Start with what you can control right now

The fastest way to improve your internet speed is to restart your modem and router — unplug both for 30 seconds, plug them back in, and wait two minutes for them to fully boot. This clears temporary memory issues that slow down your connection. If that does not help, move your router to a central location in your home, away from walls, metal objects, and other electronics like microwaves or cordless phones that broadcast on the same frequency.

Check how many devices are connected to your network right now. Each device using bandwidth — streaming video, downloading files, running updates — slows down everything else. Open your router's settings (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 into a web browser) and look at the connected devices list. Disconnect anything you are not actively using. If you have guests on your Wi-Fi, ask them to disconnect or use a separate guest network so their activity does not affect your speed.

Position your device closer to the router or use a wired connection. Wi-Fi signal weakens with distance and through obstacles. If you are testing your speed on a phone or laptop in another room, you are not seeing your actual internet speed — you are seeing Wi-Fi performance. Plug a computer directly into the router with an ethernet cable to test your true connection speed.

Key Takeaways

  • Restart your modem and router first — this solves slow speeds about half the time without any other changes.
  • Move your router to a central location away from walls and metal objects, and disconnect devices you are not using.
  • Use an ethernet cable to test your actual internet speed rather than Wi-Fi speed, which is affected by distance and obstacles.
  • If your speed is still below what you pay for, contact your provider to check for line problems or service outages in your area.
  • Upgrading your plan or switching providers may be necessary if your current service cannot deliver the speed you need for your activities.

Check what your internet provider is actually delivering

Run a speed test on a computer connected to your modem with an ethernet cable. Use Speedtest.net or Fast.com — both are free and take about one minute. Write down your read speed, upload speed, and ping. Compare these numbers to the speed your provider promises in your contract or on your bill. Most providers list this as something like "up to 100 Mbps" — the word "up to" matters, because you may not always hit that number.

If your speed is consistently 25 percent or more below what you are paying for, contact your provider's customer service. Tell them your measured speed and ask them to check for line problems or service outages affecting your address. Many providers can run a remote test on their end. If they find a problem, they may send a technician or replace your modem at no cost. If they find nothing wrong, ask whether your plan is the right speed for your needs — sometimes the issue is that you bought a plan too slow for how many people use your connection.

Keep records of your speed tests over a week or two. If speeds are slow at certain times of day (evenings are usually slower than mornings), that is a network congestion issue on your provider's side, not something you can fix at home. If speeds are consistently low all day, that is either a problem with your equipment or your plan.

Upgrade your equipment if it is old

Your modem and router are the hardware that connects you to the internet and distributes that connection throughout your home. If either is more than five years old, it may not support the speeds your provider offers. Check the model number on the back of your modem and search for its specifications online — look for the maximum speed it supports. If that number is lower than your plan speed, upgrading the modem will help.

Routers age faster than modems. A router from 2015 may support only Wi-Fi 5, while newer routers support Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E, which handle more devices and higher speeds. If you have many devices connected at once or live in a multi-story home, a newer router with better range will improve speeds in distant rooms. You can buy a new router without calling your provider — it is your equipment to replace. Modems are sometimes provided by your provider, so check your bill before buying one.

If you rent your modem from your provider, ask whether they offer a newer model. Some providers charge a monthly rental fee for older equipment and will swap it for free if you request it. If you own your modem, check whether it is on your provider's approved list — some older modems stop working when providers update their network technology.

Use Wi-Fi 6 or ethernet for the best performance

If you are buying a new router, choose one that supports Wi-Fi 6 (also called 802.11ax). It is faster and handles more devices without slowing down compared to older Wi-Fi 5 routers. Wi-Fi 6E routers are even newer and use an additional frequency band, but they cost more and only help if your devices also support Wi-Fi 6E.

For devices that stay in one place — a desktop computer, a printer, a streaming device — use an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. Ethernet is always faster and more stable than wireless. If you cannot run a cable to a distant room, a powerline adapter (which sends internet through your electrical outlets) is usually faster than Wi-Fi and requires no new wiring.

If you must use Wi-Fi, position your router on a shelf or wall mount rather than on the floor or inside a cabinet. Height and open space improve signal strength throughout your home. If your home is large or has thick walls, consider a mesh Wi-Fi system, which uses multiple units to cover more area than a single router.

Change your Wi-Fi channel if you have interference

Wi-Fi routers broadcast on channels, similar to radio stations. If your neighbors' routers are using the same channel, they interfere with each other and slow everyone down. Most routers automatically pick a channel, but that channel may be crowded. You can manually change it to reduce interference.

read a free app like WiFi Analyzer (for Android) or iStumbler (for Mac) to see which channels your neighbors are using. Then log into your router settings and switch to a less crowded channel. For 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, channels 1, 6, and 11 do not overlap with each other — pick whichever one shows fewer nearby networks. The 5 GHz band has more channels and less interference, so if your devices support it, use that instead.

After changing the channel, reconnect your devices to Wi-Fi and run another speed test. You may see an improvement, especially if you were on a crowded channel before.

Consider upgrading your internet plan

If you have done all the above and your speed is still too slow for what you do, your plan may not be fast enough. Video streaming, video calls, and online gaming all need different speeds. Streaming one video in HD requires about 5 Mbps. If four people in your home are streaming at once, you need at least 20 Mbps. Video calls need 2.5 to 4 Mbps per person. Online gaming needs 5 to 10 Mbps depending on the game.

Add up the speeds you need for everything happening at once in your home, then add 20 percent as a buffer. That is the plan speed you should look for. If your current plan is slower than that, contact your provider and ask what faster plans are available at your address. Speeds and prices vary by location — some areas have only one provider, while others have multiple options.

Before upgrading, check whether other providers serve your address. Use BroadbandNow.com or your state's broadband map to see what is available. Switching providers can sometimes get you faster speeds for the same price, especially if a new provider is entering your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Wi-Fi speed much slower than my ethernet speed?

Wi-Fi is affected by distance, walls, and interference from other devices. Your router may be far away, or your device may be on a crowded Wi-Fi channel. Move closer to the router, switch to the 5 GHz band if available, or change your Wi-Fi channel. If the gap is very large, your router may be old or damaged.

Does restarting my modem really help, or is that just a myth?

Restarting actually works. Modems store temporary data in memory that can cause slowdowns over time. Unplugging for 30 seconds clears that memory. If your modem is slow regularly, restart it once a week to prevent buildup.

Will a mesh Wi-Fi system make my internet faster?

A mesh system will not make your internet faster — it will extend your Wi-Fi signal to more rooms. If you are already getting good speeds near your router but poor speeds in distant rooms, a mesh system helps. If your speeds are slow everywhere, the problem is your internet plan or modem, not your router.

How often should I run a speed test?

Run a speed test once a month to track whether your speeds are consistent. If you suspect a problem, test at different times of day and on different devices. Keep notes so you can show your provider if you need to report an issue.

Can I improve my speed without calling my provider?

Yes — restart your modem and router, move your router to a central location, disconnect unused devices, and switch to an ethernet cable or less crowded Wi-Fi channel. These steps solve most speed problems. If none of them work, contact your provider to check for line problems.