How to Fix Slow Internet: 12 Fixes That Actually Work

Slow internet is usually fixable without calling anyone. Work through these 12 checks in order - From the 30-second router restart to the settings that quietly throttle your speed - Testing after each one to see what actually helped.

8 min read Updated July 2026
Fix Slow Internet - Illustration

Fastest wins

  • Restart your router and modem - Fixes a surprising number of issues.
  • Switch to Ethernet or move closer to the router.
  • Pause background downloads and disconnect idle devices.
  • Re-test after each change so you know what worked.

Before you start, run a baseline speed test - Ideally with a cable straight into your router - And note the numbers. After each fix below, test again and compare. That's how you find the real bottleneck instead of guessing.

Start here (the 5-minute checks)

  1. Restart your router and modem. Unplug both, wait 30 seconds, power the modem first, then the router. This clears memory leaks and re-establishes a clean connection - The single most effective fix.
  2. Test wired vs Wi-Fi. Plug a laptop directly into the router with Ethernet and test. If wired is fast but Wi-Fi is slow, your problem is the Wi-Fi - Jump to the next section. If wired is also slow, it's your line or plan.
  3. Stop background hogs. Pause cloud backups, big downloads, game updates and streaming on other devices, then re-test. One large upload or download can swallow your whole connection.

Wi-Fi fixes

  1. Move closer to the router. Distance, walls and floors dramatically weaken Wi-Fi. Test in the same room as the router to confirm.
  2. Use the 5 GHz band. It's much faster than 2.4 GHz at short range. Connect to the "5G" version of your network name for nearby devices; keep 2.4 GHz for distant ones.
  3. Reposition the router. Put it high, central and in the open - Not in a cabinet, behind a TV or on the floor. Keep it away from microwaves and cordless phones.
  4. Reduce interference. In apartments, neighbouring networks crowd the same channels. Many routers can auto-select a clearer channel after a restart, or you can set one manually.
  5. Consider a mesh system. For larger homes, a mesh or an extra access point beats a single router struggling to cover everything. This fixes jitter and dropouts in far rooms.

Equipment and settings fixes

  1. Check your modem/router age. Hardware older than your plan can't deliver its full speed. On cable, an out-of-date DOCSIS modem is a classic bottleneck - A modern router often unlocks speed you're already paying for.
  2. Update firmware. Log into your router and install any firmware update; these fix bugs and performance issues. Restart afterward.
  3. Turn off the VPN (temporarily). VPNs route traffic through distant servers and lower both speed and ping. Disable it and re-test to measure the impact.
  4. Scan for problems. Too many connected devices, malware, or a browser stuffed with extensions can all sap performance. Disconnect idle smart devices and try a different device to isolate the issue.

When it's your plan or provider

If wired speeds are still far below your plan at all hours after the fixes above, the problem is likely upstream:

  • You've outgrown your plan. Compare your needs in our speed requirements guide. A busy household on an old 50 Mbps plan will feel slow no matter what.
  • Peak-time congestion. If speeds only drop in the evening, shared cable congestion may be the cause - Gather test results at different times as evidence.
  • A line fault. Persistent packet loss on a wired connection points to a fault. Contact your provider with your test data.
  • Better options exist. Check whether faster providers or fiber now serve your address.
Keep the evidence

Screenshots of speed tests at different times - With dates and whether you were wired or wireless - Make provider support calls far more productive and can justify a credit or a technician visit.

Run a test and start diagnosing

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