In homes across the nation, people are telecommuting while kids of all ages are accessing the internet to learn and keep in touch with friends. At the end of the day, to wind down, we often reach for the remote and tune in to our favorite streaming shows. In many households, we’re doing many online activities all at the same time, from early morning to late in the evening. If you find your internet speed has slowed, try these tips to get it moving again.
How to improve your internet speed.
Before you get started, it’s helpful to know what your internet speed is currently. Run the internet speed test on one device, ideally with all other devices switched off, and repeat the test a few times to get a more accurate picture of your overall speed.
Take an audit of all devices
Take an account of all the devices that are using your internet service through either a wireless or wired connection. Every connected device in your home eats up a portion of your bandwidth, so the more devices you have, the lower the overall speed of your internet will be. Don’t forget to count smart devices such as Google Home or Alexa, security devices, smart TVs, thermostats, home security systems, and many other smart appliances.
Determine priority use
After you’ve gauged how many devices are using your internet, consider what is a priority. For example, work-related duties will likely take precedence over streaming your favorite show. If you’re using a VPN, be sure to use it only when needed. If you need to download large files for school or work, do so overnight on a cloud-based backup. This will free up valuable daytime bandwidth and may improve internet performance.
Video meetings are a great way to stay connected, but they can take a lot of bandwidth. Only turn on video for high-level or more personal meetings. If you have two or more people working under one roof, talk over how to work together effectively. If schedules are flexible, try to have one or more people work during off-peak hours, when the network is less taxed.
However, if a family member or roommate is working during off-peak hours, it’s important that they minimize their use of streaming devices and services during peak hours. This may be a good time to rediscover reading, knitting or taking long walks (practicing social distancing, of course!).
Now that you’ve taken inventory, there are four things you can do that will help improve your internet speed.
1. Turn off non-essential devices
Ensure that all devices that are deemed non-essential at any given moment are turned off. Having devices on ‘sleep’ or paused will continue to use internet bandwidth, so try to shut them down completely whenever possible. This includes:
- Video streaming devices that run Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube TV, etc.
- Interactive gaming systems
- Music streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify
2. Logistical and environmental tips for improving internet speed
Something as simple as adjusting your router’s position may give you a boost in internet speed. Elevate your router on a bookcase, shelf or upstairs to enable better coverage. Avoid placing it on the floor, in a corner or in the basement. Ideal locations are usually centrally located and in a place that has access to circulating air. Never place your router (or any other electronic devices) near a heat source, metal obstructions or other devices that can cause interference like microwaves or baby monitors.
3. Reset the modem
Restarting or rebooting the modem is another easy fix and may help improve internet speed. Simply turning your modem off and back on can force it to reset and improve slow connections. If your internet is slower than usual, it’s always worth a try to reboot the modem before doing anything else. Depending on the age and condition of your router, you may also benefit from setting up a regular reboot schedule.
4. Use a WiFi extender
A WiFi extender helps deliver wireless signal coverage to every corner of your home. If you notice buffering while streaming in one part of your home but not in others, you may have WiFi coverage issues and a G.Hn WiFi extender kit could be a solution.
Slow internet speeds can be a hassle to deal with especially when there are important matters at hand, like delivering a business report, checking in with your child’s schoolwork and yes, streaming your favorite show. With a little organization and perhaps moving a few pieces of furniture, these tips might do the trick and get your household back on track with blazing fast internet speeds.
when one person is useing wifi and vpn and another is on dsl the dsl becomes almost unusable. Why?
my ipad , the last couple days has gotten where you have to sit next to th e desk top computer for it to have signal strenth also the last time we were streaming on the tv it stopped told us to check settings , we put it back on id # 15 minutes it quit went back to reset , this time it said our # was out of range , checked all connection were good . question , do you think my router is going bad?
To James
The wi-fi and vpn are using the same DSL. They all interact with the internet through the DSL. They are not separate in this way.
To Rod
Not necessarily but it could be. However, have you changed the arrangement of your furniture? Moved the wi-fi, the router? Using the i-Pad in a different room?
These can all affect the signal strength to your router. It might help to reset the wi-fi by turning it off, wait a couple minutes then turn it back on again. Wait for the lights to return to normal and see if it is better. Make sure your iPad has had a chance to be turned off also. Glitches in it’s performance can be solved in this way. Double check all wired connections to make sure they are solid.
Hope something helps.
My 5G internet works fine until into the evening while watching YouTube TV. It “buffers” and finally I can get a connection. I have rebooted every possible device, FireTV, Recast, router, and turned the TV off and back on. My router’s WPS IS on and I think that is different.
I have wifi extender in studio. I run my phone, Smart t.v, (of which I never new existed) my occlusion 2, my printer, extender for wifi, my second phone, my echo dot and probably 3 other things I’m forgetting. On 7th floor of apt 9 floors. Huge window facing south. Does putting router by window make any difference?
At this house in past the CenturyLink got speed of 25M +. Tech said have a solid copper line to my house. Got new C4000 this month
and is under 10M all the time. I ran an Ethernet line to modem with good line and it won’t work? Any suggestions why I can’t get here what was being done before [over a year ago]??? Anyone?
Find out the speed that you are paying for first, The previous customer may had a service called “bonded Internet” which join two 10M lines to one Modem.
To Dan Peterson:
Find out the speed that you are paying for first, The previous customer may had a service called “bonded Internet” which join two 10M lines to one Modem.
To Jeremy:
If you can hard -wire a wire from one the your ports on the back the modem where your service is coming into you home and split the distance between the two floors your signal can be pulled from another wireless device at the other location(some kind of wire-less device with a WAN port or where its says Modem hook-up on that device) This should work fine. But I would turn off other devices that are not in use at the time to help your Bandwidth.
Mary Jane Crum:
It sounds like you are having Bandwidth issues(not enough internet speed to run all your devices) if you can purchase a high speed, this should help. If not, only use one device at a time, that way it will not pull your Bandwidth down to the point of buffing.
James:
As Kristine said, You only have one service line, that is providing your internet. They are not separated.
I have 3 devices a tablet, tv using firestick, and a Alexa show. Signal drops all the time. It’s s chore watching a show on tv as it buffers or stops constantly. Usually the show is not in use so it’s just the iPad and tv. Am really getting fed up. Have done all the suggestions including rebooting the router. All devices are close to the router and no walls between also have a extender hooked up but not much help either.
We have 2 smart tvs on 5G and it seems that the older one displays continuous but the newer one may rebuffer during a show in the evening or the sound will go out briefly.
When is Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 going to have 5G? It seems like communities around us are there already. Could we need another antenna over here by the mountains.
We received a new CenturyLink box for our internet,, it is combo router and internet and it is great.! No more buffering on our TV shows, or delays with our smart speaker. Our other internet box at least 5 years old, not able to keep up with smart tv.
Where is the best place to locate the WiFi Extender?
Hi Peggy, check out some guidelines in this blog: How a WiFi extender works. Thanks!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing, Terri!
Is there a way to boost the signal with equipment
Hi Daryl, check out this information about WiFi extenders. Thanks!
It’s been brought to my attention from Apple that my internet speeds are slow and somewhat sluggish. What can be done to correct?
I am having constant speed issues pay for 50mbs and only getting 12mbs, only 2 devices turned so it’s not usage. Ran a troubleshooting on app and says it has found ussues with service, but when I chat with someone they say they see no problems what gives.
How often does your router need to be replaced.? thx