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Protect Windows 10 From Internet Explorer. Mozilla Fights Double Standard. Connect to a Hidden Wi-Fi Network. Change the Size of the Touch Keyboard. Check Bluetooth Device Battery Life.
Reader Favorites Take Screenshot on Windows. Mount an ISO image in Windows. Run anti-virus software on your computer to locate and eliminate harmful malware. In addition to creating harmful security holes, malware runs constantly in the background, hogging system resources and slowing connection speeds. Some malware prevents an Internet connection entirely. Close unneeded programs. Even if you aren't actively using a program, if it's open it's using up system resources.
Only keep those programs open that you need at any given time. Switch from a wireless to a wired connection. 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 node to access the web. If you are using traditional hardware, such as a default router provided by your ISP, you need to keep in mind that the further 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. Larger properties or home offices located in a garden or yard, however, 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. On this note, 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 cut increased bandwidth demand in today's homes. There is also no point in signing up a high-speed internet plan if your old hardware cannot support it. So you also need to consider the age of your router if you are having trouble with slow speeds. 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 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 weak, are using an insecure protocol, or have a Wi-Fi hotspot open, this could indicate that others are 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 use -- which is usually something comparable to Wi-Fi channels facilitate the sending and receipt of data. When you have too many connections, this may cause a bottleneck that slows 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.
In order to change channels, you can sign in to your router's configuration page and select from available options.
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. Now that many of us are working from home, offices may require you to use a VPN to access corporate resources in the name of security.
Check out every provider and plan in your area to see if you can get better speeds for a better deal. Before we dive in, take an internet speed test. Measuring your internet speed and knowing how it compares to the speeds you pay for is an important part of diagnosing a slow connection.
Run the Speed Test. Your modem and router work hard , and sometimes they need to refresh with a quick power cycle. Simply pull the plug on both units, wait 30 seconds, and then plug the modem back into the wall outlet. Once it properly boots, do the same with the router. In the case of a wireless gateway, pull the plug, wait, and plug it back in. Draining both units of power allows them to cool down, clear the system memory, clear up any local communication issues, and reestablish fresh connections.
Overall, a power cycle can really give your internet speeds a boost on your side of the modem. Many people hide their routers or wireless gateways in closets, behind furniture , or down in basement s.
Instead , put as few physical barriers between your router and your devices as possible. Walls, floors, ceilings , doors, large furniture, and similar obstructions can barricade your Wi-Fi signals and reduce connection speeds , especially over longer distances. Certain signals from other devices can also interfere with your wireless speeds. These include microwaves, Bluetooth speakers, baby monitors, and cordless phones.
For the best Wi-Fi coverage, place your router in a central location, or at a location where you use Wi-Fi the most, like in a home office. For instance, if the antennas are positioned vertically, the Wi-Fi signals broadcast horizontally in all directions. That said, if you live in a one-story house, keep the antennas vertical.
If you live in a multistory house, positional at least one antenna horizontally so the Wi-Fi signals reach the additional floors. The early morning hours are ideal when everyone is asleep and no other downloads currently hog your bandwidth.
Game updates, meanwhile, typically require you to manually start the download. You may need a faster plan if more people live with you now, if you transitioned to working from home, or if you generally use the internet more than you did before. Author - Rebecca Lee Armstrong. Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing.
She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet. Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.
When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.
Other factors that affect speed How to troubleshoot a slow connection Quick fixes Jump to : Why is your internet so slow? Why is your internet so slow? Pro tip : If you need help figuring out how much bandwidth you need to prevent traffic jams, check out our How Much Speed Do You Need tool. Use QoS settings Nearly all routers have a quality of service or QoS component that allows you to control how your network prioritizes certain types of data.
Prune your internet connections There may be some devices connected to your network that you rarely use—if at all. Pro tip: Our guide on how to set up guest Wi-Fi covers a few different ways to establish a second network. Problem: You exceeded your data cap Many internet providers have data caps, and some slow your speeds to a crawl after you hit that cap.
Problem: You have high latency Latency is the time data takes to make a round trip from your device to the destination and back. Problem: You have slow or outdated devices The problem might not be with your internet connection—it might be with the device you use. Problem: Your provider is throttling your connection Internet providers can throttle your speeds, causing a slow connection. Other factors that affect your speed. Your internet connection type There are a few different technologies internet providers use to deliver your connection, like cable, fiber, satellite, or DSL.
How to troubleshoot a slow connection. Next, run a speed test and compare Running a series of speed tests while connected to different points in your network can help you figure out where your speeds are slowing down.
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