Signal Tuner's Guide to Improving Your Internet Service Speed

Slow internet speeds can get in your way, even when it seems like you've setup your workspace perfectly. 

This article will address solutions to slow internet speeds, expereinced when your Wi-Fi signal is still strong. For help addressing a poor Wi-Fi signal, read our article "Signal Tuner's Guide to Improving Your Wi-Fi Signal". 

I'm connected but my download speed is slow. 

When your Wi-Fi signal is strong, and your ISP is fully available in your area, there are some steps you can take to optimize your connection performance. 

• Clean up your connections. 

Your ISP limits how much bandwidth you can utilize at any given time. If your have multiple devices connected through the same router, they may be using up your data without you realizing it. 

Video game console updates, streaming media, large file downloads, can eat up your bandwidth without you being aware of it. 

The easiest way to start fresh is simply to change the password on your router. Then, reconnect the devices you as needed. 

Here are instructions for changing the password on some of the most common routers:

Netgear
Linksys
TP-Link
Asus
Belkin 

You may want to be more precise in which devices you disconnect from your router. In this case, you should log into you router and examine the "attached devices".

Here are instructions for inspecting the devices attached to your network for some of the most common routers:

Netgear
Linksys
TP-Link (unofficial)
Asus
Belkin 

Optimize your router

There are also adjustments you can make to your router's internal configuration that may improve the health of your Wi-Fi. 

The proceding steps assume you have a modern router using the "Wi-Fi 6" protocol. So first, let's confirm your router is up-to-date.

• Confirm your router utilizes "Wi-Fi 6" on Windows

1. From the Windows menu, open "Network and internet".
2. Open "Wi-Fi" from the available options.
3. There should be an option labelled with your network name + "properties". Select this option.
4. Scroll down to the value for "Protocol". 

If you see anything other than "Wi-Fi 6" here (e.g. Wi-Fi 4), you may want to consider upgrading to a newer router running the latest Wi-Fi protocol.  (paid link)

• Choose the best Wi-Fi network available on your router.

Most Wi-Fi routers provide both 2G and 5G networks. 5G is faster, in ideal conditions, but 2G is better at penetrating through surfaces. If you're on your router's 5G network and experience instability, try switching to the 2G network.

If you still experience instability in your W-Fi signal, consider a Wi-Fi router that utilizes "beamforming" technology to improve performance through wall and surfaces. (paid link)

• Change the channel of your Wi-Fi network

Within the 2G and 5G networks available to you, there are aso multiple channels you may select to utilize. If an excessive amount of routers within a given area are all utilizing the same network then they can cause interference with one another. You can avoid this by selecting a less utilized channel.

The process changing the channel on your router differs from one manufacturer to the next. Here are the instructions for some of the most common brands:

Netgear
Linksys
TP-Link
Asus
Belkin

• Check for firmware updates

Keeping your Wi-Fi router updated is important, both from a performance and security perspective. 

Again, the process for updating your router's firmware will differ between manufacturers. Here are instructions for the most common brands:

Netgear
Linksys
TP-Link
Asus
Belkin

Upgrade your service

If all else fails, you may just be on an internet service plan that just isn't meeting your needs. 

Many ISPs will offer incentives to upgrade and you may not end up paying much more than you do now. 

Here are links for instructions to change plans for the largest ISPs:

AT&T
Comcast/Xfinity 
Charter/Spectrum
Verizon
Lumen/CenturyLink