With speeds reaching 1Gbps or more, a slow internet connection isn’t going to cut it for many of today’s online users. Even though you’re spending on a certain amount of data exchange, are you really getting the speed you’re paying for?
There’s a lot that goes into how fast of a connection you’re getting. Much of what impacts your internet speed can be easily fixed.
After running a test on your device and check internet speed, you may want to try a few things out to improve your internet speed in your home or business. To help you out, here are some simple tips you can try:
1. Reset Your Router
“Have you shut the router off and turned it on again?” We often laugh when we hear this question, but there’s some truth to this age-old troubleshooting step. Resetting your router allows the device to temporarily break the internet connection for it to start over again. This may help with some issues that you may be experiencing.
You may either unplug the router or press the reset button that you can find on most router models. If you’re using it round the clock, it’s a good idea to reset your router and modem at least once a month.
2. Review Data Cap Limits
Too often, we see people sign up for home or business internet plans, not realizing that they have a monthly data cap. While some internet service providers offer huge data ceilings – like a terabyte of data per month – other internet plans may carry conservative restrictions.
Once you reach the data limit, you may either experience reduced internet speeds until the next month, receive an overage charge, or both. Check your internet plan to see if a monthly data cap exists. If so, consider switching to an unlimited internet plan if your budget allows.
3. Connect Using Ethernet
While wireless is certainly convenient, connecting directly to your modem via an ethernet cable is going to provide a much faster internet experience than your standard wireless connection. That’s because the connection travels through your hard-wired connection, which doesn’t leave room for signal issues or signal interruptions.
For this purpose, you may want to set up your modem near a desk or workstation for easy access.
4. Clear Your Cache, Cookies, and Browsing History
As you use the internet on your phone and other online devices, your browser cache, cookies, and browsing history may accumulate over time.
Your cache allows you to quickly retrieve information again and acts as a ‘temporary’ memory storage. Cookies track your internet browsing to place targeted ads on various websites, based on your browsing. Your browser history is a running list of the websites you’ve visited.
These saved data may slow down your internet connection. Simply clearing these out can free up your browser and speed up your connection.
5. Block Ads and Malware
Pop-up ads can take up a lot of bandwidth, especially if those ads are image- or video-heavy. In fact, ads on a web page can be the largest elements of the page. They can significantly add to your load time.
With a simple ad and pop-up blocker, you can eliminate ads that may potentially slow down your connection.
Similarly, malware can also impact the quality of your connection. Fortunately, there are plenty of free antivirus and malware scanners that you can download to protect your computer and maintain your fast connection.
6. Move Your Router
Your device’s proximity to the router can actually play a vital role in how fast your internet connection becomes. There is a limit to how far your WiFi signal will reach, so it’s always best to be as close as you possibly can to the router when you’re connected to WiFi. If you’re reaching the range limits of how far your signal can reach, you’re probably going to experience slower speeds.
7. Connect to 5GHz
Many modern routers now allow for 5GHz connections, which are typically much faster than the standard 2.4GHz connections. While the signal doesn’t reach as far, 5GHz creates a consistently fast connection that won’t be affected by other signals in your home.
Check to see if there is a “5G” listed in your WiFi connections that matches the name of your current home WiFi.
8. Update Your Browser
A quick update of your favorite browser can boost your internet connection speed. This process shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, but it comes with tons of free updates that can optimize your connection and your browsing experience.
9. Close Out Unused Tabs and Programs
Just like your experience with ads and malware, any additional browser tabs and programs that use the internet may slow down your connection. The more tabs and programs that are simultaneously open with an active internet connection, the less bandwidth you’ll have for your internet browsing session. Close out your unused tabs for a quick boost to your speed.
10. Upgrade Your Internet Plan
If you’ve tried all of these tips and you’re still not getting the speed you need, it may be time to upgrade your internet plan. Sometimes there isn’t anything wrong with your computer or your internet connection; it’s just the plan that you chose.
Whether you feel happy with your current internet speeds or need something much faster, always test your internet speed to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth.
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