Having a slow internet speed is one of the most annoying things that could happen to anyone. The nonstop spinning wheel that indicates slow loading, the pixelated video that stops after every five seconds, and the super laggy gameplay you’re experiencing can be very frustrating. Unfortunately, there’s only so much your rage can do to speed things up, especially if you have an unreliable internet service provider. When this situation arises, you must be equipped to do something that could speed up your internet connection and ways to Deal with Slow Internet .
Before you pick up your phone and wait in long queues to speak with your internet service representatives, here are a few troubleshooting suggestions to could boost your internet speed.
- Don’t expect faster speeds than what you’re paying for.
First things first, you should check how much speed you are paying for. In most cases, it could be because you’re paying for low-speed internet. If that’s the case, you might want to consider upgrading to a faster internet plan. You should also check if your internet provider is keeping up its end of the deal by checking your internet speed.
However, you must keep in mind that most internet service providers’ advertised speeds are only guaranteed on wired connections. If the result is close to what you’re paying for, for example, 25Mbps, your network is just fine. You probably need to upgrade to a higher internet plan if you’re unsatisfied with your current plan.
- Try the universal power cycle- Deal with Slow Internet .
Before calling your wireless provider, you should try to reboot your modem and router by turning it on and off for at least thirty seconds. Your ISP will likely ask you to do this first once you get a hold of them, so it’s best to do it beforehand and see if your connection improves.
You can also check other devices in your home if possible. If your computer takes time to load, but your sister’s computer works fine, your device might be the problem and not your internet connection.
- Strategize your use of the internet- Deal with Slow Internet .
If you’re a remote worker who needs to get things done every day, you might want to work smarter. For example, you can separate your tasks according to the bandwidth it requires. Do the tasks that require light bandwidth when your internet connection is slow, and work on bandwidth-heavy tasks when your internet connection is fast. Use a bandwidth monitoring tool to display the real-time data of your internet speed. When your internet connection is slow, do the tasks that only require light bandwidth, and work on bandwidth-heavy tasks when your internet connection is fast.
You should also make sure that all the documents you need for work are available in offline mode. Most applications, like Google Docs, allow you to access your files even without an internet connection. Just make sure you turn that option on whenever you’re online.
- Disconnect bandwidth-hogging apps and devices.
If your internet seems to be working harder than it should, there might be too many idling devices that are hogging the connection. For example, running apps in the background, smart devices (TV, refrigerator, Alexa, etc.), and the like take up a percentage of your bandwidth. You can temporarily disconnect them if you really need a faster internet connection. If you use torrents and have ongoing downloads, you might also want to stop it for a moment until your network recovers to its optimal speed.
- Keep your hardware updated.
Paying for the fastest home internet plan in the world would not be useful if your router and modem are already ancient. Moreover, most routers and modems that come from your internet provider do not perform very well. If possible, you should check with your ISP if they have a more advanced router or modem or buy from a different company instead.
- Optimize your router.
If you’re having problems with wireless connection but not with wired, your router might not be in the best place. We highly recommend you place it in a centralized location to ensure that signals are well-distributed around your house. However, if your house is too big for a single router, you should invest in mesh Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi extenders.
- Call your internet provider.
If all else fails, it’s time to call your internet provider. Your slow connection could be a network problem on their end, so it’s best to check with them if you’re frequently experiencing this issue. We also encourage you to be respectful with the customer service representatives so that they can assist you properly and efficiently. Getting on good terms with your ISP representative will likely leave you with better internet deals and discounts.
Conclusion
We all understand the same frustration when working with slow internet. However, if your slow internet connection only happens for five minutes occasionally, it’s best to shrug it off because it’s likely not a big problem. But if not, you can follow these seven easy steps to boost your internet connection. If your current internet provider cannot help you with your issue, you should consider shifting to other internet service providers.
