It’s a normal evening, family members are watching a movie in 4K on the TV, and you have to download a few important documents over the internet. But a few minutes later, the movie suddenly starts buffering every minute, and the download speed becomes slow because the internet speed has become slow.
To help you mitigate such situations, this blog discusses a few actionable steps to increase the speed of your Wi-Fi internet system.
Reasons Behind Slow Network
Before diving into the solutions, it is important to identify the common causes of reduced wireless internet speed. At times when users ask, ‘Why is the net slow, even the Wi-Fi near me, the causes are hidden in the following aspects:
- The Wi-Fi router has set with a different configuration
- Interference from nearby wireless networks
- Multiple devices are connected to the same network
- Outdated router firmware
- Older Wi-Fi standards with limited throughput
- Network signals are blocked due to concrete walls or metal surfaces
Optimise Router Placement
Router placement impacts range and functionality. You should ensure that your internet speed is maintained by placing the wireless access point in the following areas:
- Put the wireless access point in the middle of the office/home.
- Keep the device on an elevated area for easy spread of range.
- Make sure the wireless router is placed in a spacious location.
- Router antenna positioned up and down for optimal speed.
Besides, don’t put your Wi- Fi router near the kitchen. Appliances such as Microwave ovens use the same frequency as a Wi, Fi router. These two radio signals overlapping each other may cause interference.
Select the Appropriate Wi-Fi Band
Regarding speed, the choice of a suitable band of the Wi-Fi network depends on the device you are operating. Wi-Fi networks have 3 networks which consist of 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz. There are Wi-Fi routers that give you the flexibility to connect to more than one band, and there are also routers with only 2.4 GHz.
Significance of Wi-Fi Bands
Each Wi-Fi band has its own characteristics that specify its coverage, speed, availability and congestion. In this aspect, the following table shows the differences between 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz Wi-Fi Network bands.
| Feature | 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | 6 GHz |
| Coverage | Easily penetrates walls and floors. | Solid objects may sometimes block the signal. | requires a clear line-of-sight for best results. |
| Speed | Typically maxes out around 150-300 Mbps. | Can reach speeds over 1.3 Gbps. | Capable of 9.6 Gbps and beyond. |
| Availability | Every Wi-Fi device is supportable. | Most modern smartphones, PCs and TVs have the hardware capability to connect with this network. | Only available on the newest high-end hardware (Wi-Fi 6E/7). |
| Congestion | Crowded by other Wi-Fi routers working in similar channels. | More non-overlapping channels. | Lower Congestion |
How To Increase Wi-Fi Speed In Laptop?
The laptop has an extensive range of applications which runs on background to keep the system functional for your intended requirements. The internet speed slows down significantly due to older drivers or multiple background apps. Here’s how you can solve both of these issues.
- Update wireless network drivers
- Disable unnecessary startup programs
- Adjust power settings to high performance
- Forget and reconnect to the network
- Scan for malware
Besides taking the above actions, adjust the network adaptor settings. These settings can be optimised in the following ways:
- Open Device Manager
- Select Network Adapters
- Update driver software
- Set the preferred band to 5 GHz for faster speeds (if available)
How To Increase Wi-Fi Speed In Mobile?
Smartphones use a significant amount of data if the device is not configured in the correct way. The most feasible ways to manage mobile Wi-Fi connection speed include:
- Turn off the background data of the application that extensively consumes data
- Disable automatic app updates
- Clear browser or app cache
- Use the 5 GHz band when available
- Restart the device weekly
How To Increase Wi-Fi Speed In PC?
Like laptops, desktop PC Wi-Fi speed is also dependent on Wi-Fi drivers and adapters. PC Wi-Fi adapters are available in two forms: PCI Express cards and USB plug-and-play devices. Here is how you can improve data transmission speed by making changes to PCs:
- Make sure your PC has installed all necessary driver updates
- Prefer the 5GHz band for higher downloading speeds.
- Use a USB Wi-Fi adapter with external antennas
- Reposition the Wi-Fi card antenna towards your router
- Turn off Delivery Optimisation (For Windows PC)
How To Increase Download Speed Of Wi-Fi?
In order to increase your Wi-Fi internet speed, first check the current network speed. To perform a speed test, use a web browser and search on the web for ‘speed test’, and click on start test. You can also use speed test websites to know the current internet speed. Once the test is done, note down the ping time, download speed and upload speed.
The following options can be applied to improve download speed:
- Search for the most feasible Wi-Fi network providers on the web for your region, such as ‘best internet providers in Chennai’.
- Change your router’s Domain Name System (DNS) to Google DNS or Cloudflare Public DNS. These providers have a vast network of website IP addresses and have low congestion for loading webpages.
- Connect your phone or laptop to a 5GHz band Wi-Fi network.
- Select the broadband plan with a higher internet speed.
- You need to disconnect other devices to get the highest possible bandwidth if you are downloading some content.
- Book a technician visit for persistent issues.
Network Maintenance Checklist
Besides following specific steps to increase Wi-Fi speed, perform scheduled maintenance for the optimal performance of your router. The usual maintenance steps include:
- Turn off your router once every 15 days for about 1 minute.
- Schedule a reboot every week.
- Check for firmware updates.
Final Thoughts
The method of increasing the speed of Wi-Fi internet is subject to various factors. One of them is the optimal positioning of your router, moving to higher frequencies like 5GHz or 6GHz, and modifying a few settings on your devices. In addition to that, verify the bandwidth limit of the existing broadband package and, where necessary, upgrade to a faster package. Having all these, you are likely to get optimum speed out of your preferred internet service.