Get Your Slow Internet Speed Back to Normal | Top Fixes (2024)

Slow internet can be a big inconvenience for an entire household. Internet slowdowns can cause buffering during streaming or gaming, or embarrassing dropped video calls during work or school. Learn how to determine why your home Wi-Fi is slow and what you can do for faster internet speeds. Enter your address to find fast internet plans near you.

Why is my internet so slow?

Getting a bad internet connection is frustrating and can feel like you are not getting your money’s worth. The reasons your high-speed internet is not working can include a bad Wi-Fi connection, incorrect equipment placement, signal interference, network congestion and more. The good news is that several of these issues can be resolved immediately without calling a technician or your internet service provider (ISP).

Find out why your download or upload speeds are so slow and learn how to increase download speeds on your devices here.

Factors that affect slow internet

One or more of the following circ*mstances could be causing slow internet speeds in your home.

Your internet plan: The internet plan you signed up for will tell you the maximum speed you can get in your home. It is common to have internet speeds slightly less than your advertised speed. For example, if you signed up for a 1 GB plan, you will likely get around 940 Mbps download speed because some speed is used to transfer the data.

How your device is connected: A device that is connected directly to your internet equipment, such as a computer that is hardwired to the modem using an ethernet cable, will get a faster speed than a device that uses a wireless signal.

Your Wi-Fi connection: When using wireless devices, you will get a slower speed than with a hardwired device, and your wireless signal may fluctuate in different parts of your home. You will get a better signal when you are closer to the router. Barriers like walls or doors can slow down your Wi-Fi signal.

Your online activities: Live streaming, live gaming, and uploading or downloading updates or large files all use more bandwidth than activities like browsing or sending emails. If you have multiple devices performing these activities simultaneously, expect to experience a slower internet speed for each device.

An overcrowded network: Fiber internet and DSL are the two types of internet connections unaffected by network congestion. Cable, 5G, fixed wireless and satellite internet are all types of shared connections, so a busy network can cause slowdowns. Even if your home doesn’t have many devices connected, you can experience slower internet speeds when the ISP has more network traffic. Busy times can include evenings, weekends, holidays, or during emergencies like storms.

Your internet connection type: Fixed wireless and 5G internet connections depend on your proximity to the nearest cell tower. The further away you are, the slower your speed will be. Fixed wireless and 5G work better when there is a clear line of sight between your gateway and the tower. Set up your internet equipment close to a window to cut down on interference. Similarly, satellite internet can slow down when obstructions like buildings, trees, fog and inclement weather disrupt the satellite’s sightline.

Your equipment: Your gateway, or modem and router, can slow your internet speed if you have outdated equipment. Most ISPs provide equipment for your internet connection and speed. If you choose to provide your own equipment, make sure it is compatible with your internet service. Your devices can also be the culprit of slow download speeds if they have a virus, need updates or are obsolete.

How to increase your internet speed

Before troubleshooting slow internet, you need to know what your internet speed is so you can determine possible problem areas. It also helps to know what a good Wi-Fi speed is for your home normally so you can measure how different factors affect your speed.

Test your internet speed several times over a day using a hardwired device (if possible) and calculate the average to find your baseline internet speed. Your Wi-Fi speed will be less than your hardwired speed because it sends the signal throughout your home using radio waves.

10 steps to make your internet faster

1. Restart your equipment. A simple reboot can solve many speed issues. Turn off your gateway (or modem and router if they are separate), wait about 60 seconds and then turn back on. This process allows your equipment to clear its cache and install updates, freeing up space and improving speed. Restarting and clearing the cache on your other devices, like your cell phone or computer, can also help your internet speed.
2. Move your equipment. For fiber, cable and DSL internet, your gateway needs to be centrally located to the devices in your home. For fixed wireless or 5G, your gateway needs to be near a window. Avoid putting your modem in a closet or near appliances that give off electromagnetic signals, like a microwave, as this can interfere with a wireless signal.
3. Change your Wi-Fi password. Update your Wi-Fi network password to ensure no one is “piggybacking” off your Wi-Fi signal. This step is especially important in apartments and multi-dwelling units where neighbors are in close proximity to your wireless signal. If you have a guest network option set up on your router, make sure that it is password-protected as well.
4. Disconnect some devices. Internet-connected devices are using some data even when in standby mode. You can improve your internet speed by unplugging or turning off devices not in use. For wireless devices, you can disconnect from your local Wi-Fi network when you are not using them. This step could incrementally improve your speed on your current device.
5. Plug your device into the modem. Connecting a computer to the modem with an Ethernet cable will net you a faster speed than using Wi-Fi. For wireless devices, try moving closer to the router to increase speeds.
6. Update your equipment. If you have had the same modem for several years, it may be time for an upgrade. Contact your ISP to ensure you have the most up-to-date model they offer and have them send you new equipment. If you are using your own equipment, double-check that it is the best type of modem and router for your internet connection. Some modems and routers are only equipped to handle internet up to a certain speed threshold. If you have a gigabit connection exceeding the device’s capacity, your equipment could limit your speed.
7. Contact your provider. If your speed test results are significantly lower than the internet plan you are signed up for, contact your internet provider about your speed issues. They may have solutions to increase your speed, such as replacing your gateway with a more updated device or providing Wi-Fi extenders to boost your wireless signal throughout your home.
8. Add a Wi-Fi booster or extender. A Wi-Fi mesh system uses small boxes called wireless boosters, or extenders, to pick up the signal from your router and carry it further in your home. You can improve your internet speed by adding a booster to an area of your home that gets a weak wireless signal.
9. Change your internet plan. If you consistently have speed problems after trying other solutions, you may need a faster internet speed. Enter your address on this page to find faster internet deals near you.
10. Change your internet connection type. You may need to consider switching your connection type as well. Fiber and cable internet providers offer faster speeds than DSL, satellite or fixed wireless connections. Type in your address to discover alternative internet solutions for your home.

Slow internet FAQs

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