If you’re tired of having to deal with slow internet, there are several easy fixes you can try. Often, these tweaks resolve your problem and bring you back to the speed you pay for.
Network congestion is one of the main culprits when it comes to slow speeds. It’s especially common at night when people are winding down for the day or streaming HD videos.
1. Change Your Wi-Fi Channel
The Best Way to Boost Your Internet Connection in Minutes
If you’re having trouble with your WiFi speed, the first thing you should do is change the Wi-Fi channel. This simple change can improve your router’s signal and make it faster for everyone on the network.
Most routers broadcast data over two frequency bands – 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz – which are divided into channels. These channels are like lanes on a highway, guiding data over the airwaves and helping to ensure that each packet has the fastest route possible.
However, these channels can be crowded by devices that are close to your home and can cause interference, slowing down the Wi-Fi signal and reducing the speed of your connection. In particular, this can happen when you have many other devices that use a similar radio frequency, such as a garage door opener or a baby monitor.
The good news is that there are a number of easy tools that can help you to find the fastest and most reliable WiFi channels. One of these is a free application called NetSpot that helps you to quickly scan your home’s 2.4 GHz WiFi range and determine which channel is used the most and which isn’t.
Once you know which channel is occupied the most, you can easily change it to a less busy one. To do this, you’ll need to log into your router as an admin and access its web interface.
Once you’ve logged in, you can then click on the WiFi menu and select Settings. Then, scroll down to the Channel section and choose the channel you want to change your wireless network to. Once you’ve done this, your device will be updated and you can start using the new channel.
2. Change Your Router’s Password
The Best Way to Boost Your Internet Connection in Minutes
One of the quickest ways to boost your router’s speed is to change its password. While it’s tempting to create a simple password that you can easily remember, it’s much better to opt for a complex password that can’t be guessed by anyone.
First, you should look for a setting in your router’s settings page that allows you to change the router’s administrator username and password. Many routers have these as a default, but some allow you to change them.
If your router has an option for this, click it to open the security page and change your username and password. It’s important to use a strong, complex password that’s at least eight characters long and uses letters, numbers, and symbols.
You should also choose a password that hasn’t been used in the last 30 days. This is because hackers may have found a weak password, like 123456, and they can try it again to break in.
When you’re changing your password, make sure to disable remote administration, which lets others access the router without a login from their own devices. This can make your network vulnerable to attack, so if you have it enabled, turn it off.
Changing the name of your wireless network can also be an effective way to protect your connection from malware and other online threats. You can even choose a unique name, such as Smith’s Home Wi-Fi, to help make it more recognizable and deter hacking attempts.
3. Disconnect Unnecessary Devices
Whether you have a single Wi-Fi enabled device in your home or an entire smart home, it’s easy to end up with too many devices connecting at once. With smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions, video doorbells and refrigerators all joining the party, your Wi-Fi connection can quickly become strained as everyone tries to compete for bandwidth.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to boost your internet connection is to unplug or power down devices you don’t use regularly. If your cell phone is left plugged in or uncharged, it’s likely pulling down software updates that are slowing down your connection without you even knowing it.
If you have a router in your home, it might also be worth examining the list of connected devices to see what is hogging your connection. This will show you which devices are using the most bandwidth and how quickly they’re hogging it.
The next step is to unplug the largest of your devices, and let it sit a good 60 seconds before plugging it back in. The capacitors in your router and modem need time to fully discharge so that they can re-establish the connection and get your home network back online faster than ever before.
You might be surprised at just how much more you can enjoy your internet connection once you’ve taken these simple steps to optimize it for your specific needs. With a little bit of patience and planning, you’ll be back on the road to a speedy internet experience in no time at all.
4. Switch Your Router to a 5 GHz Channel
If you’re looking to boost your internet connection in minutes, the best thing you can do is switch your router to a 5 GHz channel. This can help improve your speed by letting more devices connect to your network and by avoiding interference from other wireless networks in the area.
Most modern Wi-Fi devices support both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. But older devices are less likely to work on 5 GHz, so it’s always a good idea to make sure that your device supports both bands before you set it up.
While both bands have their perks, the 2.4 GHz band is better for longer ranges and transmitting through solid objects. This is particularly useful if you have a large area that needs to be covered, or if you want to use your router for a variety of devices that require a longer wireless signal.
On the other hand, the 5 GHz band is faster and uses shorter waves. This is especially helpful if you’re trying to cover an outdoor space with your router, or if you have devices that need to travel through walls or other solid objects before reaching their target.
Another benefit of the 5 GHz band is that it operates over more channels than the 2.4 GHz one. This means that you’re more likely to avoid interfering signals from other devices in your area, which can significantly slow down your internet connection.
You can also take advantage of this feature if you live in an apartment complex or other living space where there are many other routers in the vicinity. A rural internet or rural broadband offered by WOI, however, would be best if you live away from the city. This can also be useful if you’re using an older Wi-Fi device and need a high-speed connection to your modem.
5. Restart Your Router
Rebooting your router is the easiest way to get your connection running like new again. It’s also a great preventative measure that can help keep hackers away.
When your router isn’t working, it can cause your internet connection to slow down and disconnect from time to time. Restarting it can fix these issues and make your internet faster.
As a general rule, it’s best to reboot your router on a regular basis. You can do this by manually powering it off and on, or using a timer that you set to cycle it on and off every few weeks or months.
Restarting your router will also clear out the memory it has from all of its devices and speed up your internet connection. This can be especially helpful if you have several devices connected to your network and they’re all updating regularly.
To reboot your router, unplug it from the power outlet for about 10 seconds. This ensures that all of its capacitors are drained, clearing out every last bit of memory in the process.
Once you’ve waited the required amount of time, plug it back in again. After a few minutes, your router and all of the devices connected to it will be back online again.
Restarting your router is a simple, easy, and effective way to boost your internet connection in just a few minutes. It’s also a great way to prevent hackers from taking advantage of your internet connection and making it difficult for you to use your home computer.