There is more than one reason for the slow internet connection at your home. Apart from the frustration it causes, slow internet affects productivity and wastes a lot of precious time in buffering and streaming of apps. Troubleshooting a sluggish internet speed is a tedious task and you need to diagnose and find the right reason behind this issue. So without further ado let’s discuss the step-by-step instructions to fix the issues related to internet speed.
Reset the Physical Devices
The simplest way to resolve the issue is to reset the Router-cum-Modem. So, the right way to do this is to unplug the router from the power source for at least ten minutes before turning it on again. Meanwhile, you can also restart your computer and clear the cache, cookies, and temporary files from the system.
Narrow down the cause
Sometimes a particular website is not responding in an optimum way. There can be some server issues or peak traffic time for that particular site. So, try other sites before taking any troubleshooting steps.
Physical Inspection
This is like first aid. You should check the antennas of the router for any damage, check the loose or twisted Ethernet cable, and check the ADSL telephone jack and cable. Furthermore, see if any splitter is used and look for any loose connection.
Scan Viruses or Malware
A virus or a malware on the device can seriously affect not only the device’s speed but also the internet speed. In a home network, if multiple devices are connected, the worm or a virus on a single PC, mobile, or any other device can travel to the other devices or the router. So, it is imperative to scan the devices with good updated anti-virus software. Furthermore, you can also make sure that the firewall on your router is On.
Background Processes
Most of the apps that are installed on our systems have processes associated with them that keep on running in the background and are not visible on the screen. Some processes use a lot of internet bandwidth which can result in a sluggish internet speed. You can check the bandwidth consumed by processes in Task Manager. Many third-party apps and bandwidth monitoring tools are available to analyze and limit the bandwidth for a particular app.
Wireless Interference
There are many appliances and devices in our home that can interfere with the Router’s Wi-Fi signals. Some of these objects include smart home appliances, Bluetooth devices, neighbor’s routers, large telecom towers near the house, satellite devices, Microwaves, and Wireless speakers. Apart from electronic devices, other objects that can block Wi-Fi signals are thick walls, Fish tanks, large mirrors, and fairy lights. So, keeping all these factors in mind you should keep your router in a place that is far from these obstacles.
Firmware
The router manufacturers release patches or updates from time to time. These updates are meant to fix bugs or update the settings as per the new or current internet technologies. So, you must visit the router company’s sites to see whether they have released any new firmware and update your router.
VPN
In case you have installed a VPN, the internet speed is bound to suffer. The VPN routes the traffic through its own servers and involves encryption and decryption processes which consume a lot of allocated bandwidth.
ISP
You can check the internet speed on various sites like speedtest.net. It will display the download and upload speed. If the speed shown here is lesser than that of your internet plan, it’s time to contact your ISP.
Troubleshoot Slow Internet Speed
These methods will help you immensely. But before going for these steps, make sure you check the internet speed on more than one device. If you are getting slow internet speed on all the devices in your home network, you must follow the above instructions to resolve the issue.
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