Why is my internet slow? 10 fixes that actually work
Slow internet has a handful of common causes, and most are easy to fix. Work through these steps in order. The first one tells you whether the problem is your home network or your provider.
1. Test with a cable first
Connect a computer to the router with an Ethernet cable and run a speed test. If the wired result matches your plan, the line is fine and the problem is Wi-Fi. If it is also slow, the problem is the router, the line or the provider.
2. Restart the modem and router
Unplug both for 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, wait until it is ready, then the router. It clears temporary faults and is worth doing before anything else.
3. Check what else is using the connection
Cloud backups, system updates, game downloads and other people streaming all share your bandwidth. Pause them and test again.
4. Improve your Wi-Fi position
Walls, floors and distance weaken the signal. Place the router in a central, open spot, off the floor, away from microwaves and thick walls.
5. Use the right Wi-Fi band
The 5 GHz band is faster over short distances and less crowded than 2.4 GHz, which travels further but suffers more interference. Connect nearby devices to 5 GHz.
6. Update or replace an old router
Routers several years old may not support current Wi-Fi standards and can bottleneck a fast plan. Update the firmware, and consider a newer model if yours is old.
7. Try a different time of day
If speeds drop every evening, the cause is likely congestion on your provider’s network. Test at different hours and keep the results.
8. Check for a VPN, proxy or security software
A VPN adds distance and processing, which lowers speed and raises ping. Turn it off briefly and compare. Some security software can slow traffic as well.
9. Test another device and browser
If only one device is slow, the cause is that device: an old Wi-Fi card, too many browser extensions or malware. A different browser or device quickly shows which.
10. Contact your provider with evidence
If a wired test is consistently well below your plan, contact your provider. Share several test results with dates and times. It makes a technician visit or a plan correction much more likely.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Wi-Fi slower than my wired connection?
Distance, walls, interference and many connected devices all reduce Wi-Fi speed. A wired connection avoids all of them.
Does restarting the router really help?
Often, yes. It clears temporary faults and memory issues, so it is a quick first step.
How slow is too slow?
If you regularly get less than about half of what you pay for on a wired test, it is worth contacting your provider.