Guide · Updated October 7, 2026

How to Improve Your Internet Speed

Before changing plans or buying new equipment, work through this checklist from the cheapest, most common fixes to the more involved ones. Most slow connections turn out to be a Wi-Fi or router problem, not a problem with the line itself.

Step 0: measure first

Run the speed test two or three times and note the typical download, upload and ping. For the most useful baseline, connect a computer to the router with an Ethernet cable and pause other downloads and streams. If the wired result matches your plan, your line is fine and the problem is Wi-Fi or a particular device.

Quick fixes

  1. Restart the modem and router. Unplug both for about 30 seconds, plug in the modem first, then the router. This clears memory leaks and stuck connections.
  2. Close what is using the line. Cloud backups, game and system updates, torrents and streams on other devices all share your bandwidth.
  3. Turn off your VPN while testing. A VPN adds distance and encryption overhead, which lowers speed and raises ping.
  4. Restart the slow device. Browsers with many tabs and devices with old Wi-Fi drivers can be the bottleneck.

Wi-Fi fixes

  1. Move the router. Place it high, in the open and near the middle of your home. Walls, floors, mirrors, fish tanks and microwaves weaken the signal.
  2. Use the 5 GHz band for devices near the router. It is faster and less crowded than 2.4 GHz, though it covers a shorter range. Use 2.4 GHz only for distant devices.
  3. Reduce interference. In flats, switch the router to a less crowded Wi-Fi channel in its settings.
  4. Extend the coverage. If a far room is weak, a mesh system or wired access point works much better than a cheap repeater.

Equipment and account fixes

  1. Update the router's firmware and replace a router that is many years old. Older models cannot handle modern plans.
  2. Check cables and splitters. Damaged Ethernet or phone/coax cables and extra splitters reduce speed. Try a different cable.
  3. Check your plan. Compare your result to the speed you pay for. A household that streams, games and works from home at once may simply need a faster plan. See how much speed you need.
  4. Contact your provider with evidence. If a wired test is consistently far below your plan, at different times of day, share the numbers and ask them to check the line.

A note about DNS changes

Changing your DNS server is often suggested as a speed fix. It can make websites start loading a little faster, but it does not raise your download or upload speed, and you will not see a difference in a speed test.

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