How to Speed Up Slow Internet

The Hard(ware) Facts

Many factors contribute to the overall speed of your internet experience, whether at home or in the office. First and foremost of these is your hardware, including the network type your setup runs on from your provider. Modern ISPs will typically offer either DSL, cable, or fiber, with some options available for relatively new 5G networks based on cellular radio transmission. In the coming years, we may also see additional options such as SpaceX's satellite internet company Starlink, but for the time being satellite internet remains a niche option.

Where you live will determine your options for these, and unfortunately, it isn't something you can fix beyond choosing the best option available for your needs and budget. Your local ISPs should have all information available on their pages as to what type of service they offer and its associated speed claims. Generally speaking, DSL connections, which are based on phone lines (though far faster than old dialup connections and without interruptions), tend towards the lower end of speed, with downloads between 5-35 Mbps, and uploads of 1-10 Mbps. Cable and 5G find the middle ground, with cable connections offering download speeds between 10-500 Mbps, and uploads of 5-50 Mbps. 5G networks tend to be highly variable depending on your coverage zone but can offer comparable speeds to cable. But fiber remains the highest available standard for internet hardware, presenting as much a jump over cable as cable offers to DSL, with speeds between 250-1000 Mbps, with download and upload speeds often being synchronous. Unfortunately, not all locations offer a fiber network yet, so it may not be an available option.

Of course, even choosing the best available option won't guarantee lightning-fast internet, as every provider presents a range of down/up speed packages, and cost considerations may land you with a better deal on a DSL network over cable. Further to all of this, you have your in-house hardware to consider. Your modem and router factor into the equation as well, along with your means of connecting your computer to your internet.

Many ISPs offer a combined modem and router for simplicity's sake, though this may not be the best option available. Modems are the device that translates the incoming internet signal into something your device can use, and modems have a limit to the speeds they can provide. Your modem and router form something of a chokepoint for your household or office internet. In order to get the most out of what your ISP is offering, your modem needs to be capable of 'translating' at an equivalent speed. Some providers may offer an adequately powerful modem by default, but if you're having speed issues, investigating the maximum capacity of your modem can help identify where the holdup is. You're always free to upgrade your hardware if the one your ISP provides isn't up to the task, and if you have an older modem from a long-term internet plan, you may even be able to get a free upgrade from your ISP. If you're buying your own, you will want a modem that meets or ideally exceeds the maximum speeds offered by your ISP, as you can use the same hardware later if you ever upgrade your plan. If you choose to do so, make sure the modem you purchase is compatible with your ISP's service, which you can check either on the product page or possibly on your ISP's website.

Similarly, your router might present an issue if you're connecting via WiFi. Your router connects to the modem and produces a WiFi signal for devices to connect to. Just like the modem itself, this presents another chokepoint if the speed of the router is lower than the modem's throughput. As mentioned above, many ISPs provide a combination modem and router, though generally, you'll find the best results with separate devices to perform their individual tasks. If your ISP provides you with a combination device then you will need to buy third-party hardware in order to upgrade.

Why Is My Internet So Slow?

So then, what are some of the reasons for slow internet? If you suspect you're not getting what your ISP promised in terms of speed, the first thing to do is run a test, and see how the numbers match up. Chances are you are indeed getting less than you're paying for, though if you're paying for 500 Mbps down and you're getting 475, chances are you're in fine shape and there's nothing your ISP can do about it, as the discrepancy may simply be due to network load or congestion. Peak usage times on the network will create slower speeds for everyone using it as many signals compete for bandwidth at once. If you're getting 50-75% of what you're paying for (or less) however, then there's probably an issue somewhere.

As discussed above, your internet hardware plays a large factor in the speeds you ultimately receive on your device. An inadequate modem or router may certainly throttle your speeds, and upgrading them might be the solution to your problem. Connecting a device directly to your modem through an ethernet cable will always offer the best speed results, and allows you to isolate where you're experiencing a drop in performance. If a speed test shows full performance with a wired connection, then your WiFi is likely the culprit. Simply rebooting your modem and router might also fix some issues, as they sometimes might become overloaded or stuck. It's a good idea to do this periodically regardless, just like with your computer, though it's not necessary to do so frequently if you aren't experiencing issues.

WiFi networks can present other problems resulting in slow internet speed. Having many devices connected and actively utilizing your internet connection will create speed drops, and the location of your router matters. Your router has a limited effective range, and certain materials can interfere with the signal between your router and your device. You also might experience signal interference through devices like microwaves, other radio devices, or a neighbor's network.

If you have a lot of internet users in the home or a lot of devices constantly connected, home network load could also be a cause of slow internet. Large file downloads, constant download/upload through torrents, file syncing services, streaming services, and online gaming take up good chunks of bandwidth, and multiple users at the same time will parcel out your network's capacity between them.

Another cause of internet speed drops might be your ISP itself. If you're a solo user running a wired connection with good hardware, you're attempting to connect at non-peak times, and you're still experiencing slower internet speeds than your ISP promised, your connection might be throttled. One way to test this is by connecting through a VPN and running a speed test. Generally, this should present an equal or slightly lower speed than your base value, but if the number comes up higher, it's likely your ISP is throttling your speed.

How to Speed Up the Internet

Once you've (hopefully) isolated the problem, you'll need a plan of attack to fix it, and your options might be limited depending on the cause of the slow internet. If it turns out to be a hardware problem, the fix is as easy as buying a better modem or router or getting an upgrade from your ISP. If both devices turn out to have an adequate throughput speed, try rebooting them by unplugging them for at least 30 seconds (some devices may also have a reboot switch). It's also possible that your router's firmware is out of date and needs to be updated; you can look up how to access your router's settings on the device manufacturer's website.

A similarly 'simple' fix might be an upgrade to your internet plan. If you're on an older plan or simply a budget one, chances are you aren't receiving a high internet speed from your ISP in the first place. Some ISPs may offer upgrade incentives to long-term customers, and as with any contract, your negotiating skills can come into play here. Also, consider switching providers if better options are available--and in fact, discussing this possibility with your existing ISP can sometimes land you a better deal. If you're after speed, see if fiber is an option available to you within your budget, as that will offer the best speeds currently possible. If you live in a remote area, however, your options here might be limited, as latency issues caused by physical distance from servers aren't fixable.

If the issue is your WiFi network, taking some steps to optimize it might drastically improve your results. Start by placing your router in as central a location as possible for the best signal coverage. The closer your WiFi devices are to the router, the better. If you have a large space to cover such as a multi-story home, you might even include multiple routers in different locations to extend the signal. Routers tend to broadcast 'down', so setting them higher up will generally produce better results. Try repositioning the antennae as well--the signal goes out in a perpendicular direction from the antenna, so point them in various directions to provide optimal coverage. Keep the router away from other electronics as much as possible, especially the TV. Physical obstacles like thick walls, concrete, metal, or water can also block or weaken a WiFi signal.

You might also be experiencing radio interference on your router, and altering the channel your router broadcasts on might help with your slow internet speed woes. This step will also involve delving into your router's settings, and individual routers will have different menus to navigate. If you have the option to put a key device (usually your computer) on an ethernet wired connection, this will always be superior to WiFi. If this doesn't create any change on the first try, give the other channels a whirl to see if you experience better results.

If you share the internet with others, you may want to see what kind of bandwidth they're using on a regular basis. Router logs or network packet sniffers can tell you if one person is hogging 90% of the bandwidth. The solution at that point ranges from negotiating what's reasonable, to throttling their maximum bandwidth at the router itself. Similarly, you might find out that a neighbor has sneakily latched on to your WiFi. You can lock them out, reason with them, or again, throttle the bandwidth to a reasonable 'guest' level. For any throttling activity, check out your router's manual on how to set up and manage those interfaces.

If you've gone through all the various troubleshooting steps and still can't find a cause or noticeable improvement, it may be time to give your ISP a call. They may be able to help you troubleshoot the issue--which will typically involve a technician visiting your home. On the other hand, if they're the reason why your internet is slow by throttling your speed, be prepared to argue for the service you're paying for. A solid VPN service may be enough to dodge your ISP's throttling, or you may look into another provider entirely. Unfortunately, if this is the cause of your slow internet, solving it may be tougher, particularly if you don't have options in your area for other ISPs, and throttling is difficult to prove. Your ISP may also be within their purview to throttle your speed if you've exceeded your plan's data cap or to manage network loads during peak hours, so it's best to be certain of what you're entitled to receive and how much you are using before you accuse your provider of throttling your usage wrongfully.

In the end, there are many causes for the old "why is my internet so slow" question, and your means for how to speed up slow internet will vary. We hope the various causes above help you troubleshoot the issue and work up to a smoother, faster online experience! Best of luck.