Internet

How to Speed Up your Slow Internet Connection?

by John Muller April 17, 2020 1893 Views

The slow internet connection can cause much despair. Not everyone has access to faster internet connections. Most cable and internet providers offer different speeds in different locations. Trying to watch your favorite movie online with a slow connection ruins the experience. Imagine reaching your favorite part of the movie and it stops to buffer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to upgrade your internet package if you don’t want to. There are ways you can try to get the most out of your current internet connection. Before diving into fixing the problem, however, try to test your internet.

If you have tested and it still doesn’t seem to work faster, here are a few tips for you that actually work.

8 Things You Can Do to Speed Up Your Internet Connection

You can use many internet-testing platforms, like speedtest.net. Sometimes your internet just lags for a little bit. Testing your internet connection using these platforms can usually bring it back to normal speed.

Here are 8 ways that you can speed up a slow internet connection:

Checking Wi-Fi Signals
Troubleshooting Your Device
Turning Off Devices and Apps that Hog Your Connection
Using 5GHz Networks Over 2.4GHz
Connect With Cable Instead of Wi-Fi
Clearing Your History
Using Secure Browsers and Firewalls
Blocking Ads

Let’s discuss each in detail…

1. Checking Wi-Fi Signals

Most times your internet speed will be slow simply because your Wi-Fi range is weak. Try to adjust your router or change the distance between your router and your device. Thick walls or barriers between your router and your device can also decrease the Wi-Fi range.

2. Troubleshooting Your Device

If your Wi-Fi range is strong and you are still experiencing slow internet, try running your troubleshooter. Right-click on the wireless internet icon on your toolbar. It will likely be close to the clock on the bottom right corner of your screen, for PC users. After right-clicking, select the Troubleshoot Problems tab. The troubleshooter will automatically fix anything that it can. If it can’t the issue automatically, it will give you further prompts or advice.

3. Turning Off Devices and Apps That Hog Your Connection

The Internet of Things (IoT) devices we have around us, all use internet data. Even if they are not in use, IoT devices use data and slow up our internet. Try shutting down the devices you aren’t using instead of leaving them on standby mode.

4. Using 5GHz Networks Over 2.4GHz

The 2.4GHz band usually has traffic issues and gets interference from appliances like garage door openers and microwaves. Switching to a 5GHz band for your network can avoid all that. 5GHz does have a limited range than 2.4GHz but is still sufficient for most homes. Most routers come equipped with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

5. Connect With Cable Instead of Wi-Fi

If you can, connect your device directly with the internet instead of with Wi-Fi. Most laptop and desktop computers have Ethernet ports installed. Connecting your device to the internet using an Ethernet cable does away with wireless issues. Sometimes Wi-Fi routers can develop faults. Yours could be delaying the transfer of data from your device.

6. Clearing Your History

If you don’t clear your browsing history, it could be slowing down your web browser. Your browser likely keeps a record of all your browsing data. Cookies, cached images, and downloaded items can be a factor in slower internet speeds. Try clearing your browser’s history as well as your device’s history.

7. Using Secure Browsers and Firewalls

When you are browsing the internet, you can download malware or viruses without even realizing. These can slow down your computer and affect the data transfer process. This results in slower internet speeds for you. Using reliable and secure browsers can prevent such downloads. If you think a malware has made it into your system, perform virus checks. Installing a good antivirus on your system can help reduce your risk.

8. Blocking Ads

In your browser, you will likely see banner and pop-up ads on every webpage you visit. These ads can take up internet data and result in slower speeds for you. By installing an ad blocker on your browser, you can free up more data for yourself.

If your internet speed issue persists, there is only one thing left to do. Call your Internet Service Provider. ISPs, like FiOS Internet Service, offer round the clock customer support. Their technical support can try to help you remotely or schedule a technician to visit. That is if you are a customer. Or else, just switch!