can download content in the background. Also, make sure to turn off background app refresh which limits apps from running in the background.
Optimize Internet Usage During Peak Times
Similar to rush hour traffic, the internet also has peak times when the most number of users are online at the same time. This increase in traffic can put stress on the network, slowing down the internet for everyone. This usually happens after work hours.
While there’s not a lot you can do about it, you can avoid downloading files or streaming 4K content during this time. This will help decrease the amount of slowdowns you face, which will help improve your internet experience.
Contact Your ISP for Support or Plan Upgrade
If you've been using the same ISP for a while now, it might be time to upgrade your plan or call them to perform maintenance and they can help you find a suitable internet plan for your needs. However, if you’re satisfied with the speeds you’re getting and often face connectivity issues, call them to perform maintenance.
If you experience issues regularly with your ISP, try going for a different ISP. Here are a few we recommend getting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard and your internet plan:
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): Up to 3.5 Gbps, though real-world speeds are typically lower.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Up to 9.6 Gbps, with better support for multiple devices.
- Wi-Fi 6E: Similar to Wi-Fi 6 but with access to the 6 GHz band for less interference.
- Wi-Fi 7: The fastest, reaching theoretical speeds of up to 46 Gbps in optimal conditions.
How do I check my LAN speed?
- Use a Speed Testing Tool: Tools like LAN Speed Test or iPerf can measure your local area network speed.
- Check Your Router Interface: Access your router’s admin page to view real-time LAN performance metrics.
- File Transfer Test: Transfer a large file between two devices on the same network and measure the transfer time.
Does VPN increase internet speed?
Generally, a VPN slows down your connection due to encryption overhead. However, in specific cases, a VPN might improve speed by:
- Avoiding ISP Throttling: If your ISP limits certain traffic, a VPN can bypass those restrictions.
- Optimizing Routes: Some VPNs reroute traffic through faster servers, potentially improving latency.