What actually slows your connection down

Internet speed depends on three separate things: the speed your provider sells you, the condition of the equipment between you and them, and how many devices are using the connection at once. Most people can fix the second and third without calling their provider or paying more.

Your provider advertises a speed — say, 100 megabits per second (Mbps) read. That is the theoretical maximum from their equipment to yours. What you actually get depends on the cable or fiber running to your house, the modem and router converting that signal, the distance from your router to your device, and whether your neighbor is streaming video while you work.

The gap between advertised speed and real speed is normal. You will rarely see the full advertised number. But if you are getting half or less of what you pay for, something is wrong — and most of the time it is something you can fix yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Restart your modem and router by unplugging them for 30 seconds, then plugging them back in — this fixes most speed problems and takes five minutes.
  • Move your router to a central, elevated location away from walls, metal, and other electronics, since physical obstacles slow the wireless signal.
  • Check how many devices are connected and using data; streaming, gaming, and video calls on multiple devices at once will slow everything down.
  • Run a speed test on a device close to your router to see if the problem is your wireless connection or your provider's service.
  • If you consistently get less than 80 percent of your advertised speed, contact your provider with the speed test results.

Restart your modem and router

Unplug your modem (the device that connects to the cable or fiber line) and your router (the device that broadcasts wireless signal) for 30 seconds. Plug the modem back in first, wait for all its lights to stop blinking and settle into a steady pattern, then plug in the router. This usually takes two to three minutes total.

This clears temporary memory problems that slow the connection. Most internet speed complaints disappear after a restart. If your speed returns to normal, you are done. If it does not, move to the next step.

Position your router for better wireless range

Your router broadcasts a wireless signal in all directions, but walls, metal, water, and other electronics interfere with it. The farther you are from the router, or the more obstacles between you and it, the slower your connection becomes.

Move your router to a central location in your home — ideally in the middle of the space rather than in a corner or closet. Elevate it off the floor; placing it on a shelf or mounting it on a wall works better than sitting it on the ground. Keep it away from the microwave, cordless phones, baby monitors, and metal filing cabinets, all of which broadcast signals that interfere with WiFi.

If you live in a multi-story home, place the router on the middle floor rather than the basement or attic. If you have a large home or thick walls, you may need a second router or a mesh system (multiple small routers that work together), but try repositioning first — it costs nothing and solves the problem in many cases.

Check how many devices are connected and what they are doing

Every device using your connection shares the available bandwidth. If one person is streaming video in 4K, another is video calling, and a third is downloading files, the remaining bandwidth for everyone else shrinks. This is not a problem with your internet — it is how networks work.

Log into your router to see what is connected. Most routers have a web address you can type into a browser (often printed on the router itself, something like 192.168.1.1). Look for a section called "Connected Devices" or "DHCP Clients." If you see devices you do not recognize, note them — they may be a neighbor's device picking up your signal, or a device in your home you forgot about.

Ask household members what they are doing online. Streaming video, video calls, online gaming, and large downloads use the most bandwidth. If multiple people are doing these things at once, that is why speed feels slow. The solution is either to wait for others to finish, to ask them to pause their activity, or to upgrade to a faster plan from your provider.

Run a speed test to see where the problem is

Visit speedtest.net or fast.com on a device connected to your WiFi, close to your router. Run the test and write down the read speed it shows. Compare it to the speed your provider advertises on your bill.

If the speed test shows close to your advertised speed (within 80 percent), your internet is working as it should. The slowness you feel may be because multiple devices are using it, or because a single website or service is slow. Try the speed test again at a different time of day when fewer people are online.

If the speed test shows much less than your advertised speed, try the test again on a device connected by ethernet cable (a wired connection directly to the router). If the wired speed is much faster than the wireless speed, your router placement or interference is the problem — go back to the previous section. If the wired speed is also slow, contact your provider with the speed test results and ask them to check the line.

When to contact your provider

Call or message your provider if you consistently get less than 80 percent of your advertised speed, even after restarting your equipment and testing with a wired connection. Have your speed test results ready when you call.

Your provider can check whether the problem is on their side of the line. They may ask you to restart your modem again while they monitor the connection, or they may send a technician to check the cable or fiber running to your house. If the line is damaged or the signal is weak, they can repair it at no cost — that is their responsibility.

If your provider says the speed is normal on their end, the problem is your equipment or your usage. Ask whether your modem is compatible with your service (some older modems cannot handle newer, faster plans). If you own your modem, you may need to replace it. If your provider owns it, they should replace it for free.

Upgrade your plan or equipment if you need more speed

If your speed is normal but you still feel slow, you may straightforward need more speed than your current plan provides. Streaming video in 4K, video calls, and gaming all need more bandwidth than browsing or email. If multiple people in your home do these things at once, a faster plan may help.

Before upgrading, ask your provider what speeds are available at your address. Availability depends on the infrastructure in your area — fiber is faster than cable, which is faster than DSL. Your provider can tell you what options exist and what each costs.

You can also upgrade your equipment. A newer router broadcasts a stronger signal and handles more devices. If your router is more than five years old, replacing it may noticeably improve speed. Mesh systems (like Eero, Netgear Orbi, or TP-Link Deco) work better than single routers in large homes or homes with thick walls, but they cost more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my speed slower at night than during the day?

More people are online at night, so your provider's network is more congested. This is normal and not something you can fix. If night speeds are consistently below 50 percent of your advertised speed, contact your provider — it may indicate a problem with the line.

Does closing browser tabs or apps actually make the internet faster?

Closing apps frees up your device's memory, which can make your device feel faster, but it does not change your internet speed. Only stopping apps that are actively using the internet (streaming, downloading, video calling) will free up bandwidth for other tasks.

Will a WiFi extender or booster help?

A WiFi extender repeats your router's signal to reach farther, but it does not increase speed — it usually slows it down slightly. Repositioning your router first is cheaper and often works better. If you need coverage in a distant part of your home, a mesh system is more effective than an extender.

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 to speed. It may help if your provider's DNS is slow, but this is uncommon. Restart your modem and router first — that solves most speed problems.

What is a good internet speed?

It depends on what you do. Browsing and email need 5 to 10 Mbps. Streaming video in HD needs 5 to 10 Mbps per stream. Video calls need 2.5 to 4 Mbps. Online gaming needs 5 to 20 Mbps depending on the game. If multiple people do these things at once, you need faster speeds — 100 Mbps or more is comfortable for a household of four.