How to fix slow WiFi

According to a survey published by The Independent, slow internet tops the list of most annoying tech problems. For most of us, WiFi is now essential – we rely on it for shopping, banking, work, entertainment and more.

No wonder slow WiFi is so frustrating. So when you notice a problem, what can you do?

1. Reboot your device

If your device is always on and always connected, it will become less responsive. There are plenty of very technical reasons for why this happens, but the solution is simple – a quick restart and you should see an immediate improvement in performance.

2. Reboot your router

Sometimes there’s a problem with your connection to the internet itself. Your internet provider may “throttle” your connection at busy times of day to maintain a reasonable level of service for all of their users. Or a temporary network condition reduces speeds.

Rebooting your router forces a software restart (like rebooting your computer) and re-establishes the connection to the internet. It will also force your devices to establish new WiFi connections, helping to clear down any errors.

Some routers actually allow you to schedule a daily reboot to help keep your WiFi network running optimally.

3. Move your router

WiFi speed depends on signal strength; the stronger the signal, the faster the speed of your connection. You can improve the signal strength and coverage in your house by placing the router in the centre of the building. This helps to prevent ‘weak spots’ in the rooms furthest away from the router.

4. Extend your WiFi coverage

If you have a large house, or still have issues with poor signal strength, you should look at ways to extend coverage. WiFi repeaters are a cheap and easy way to amplify your existing signal. Alternatively, a new mesh networking system can dramatically increase WiFi coverage and speeds across your house – particularly useful across multiple levels.

5. Install updates

Check for software updates for all of your devices. Manufacturers regularly release driver updates to address performance issues, so make sure your smartphones, tablets and computers are all kept up to date.

6. Perform a malware scan

Another cause of poorly performing WiFi could be malware. Some viruses steal data and send it to hackers over the internet. Others run in the background on your device, stealing processing power like cryptojacking. These activities affect your devices and steal valuable WiFi bandwidth, making everything much slower.

Carrying out regular malware scans will allow you to find – and remove – infections that affect network performance. Download a free Panda Dome trial to get started today.

Good luck!

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons your WiFi may be slow. Hopefully, one of these suggestions will help you to fix it. If you’re still having problems, you should log a service call with your ISP who will be able to conduct further tests to try and speed things up.