In a hyper-connected world, having a quick and dependable internet connection is very important to do everything we love online. From streaming our favorite shows to working from home and keeping in touch with family; fast internet speeds are essential.
It’s more than a mild inconvenience when our internet is slow, but don’t worry, there are things we can do to boost our internet speed. Here are some easy tips and tricks you can do yourself to make your internet faster without needing to be a tech expert.
Check Your Internet Plan
Before you do anything or make any changes, it is essential to know what internet speeds you’ve been paying for. If you’re unsure, call your internet provider and ask what your current plan’s download and upload speeds are. If the speeds you’ve been paying for are wildly inadequate, highly consider upgrading your plan to a higher tier.
Position Your Router Away From Any Obstructions
As you already know, setting up your router is more than just plugging it in. The placement of your router matters too and can significantly impact your internet speed. Placement doesn’t need to be fancy. Simply put it in a central location in your home, away from walls and furniture. Keeping it locked up is not the way; you’ll want it elevated with minimal things between the router and your devices.
Update Your Router’s Firmware
Did you know even your router needs updates sometimes? Router manufacturers are hard at work even after their router is sold. They often release firmware updates to improve performance and security. Most routers will update on their own, but you can easily check to see if there are any updates waiting by looking at your router’s settings. Keeping your router’s firmware up to date can help make it work better and keep criminals out by closing security holes.
Lock Down Your Wi-Fi Network From Strangers
This is so important; if your Wi-Fi network doesn’t have a password, it’s time to put one on it right now. If it remains not secure, strangers from anywhere on your block might be using your connection, hogging your bandwidth, and slowing down your internet speeds. All you need to do is go into your Wi-Fi router’s app and enable WPA2 encryption and use a strong password that isn’t guessed by anyone.
Reduce Wireless Interference
Wireless interference from other electronic devices, especially microwaves, cordless phones and Bluetooth devices can degrade your Wi-Fi signal. Most people don’t even consider this since usually your internet provider just sets up your devices wherever they want in your home. However, if you can help it, keep these devices away from your router and consider using devices that operate on the 5 GHz to minimize interference.
Use Your Ethernet Connection When Possible
While Wi-Fi is awesome and super convenient, it doesn’t deliver the fastest speeds possible. A wired Ethernet connection does which is why so many serious gamers choose to go hardwired when possible. It’s a good practice to start in your home as well. Whenever possible, connect your devices directly to your router using the enclosed Ethernet cables for optimal speeds and reliability, especially for bandwidth intensive tasks like online gaming or streaming.
Update Your Internet Connected Devices
Your internet enabled devices get updates too. It’s time to stop ignoring them. This includes laptops, tablets, smartphones, desktops, smart TVs and even gaming consoles. These updates often include essential performance improvements, bug fixes and security fixes that only enhance your internet experience.
Consider Getting A Wi-Fi Extender Or A Mesh Network
If you know that you have Wi-Fi dead spots or a weak signal in certain areas of your home; there is a fix available. Consider investing in a Wi-Fi extender or a mesh system. These devices can help extend your Wi-Fi coverage and improve signal strength throughout your home.
Consider Getting Whole Home Wi-Fi Service
If you’re not technically inclined, that’s okay! You don’t need to be able to set up more devices to have better internet speeds. Many internet providers offer a whole home Wi-Fi service. For this service, you’ll pay a little extra each month to have your Wi-Fi signal boosted to every corner of your home. You don’t have to do a thing other than let your provider’s technicians do their work. Say goodbye to dead zones and a weak connection.
Consistently Monitor Your Wi-Fi Network
To monitor your network, all you need to do is use speed tests and network monitoring apps that come with your router to keep track of your speeds and who is on your network. The best part is these tools are free! If you consistently experience slow speeds, this is when you should reach out to your internet provider for further assistance.
