Why My Internet (Speed) is Very Slow

Internet speed is slow - Troubleshooting Steps

Steps to Troubleshoot Slow Internet:

You need to restart your modem and router

Equipment restarts are hands down the most effective internet troubleshooting solution. This should always be your first step.

Your home network is congested

Congestion happens when you overload your internet connection with more traffic than it can handle. To fix it, you can either lower your internet usage or upgrade to a faster plan.

Your provider’s network is congested

Provider networks can get overloaded the same way your home network can: too much traffic and not enough bandwidth.

You need a stronger Wi-Fi signal

You experience a weak Wi-Fi signal when you’re too far from your router, when the signal is forced to pass through obstructive materials, or when other Wi-Fi networks and electronic devices introduce interference. You can fix it by extending your Wi-Fi range, choosing a better spot for your router, or adjusting your router’s settings.

You exceeded your data cap

Many internet providers limit how much data you can use per month. When you go over your limit, your ISP may slow your connection. You can avoid exceeding your data cap by keeping track of your data usage or by purchasing more data.

You have high latency

High latency causes your internet to feel sluggish and is particularly frustrating with highly time-sensitive activities like gaming and video calls.

You have slow or outdated devices

It’s not always your internet connection that’s causing the slowdowns, it could be one or more of your devices. If your slowdowns are limited to certain devices, you should start your troubleshooting efforts with those devices rather than your internet connection; sometimes, they just need a simple restart.

Your provider is throttling your connection

Your ISP may be intentionally slowing down your connection for a number of reasons.