The worst has happened.
You’re working on a new project online, putting in the finishing details, but when you try to download your work…
Nothing.
Your Internet has slowed to a snail’s pace, and downloading your project is going to take ages.
How can you pick up the pace? With these quick tips, you can learn how to increase your Internet speed and prevent disasters like this.
1. Figure Out What Your Speed Should Be
Before trying to diagnose your issues, you should try to figure out what your Internet speed should be. To do so, you can take an Internet speed test to figure out what you’re running currently.
Before running the test, it’s important to close out of anything that may consume a lot of data; this includes games, downloads, and streaming music/videos. If these are running during the test, you are likely to get skewed results.
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will show what your Internet speed should be on your billing statements, and can be found on your online account as well.
If you are running slower than you should be, follow these tips for faster Internet connections!
2. Reset Your Router
Yes, the old “have you tried turning it off and on again?” routine—it seems simple, but many people forget this step. This step will include your modem, router, and whatever devices you have connected to the Internet as well.
Start with a simple restart cycle from the router itself; running through a power cycle may be all the router needs to get back to normal again.
Depending on what router you use, you may have to call your provider to do a full reset on their end. This will help ensure that your modem/router is properly calibrated and running at full capacity.
While it’s recommended that this is done at least every other month for the benefit of your router, doing so when your Internet is slow should help your Internet speed significantly.
3. Change Your Router’s Placement
A common issue that slows your Internet speed is having the router placed somewhere inconvenient. If the signal from your router is being interrupted by a wall, or if the signal is being sent from too far away, then it will slow your Internet speed drastically.
Try changing where you place your WiFi router. Whether you put it in a more open location, or just move it to a closer room to where you work, you should see an improvement in your Internet speed.
If you’re wondering about the best place in your home to put your router, the Internet speed test above could also help show where your Internet grows in speed. Ensure that your router isn’t being blocked by any walls or doors that could be preventing your WiFi signal from connecting.
4. Check Your WiFi Channel
It’s common for modems and routers nowadays to have more than one frequency option available- 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Depending on what you use the Internet for, changing which frequency you use may help speed up your computer.
While the 2.4 frequency is great for distance, and is best for items such as home security systems and smart home devices, the 5 GHz frequency is often used for:
- Gaming consoles
- PCs
- Smartphones
- Smart TVs
If you happen to be using the 2.4 GHz frequency for any of the listed items, it’s recommended that you disconnect on those devices and reconnect to the 5 GHz channel instead.
5. Use a Faster Browser
Are you using the fastest Internet browser available? Do your problems tend to crop up when you are using a specific browser? Downloading a higher speed Internet browser, such as Google Chrome, could by an easy way to decrease wait time.
If you are currently using a good browser, then closing unnecessary tabs is a great method on how to increase your Internet speed. Getting rid of extra video or music players, or closing out of a game playing in the background should help dramatically.
6. Check the Devices on Your Network
This tip is specifically directed for those who are on unsecured networks. If you are able to, your first step should be securing your network to prevent unwanted “guests” from having access to your Internet.
If your connection was unsecured, there is a high probability that a neighbor or someone else close by is borrowing your Internet connection. By using your routers connection logs, you can see what devices have connected to your router and when.
Once you’ve logged into your routers log, you will be brought to a page showing a list of the different devices that have been or are currently connected to your router. Now it’s time to figure out which ones don’t belong.
This can be done by looking at the hostname or IP address in the log, though you’ll want to pay particular attention to the hostname. Should you see a device or name that you don’t recognize, you can block the device (if your router allows), or you can force them off of the server and, provided you secured your network, make them require a password if they try to log in again.
If your connection was already secured, following this tip may still be helpful, as there are certain ways for people to figure out your password. If you had a secured network but still find unknown devices, you may need to change your password.
7. Switch to Ethernet
While WiFi is fantastic, if you haven’t been able to get a strong connection and fast speed from your router, moving to an Ethernet cable temporarily might be the best solution. This is especially true if you have your device close to your router in the first place.
Connecting your most important devices to an Ethernet cable will help you get signal directly to your devices, helping them run faster.
Not only can you connect your laptop/computer to an Ethernet cable, but you can also connect certain TVs and gaming consoles as well for quick and easy Internet access.
8. Update Your Security
Whether it’s buying malware protection or doing a scan of your device with existing software, keeping your device’s security up to date is a sure way to increase its speed.
If you have viruses lurking on your computer or other device, they are sure to drain your Internet speed. While most devices will come with some form of antivirus already installed, it doesn’t hurt to research the best antivirus software available to upgrade your security.
Should you already have malware protection, running regular scans is a good way to keep your device running smoothly. It should do so regularly on its own, but if not, running a scan at least once a month is recommended.
9. Upgrade to Faster Internet Options
Sometimes, simple tricks like these won’t work for you, especially if you consume a high amount of Internet regularly. If you have a reliable Internet provider and the above tips haven’t helped, you may need to ask to upgrade to a faster Internet speed.
If you have had little success with the above tips, or if you found that your Internet’s speed is as your online account describes, then this would be the next best step.
Depending on your Internet usage, you can ask what Internet speed is right for you. This will help ensure that you don’t run into this problem again later on.
10. Purchase a New, Faster Router
If changing your Internet speed itself didn’t solve the problem, then it might be your router itself that’s faulty.
Depending on the age of your router, it may just not be able to keep up with you. Even routers from a few years ago are technological dinosaurs compared to what we have today.
Whether you need a fast router, a long-range router, or an extra secure router, there are plenty of options available to you.
The best routers are typically those that offer both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies, and those that offer high Internet speeds. Consider this while shopping for a new router to get the best options for you!
New Fast And Furious Internet
Now that you know some of the best ways to increase your Internet speed, you can be back up and running on your home computer like a pro!
If none of the above options helped, you may need to contact your Internet provider for additional assistance.
What tips have helped you? Is there anything we missed?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Leave a comment down below with your slow Internet stories, and how you fixed the issue.
