This article explains seven different ways to increase your internet speed so you can connect online at faster connection speeds than before.

What to Know

  • Using ethernet instead of a Wi-Fi connection is a quick way to boost your internet speed.Ensure your router is positioned in a convenient place for all your devices to connect to it.Consider upgrading your router or internet package if you can afford to.

How Can I Boost Up My Internet Speed?

If you’re looking to boost and improve your internet speed, there are a few different ways you can do this. Here’s an overview of the best ways, in order of simplicity. 

  • Reboot your router. It sounds too simple to be true but rebooting your router can help boost your speeds, at least temporarily. Most technology needs occasionally rebooting to work at their most efficient and that applies to routers too.
  • Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is very convenient but it rarely offers the best speeds. If your computer is located in the same place all the time, it’s a good idea to plug it into your router via an Ethernet cable. That way, you get the most reliable service.
  • Update your computer. Computers need maintaining. If your PC or Mac is running out of date software, it can affect how quickly everything runs including how fast your internet speed appears to be. Update the operating system as well as any other core apps such as anti-virus software to help matters.
  • Switch ISPs or upgrade your package. If you can afford to upgrade, call your ISP and upgrade your internet package. You’ll enjoy much improved speeds this way.
  • Use a different VPN. If you use a VPN, you may find your internet speeds are slower than without. Consider investing in a better and faster VPN to reap the benefits of your internet connection.
  • Change your DNS server settings. If you’re willing to perform some more advanced tweaks to your system, change the computer’s DNS servers to speed up your web browsing. It can require some experimentation but it’s worth trying.

How Can I Increase My Wi-Fi Speed at Home?

If you specifically use the internet via your Wi-Fi connection and can’t (or don’t wish to) use Ethernet, there are different ways to improve your internet speed. Here’s a look at the best methods. 

Before trying these steps, test your internet connection using an internet speed test site so you can compare the results after trying the fixes.

  • Decrease the distance between router and computer. If your Wi-Fi signal appears to be quite weak, it may help to move your router nearer to your computer and other devices. Moving physical obstructions can make a difference too. Reposition your router to see if it improves the Wi-Fi signal. Minimize the number of devices on the network. If you have a house full of smart devices and other gadgets which connect to your Wi-Fi, things can get overwhelming fast. Cut back on what’s connected to your network at all times and double-check no one is using your Wi-Fi signal. You know, you might have allowed your neighbor to use your Wi-Fi signal when their internet was out and now their devices are still connecting to your network.Upgrade your router. Like upgrading your ISP, this isn’t a cheap solution but if your router is quite old, it could be time to buy a new one that’s faster and supports the latest standards.

How to Manage Your Wi-Fi Channels to Boost Internet Speeds

When you set up your router, the device often picks a specific channel number by default. If too many routers are using the same channel number and they’re located in close proximity to each other, it can cause interference and slow down your internet connection. 

If you live in a congested area, this can make a particularly significant difference to your internet speeds. Here’s how to manage your Wi-Fi channels to avoid that issue.

  • Log into your router’s admin panel. This is usually by typing 192.168.0.1 into your web browser.
  • Click Wireless or Wireless Settings.
  • Under Wireless Settings, find Channel and change this to a different number.
  • Test your internet connection to see if its reliability has improved.

Each router has a different user interface so the steps involved may slightly vary depending on your router model.

Log into your router’s admin panel. This is usually by typing 192.168.0.1 into your web browser.

Click Wireless or Wireless Settings.

Under Wireless Settings, find Channel and change this to a different number.

Test your internet connection to see if its reliability has improved.

  • What is a good download speed?
  • Your preferred download speed depends on how you use the internet. For tasks like web surfing and email, 10 Mbps is sufficient. For video streaming and online games, 25 Mbps or more is recommended. The more devices you have, the more bandwidth you need.
  • What is a good upload speed?
  • The upload speed requirement for making a video call with Skype is only 1.2 Mbps, but you’ll want much higher than that if you use multiple devices on your home network. A good speed to aim for is 25 Mbps. For faster upload speed, see if fiber-optic internet is available in your area.
  • How do I increase internet speed on my PS4?
  • To make your PS4 download faster, try switching DNS servers or using a proxy server, and make sure Download in Rest Mode is enabled. If the Wi-Fi is slow on your PS4, use a wired Ethernet connection if possible. If you’re still having problems, disable Remote Play: Go to Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings > clear Enable Remote Play check box.
  • How do I increase internet speed on my Android?
  • To boost your internet speed on Android, free up space on your device and close any apps you’re not using. Use an app like Greenify to improve overall performance. If you’re connected to your home network, your best bet is to boost your Wi-Fi signal.
  • How do I know if I’m getting the internet speed I’m paying for?
  • Go to an internet speed test website and compare the results with what your ISP promises to make sure you’re getting the internet speed you’re promised. You may need to upgrade your router and modem to accommodate high-speed internet.

Your preferred download speed depends on how you use the internet. For tasks like web surfing and email, 10 Mbps is sufficient. For video streaming and online games, 25 Mbps or more is recommended. The more devices you have, the more bandwidth you need.

The upload speed requirement for making a video call with Skype is only 1.2 Mbps, but you’ll want much higher than that if you use multiple devices on your home network. A good speed to aim for is 25 Mbps. For faster upload speed, see if fiber-optic internet is available in your area.

To make your PS4 download faster, try switching DNS servers or using a proxy server, and make sure Download in Rest Mode is enabled. If the Wi-Fi is slow on your PS4, use a wired Ethernet connection if possible. If you’re still having problems, disable Remote Play: Go to Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings > clear Enable Remote Play check box.

To boost your internet speed on Android, free up space on your device and close any apps you’re not using. Use an app like Greenify to improve overall performance. If you’re connected to your home network, your best bet is to boost your Wi-Fi signal.

Go to an internet speed test website and compare the results with what your ISP promises to make sure you’re getting the internet speed you’re promised. You may need to upgrade your router and modem to accommodate high-speed internet.

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