How to Fix Slow Wi-Fi at Home: 12 Fixes That Actually Work

Buffering videos and dropped video calls? Work through these fixes, from the 30-second ones to the upgrades worth paying for, to speed up your home Wi-Fi.

Slow Wi-Fi is one of the most common tech frustrations in American homes, and the cause is often simple. Before you pay for a faster internet plan, work through these steps in order. The first few take seconds and fix a surprising number of problems.

First, find out where the problem is

Run a speed test (search "speed test" in your browser) in two places: right next to your router and in the room where Wi-Fi is slow. If speed is good next to the router but poor elsewhere, the problem is coverage. If it's slow everywhere, even when plugged in with a cable, the problem is likely your internet connection or plan. Compare your result to the speed you pay for on your bill.

Quick fixes (under five minutes)

1. Restart your modem and router

Unplug both, wait 30 seconds, plug in the modem first, wait until its lights settle, then plug in the router. Restarting clears memory problems and can reconnect you to a less congested part of your provider's network.

2. Move closer, or move the router

Wi-Fi signals weaken with distance and through walls, floors, mirrors, metal appliances and water (including fish tanks). The best spot for a router is central, elevated and in the open — not in a cabinet, behind a TV or in a corner of the basement.

3. Switch to the 5 GHz (or 6 GHz) network

Most routers broadcast more than one band. The 2.4 GHz band reaches farther but is slower and more crowded, since neighbors' networks, microwaves and Bluetooth devices share it. The 5 GHz band is much faster at shorter range. Newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers add a 6 GHz band that is faster still and less congested. If your router shows separate network names, connect nearby devices to the faster band.

4. Disconnect devices you're not using

Phones, tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, cameras and smart speakers all share your bandwidth. A console downloading a large game update or a computer syncing cloud backups can slow everyone else down.

Settings worth checking

5. Update your router's firmware

Router makers release updates that fix bugs, improve performance and patch security holes. Log in to your router's app or admin page and look for a firmware update option, or turn on automatic updates.

6. Change the Wi-Fi channel

In apartment buildings, dozens of networks may compete on the same channel. Most modern routers choose channels automatically, but if yours doesn't, try a different one in the settings — on 2.4 GHz, channels 1, 6 and 11 don't overlap.

7. Secure your network

Make sure your Wi-Fi uses a strong password and WPA2 or, better, WPA3 security. An open or weakly protected network could let neighbors use your bandwidth — and is a security risk.

8. Use quality-of-service (QoS) settings

Many routers let you prioritize certain devices or activities, such as work laptops or video calls, so they get bandwidth first when the network is busy.

Upgrades that make a real difference

9. Plug in with Ethernet

For devices that don't move — a desktop computer, a smart TV, a game console — a wired Ethernet connection is faster and more stable than any wireless signal, and it frees up Wi-Fi for everything else.

10. Add a mesh system or extender

In larger or multi-story homes, one router often can't cover every room. A mesh Wi-Fi system uses several units placed around the home that work together as a single network. It's usually a better choice than a basic range extender, which can cut speeds in half.

11. Replace an old router

If your router is more than five or six years old, or came free from your provider years ago, it may not support modern Wi-Fi standards. A newer Wi-Fi 6 or later router can noticeably improve speed and handle many more devices at once.

12. Check your internet plan

If speeds are slow even with a cable plugged directly into the modem, call your provider. Ask them to check for line problems and confirm your modem is compatible with your plan. If your household streams in 4K, games online and works from home at the same time, you may simply need a faster plan.

When to suspect the provider

If your connection drops at the same times every day, your modem lights show errors, or several neighbors on the same provider report problems, the issue is probably outside your home. Check your provider's outage page or app before you spend money on new equipment.