How to Fix Slow Internet at Work or Home
Slow internet can be frustrating and disruptive, especially when you’re trying to work, stream, or attend virtual meetings. Several factors—network congestion, outdated equipment, or interference—can slow down your connection. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix slow internet issues for a faster, more reliable connection.
🚀 Brought to you by Axio Networks, an award-winning managed IT provider in Scottsdale, Arizona. We help businesses and remote workers optimize network performance for maximum productivity.
📌 Step 1: Test Your Internet Speed
Before troubleshooting, check your actual internet speed to compare it with your plan’s advertised speed.
✔ Visit Speedtest.net or Fast.com.
✔ Run the test on both Wi-Fi and a wired connection.
✔ Compare results to your internet provider’s promised speed.
✅ If speeds are much lower than expected, it’s time to investigate further!
📌 Step 2: Restart Your Modem and Router
✔ Unplug your modem and router for 30 seconds, then plug them back in.
✔ Wait a few minutes for them to fully reboot.
✔ Check your speed again.
✅ Restarting clears memory leaks and refreshes the connection!
📌 Step 3: Check for Network Congestion
✔ If multiple devices are streaming, gaming, or video conferencing, it can slow down speeds.
✔ Disconnect unused devices or schedule bandwidth-heavy activities for off-peak hours.
✔ Use Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router to prioritize work applications over streaming services.
✅ Limiting network congestion improves performance for critical tasks!
📌 Step 4: Optimize Your Wi-Fi Signal
✔ Place your router in a central location for better coverage.
✔ Keep it away from walls, metal objects, and electronic devices that cause interference.
✔ Use a 5GHz Wi-Fi band for faster speeds and 2.4GHz for better range.
✔ Upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router for better performance in high-device environments.
✅ Optimizing your router placement reduces dead zones and improves connectivity!
📌 Step 5: Secure Your Network
✔ Change your Wi-Fi password to prevent unauthorized users from slowing your connection.
✔ Disable unused guest networks to free up bandwidth.
✔ Enable WPA3 or WPA2 encryption for maximum security.
✅ Protecting your network ensures only authorized users consume bandwidth!
📌 Step 6: Update Your Router’s Firmware
✔ Log in to your router’s admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
✔ Check for firmware updates under settings.
✔ Install updates to fix performance and security issues.
✅ Outdated firmware can cause slow speeds and security vulnerabilities!
📌 Step 7: Switch to a Wired Connection
✔ Use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi for faster, stable connections.
✔ Ideal for remote work, gaming, and video conferencing.
✔ Disable Wi-Fi on wired devices to free up bandwidth.
✅ A wired connection is always faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi!
📌 Step 8: Scan for Viruses & Background Apps
✔ Run a full antivirus scan to check for malware that could be using bandwidth.
✔ Close background apps that consume data (cloud backups, auto-updates, streaming apps).
✅ Reducing unnecessary bandwidth usage speeds up your connection!
📌 Step 9: Contact Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
✔ If speeds are still slow after troubleshooting, check with your ISP.
✔ Ask if there are network outages, bandwidth throttling, or plan upgrades available.
✔ Consider upgrading to a higher-speed plan if your needs have increased.
✅ Your ISP can provide insights or solutions to persistent slow internet issues!
💡 Axio Networks Pro Tip
For business users, implementing Wi-Fi mesh networks, VPN optimization, and enterprise-grade network monitoring ensures consistent high-speed internet for remote and office workers. Need expert IT solutions? Axio Networks provides managed networking services—contact us today! 🚀