Start by measuring what slow actually means
Before you can fix slow internet, you need to know what speed you are actually getting. Your internet service provider (ISP) promises a certain speed — usually measured in megabits per second, or Mbps — but the speed you experience depends on what you are doing, where you are in your home, and what else is using your connection.
Run a speed test on a device connected by ethernet cable directly to your modem. Go to speedtest.net or fast.com, run the test, and write down the read speed, upload speed, and ping time. Do this at different times of day — morning, afternoon, evening — because network congestion changes. If your speeds are consistently 80 to 90 percent of what your ISP promises, your connection is working as designed. If you are getting 50 percent or less, something is wrong.
The ethernet cable matters. Wifi is convenient but slower and less stable than a wired connection. If your speed test over wifi is much slower than over ethernet, the problem is your wifi, not your internet line. If both are slow, the problem is your ISP or the modem itself.
Key Takeaways
- Slow internet usually comes from one of three places: your ISP is not delivering the speed you pay for, your wifi is weak, or too many devices are using your connection at once.
- Test your speed with an ethernet cable plugged directly into your modem to isolate whether the problem is your internet line or your home network.
- Restart your modem and router by unplugging them for 30 seconds, then plugging them back in — this fixes most temporary slowdowns.
- If your ISP is not delivering promised speeds, document the slow speeds over several days and contact them with the evidence; they may need to send a technician or adjust your service.
- Wifi problems usually come from distance, interference from other devices, or too many people connected at once, and can often be fixed by moving your router or changing its channel.
Restart your modem and router first
The single most effective fix for slow internet is restarting your modem and router. Modems and routers are small computers that manage your connection, and like any computer, they can get stuck or overloaded. Restarting clears their memory and forces them to reconnect to your ISP's network.
Unplug your modem from power. Wait 30 seconds. Plug it back in and wait two to three minutes for all the lights to stabilize. Then unplug your router, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait another two to three minutes. This process is called a power cycle, and it fixes temporary slowdowns in roughly half of all cases.
If you have a combined modem-router unit (sometimes called a gateway), unplug that single device, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. You only need to do this once.
Check how many devices are using your connection
Every device connected to your wifi — phones, tablets, smart TVs, security cameras, smart speakers — shares your internet bandwidth. If ten devices are streaming video at once, each one gets a smaller piece of the total speed. This is not a problem with your internet; it is a math problem.
Look at your router's admin page to see what is connected. Open a web browser and go to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (the exact address is usually printed on the router itself). Log in with the username and password on the back of the router. Look for a section called "Connected Devices" or "DHCP Clients." Count how many devices are there. If you see devices you do not recognize, someone else may be using your wifi — change your wifi password when ready.
If the list is long, disconnect devices you are not using right now. Turn off wifi on phones and tablets you are not actively using. Disable wifi on smart home devices during times when you need speed for work or video calls. This is the fastest way to improve performance without calling your ISP.
Move your router or change its wifi channel
Wifi travels through walls and air, but it gets weaker the farther you are from the router and the more walls it passes through. It also gets jammed by interference from other devices — microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and neighboring wifi networks all use the same radio frequencies.
Move your router to a central location in your home, as high up as possible, away from walls and metal objects. Keep it away from your microwave and cordless phone. If you cannot move it, try changing its wifi channel. Log back into your router's admin page, find the wifi settings, and look for a channel selector. Try channels 1, 6, or 11 on the 2.4 GHz band — these do not overlap with each other. If you have a 5 GHz band available, use that instead; it is faster but does not travel as far through walls.
If you live in an apartment or dense neighborhood, your router may be competing with dozens of other networks on the same channel. Apps like Wifi Analyzer (free on Android) or iStumbler (paid on Mac) show you which channels nearby networks are using. Pick a channel that has the fewest neighbors on it.
Contact your ISP with evidence if the line itself is slow
If your ethernet speed test is consistently 50 percent or less of what you pay for, your ISP is not delivering the service you are paying for. Document the problem by running speed tests at different times over several days and saving the results. Take screenshots or write down the date, time, read speed, upload speed, and ping.
Call your ISP's customer service line and tell them you are getting slower speeds than promised. Have your account number ready and your speed test results in front of you. They may ask you to restart your modem while they are on the phone, or they may send a technician to check the line from the street to your house. Some ISPs have a service level agreement that guarantees a minimum speed; if you are below that, you may be may have access to to a credit on your bill.
If your ISP says the speeds are normal for your area or plan, ask them to show you the speed may provide in writing. Some plans advertise "up to" a certain speed, which means that is the maximum, not the minimum. If you are consistently getting much less, you may be in an area with network congestion, and your ISP may offer a faster plan or a different service (like fixed wireless or fiber) if it is available at your address.
Replace your modem or router if they are old
Modems and routers have a lifespan. A modem that is five to seven years old may not support the faster speeds your ISP now offers. A router that is ten years old will be much slower than a modern one, even if your internet line is fast.
Check the model number on your modem and router (usually on a sticker on the back). Search online for "[model number] specifications" and look at the maximum speeds it supports. If your modem supports only DOCSIS 3.0, it is outdated; DOCSIS 3.1 is the current standard and supports much faster speeds. If your router is older than five years and supports only 802.11n, upgrading to an 802.11ac or 802.11ax (wifi 6) router will be noticeably faster.
Many ISPs rent modems to customers for a monthly fee — usually five to ten dollars. If you own your modem instead, you avoid that fee. Check your bill to see if you are renting. If you are, buying a modem outright (usually one hundred to two hundred dollars) pays for itself in a year or two. Make sure any modem you buy is compatible with your ISP; your ISP's website has a list of approved models.
Understand what you cannot fix on your own
Some slowness comes from things outside your home and outside your control. If your ISP's network is congested during peak hours — usually 7 to 10 p.m. — everyone in your area may experience slowdowns. If there is construction or damage to the cable line running down your street, your speed will drop until it is repaired. If you live far from your ISP's hub, the signal naturally weakens over distance.
These problems require your ISP to fix them, not you. If you have ruled out everything in your home — your modem, router, and devices are all working normally, and your ethernet speed test is slow — then the problem is on the ISP's side. Document it and call them. If they cannot fix it, you may need to switch to a different ISP if one is available in your area, or accept that this is the best speed available where you live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my wifi slow when my ethernet speed is fast?
Your wifi is farther from the router, blocked by walls, or interfered with by other devices. Move closer to the router, move the router to a more central location, or switch to a less crowded wifi channel. If the problem persists, your router may be old or damaged and need replacement.
Does restarting my modem really help, or is that just what tech support always says?
Restarting actually does help, but only for temporary problems — when your modem gets stuck or overloaded. If your speed is slow all the time, restarting will not fix it. If your speed is slow sometimes and normal other times, restarting is worth trying. If it does not help after two or three attempts, the problem is something else.
What speed do I actually need for video calls and streaming?
Video calls need about 2.5 Mbps read and 2.5 Mbps upload. Streaming one video in HD needs about 5 Mbps. If you have multiple people in your home doing these things at once, add them together. If your total need is 15 Mbps and you are getting 50 Mbps, your internet is fine — the slowness is coming from your wifi or a device problem, not your ISP.
Can I speed up my internet by changing my DNS?
Changing your DNS (the service that translates website names into addresses) rarely makes a noticeable difference for most people. It is worth trying if you are having trouble reaching certain websites, but it will not fix slow speeds. Stick with your ISP's DNS unless you have a specific reason to change it.
What should I do if my ISP says my speeds are normal but I know they are slow?
Ask your ISP to show you the speed may provide in your contract. If the contract says "up to" a certain speed, that is a maximum, not a promise. If it guarantees a minimum and you are below it, ask for a credit. If you are getting what you pay for but it is still too slow for your needs, you may need a faster plan or a different ISP.