Are you too one of those people who are addicted to the internet? If yes, then you must be aware of the helplessness you feel when your internet refuses to work as fast as you want it to. I spend most of my day with my Spectrum cable and internet, and it is super-fast, but there are moments when the speed becomes slow, and it frustrates me immensely.
So, what do you do when this happens to you? Some people would just wait, or go out for a walk in the park, or write in a journal. If you are not one of those people, I have this amazing list of hacks to make your internet speed quite fast, and that too in no time! Try these out!
Restart Your Router and Modem
Sometimes, just restarting your router or device may help. Your gadgets need a break too. Just press restart and your modem and router might get the break it needed all along. This can also prevent overheating of your system.
Be a bit Closer to Your Router
This one might be new to you. Simply move your system, or yourself if you are using your laptop or mobile, closer to the router. Isn’t it making sense? Think of it this way. The signals have to cross the doors, walls, probably floors too, to reach you. All this can slow them down. If the number of items is too much, your signals are doomed.
You may also take a simple test. You can move the router to the room you are sitting in, and see if signals improve as if by magic. This is a signal that it is time for you to change your router. Buy a new one.
Install a Good Anti-Virus
Installing a good anti-virus can save your system from so many problems, and slowed down internet speed is just one of them. Malware can affect your internet speed by running in the background. Once installed, an antivirus can send you notifications about malware.
Unplug Your Microwave
Yes, you read it right! I am actually suggesting that. Unplug your microwave if you are not using it. The reason behind this is that appliances like that can interfere with wireless routers or with network connectors. And it is not just the microwave. Your cordless phone can mess up with your router too. If you can’t turn such appliances off, try moving them away from your system or the router.
If the problem persists, you should consider changing the position of the router permanently.
Close Unnecessary Apps
You might be unaware and many apps on the mobile or programs on the systems might be running in the background, using your internet’s bandwidth, hence, slowing down the speed. Not just for you, this can slow down the Wi-Fi for all the other systems or mobile devices connected to the same router.
You can download apps or programs, as per your device need, which can shut down or close unnecessary apps or programs that run in the background and slow down your internet. You can also set your preferred apps and programs to receive the highest bandwidth on a priority basis.
Don’t want so much trouble? Simply keep on closing unnecessary background apps regularly.
Get Wired Connection
This may sound a little like Stone Age stuff to you, but you should think about using a wired Ethernet connection. This would not only give you faster internet speed but also save the bandwidth for other mobile devices at your place.
An Ethernet cord is easy to connect. You can root it rightly into your router in any available port, or connect it to your modem. However, be prepared to get a little disappointed too, because sometimes the comparative speed is not that much faster either. So, to get better results, instead of connecting it to your wireless router, try connecting it directly to your modem.
Be Aware of Wi-Fi Hackers
Although most of the Wi-Fi providers make sure to secure your Wi-Fi by default, some old routers may not have the settings. You might not be aware but your neighbors or even the passerby could be using your internet, finding and connecting to a visible, open Wi-Fi account. So if your Wi-Fi is not password protected, this invasion might be the reason behind it slowing down.
Once you are done with your security check, the next thing you have to do is to browse your router’s connection, and check the logs to see the list of people who are connected to your Wi-Fi router.
Was this helpful? As for me, if the problem persists after trying out all these hacks, I call my Spectrum service number to make them run a check on my internet speed problem. This mostly solves the issue. You can try this with your ISP too.