How to Fix Slow Internet Connection? Try These Steps Before Upgrading

Since most of us working from home, with so much global workforce and their families now cooped up at home to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), it's not a huge surprise that home Internet is showing the strain. If you've had an official video conference stutter while your kids play Pubg online, or found yourself unable to stream the news while other family members upload huge data files for work, you'll have a good idea of the problem.

Here's How you can fix your slow internet connection

Is there a bandwidth problem?

The Internet's core is managing the spike in traffic just fine, experts say. It has a massive capacity to handle YouTube and other streaming services.
True, Netflix has just throttled down its video quality in Europe at the request of authorities there. But the company already stores its programs on servers close to users' homes already, and there's no evidence that it's clogging networks.

The problem partly lies in the so-called “last mile,” the link that connects your home to the ultra-high-speed Internet backbone.

If that happens, one quick solution is to have some family members switch to audio-only, which conserves bandwidth. This also applies to anyone in multiplayer online games. You could also order a service upgrade, although that might not be strictly necessary.

Some providers are temporarily offering more bandwidth, particularly for families with school-age children, in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Others have dropped service caps that charge extra when data usage passes a certain threshold.

There are lots of reasons that stops people from having a fast internet connection.

•  Avoid Signal Interferences

One of the most common reasons why your internet is acting slow might be due to signal interference. Overlapping internet connections are now everywhere.
To avoid this from happening, you can transfer your router to another place. It’s better for you to place it near your device so that the wireless connection will be nearer and more direct. You can also change your Wi-Fi channel number to improve performance. Remember that the closer your device is to your router, the faster the Wi-Fi connection is.

•  Close Background Apps

Be mindful of the background apps running on your device. These usually consume lots of network resources which slows down your connection. Though most of them are useful, some aren’t. Turn them off. Or if possible, uninstall the apps you don’t need. The apps that hog a lot of bandwidth are usually games and movie makers.

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•  Fix Your Wi-Fi Signal

You might have noticed that your internet connection is doing good by using a speed test app. But even though it might look good, your wireless signal is still weak. If you’ve experienced this, then the possible culprit might be your router’s location.

Place your router in an open space far from walls and posts that might stop the signal flow. It’s also recommended that you place your Wi-Fi router on a high-standing structure. This way, your mobile devices can connect to it without any objects barricading.

•  Configure Your Router Settings

Your Wi-Fi router is the centrepiece of your internet connection. Without it, you won't be able to connect to the internet. This is why you need to make sure that the router is configured correctly. 

See to it that your settings follow the manufacturer’s guide manual. You can also follow the recommendations of your ISP if there are any. If you did some changes to the configuration, be sure to record them. This makes it easier for you to track the changes if you want to undo them later.

•  Be Cautious of Worms and Malware

Internet worms can spread from one device to another. This happens especially if the devices are connected to the same network. This makes them a grave threat to all internet users. Once your computer or device is infected, you'll experience a sudden connection slow down.

This happens because internet worms make your device use up lots of network traffic. To avoid this from happening, you can install antivirus software on your device. And be sure to update it now and then.

•  Contact Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

If the previous methods prove fruitless, then there might be something wrong with your ISP. It’s possible that your Internet Service Provider had changed its network configuration. Your ISP might also have installed new controls and filters on the network. When this happens, videos take longer to load. To fix this problem, you can try contacting your service provider for help.

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