How To Increase Wi-Fi Speed At Home
Whether you’re working from home or streaming your favorite show, a slow Wi-Fi speed can be annoying. That’s especially true when countless household devices, including thermostats, are often Wi-Fi enabled. You’re not alone if you want to know how to increase Wi-Fi speed at home.
The best way to increase Wi-Fi at home is to disconnect devices you don’t use and use a Wi-Fi extender. You can also unplug your router and plug it back in to reboot your Wi-Fi connection in some cases. Otherwise, you may need to update the firmware, replace your router, or get a second router.
You may even need to upgrade to a new Internet service provider if you have consistent issues with your current provider. Some Internet service providers are better than others in some locations.
How To Make Wi-Fi Faster At Home
1. Replace Your Router
Like any electronic device, your Wi-Fi router won’t last forever, and its performance will suffer as it ages. The average homeowner replaces their router every 3 years, but they can last 5 or more years. How long your Wi-Fi router lasts depends on factors such as its location, condition, and usage.
Luckily, most Internet service providers will replace your Wi-Fi router for free. Depending on the provider, they may have you ship your old router to them before they replace it. Other providers may have their technicians take your old router when they come out to service or replace your current unit.
Contact your Internet service provider to see what steps you must take to replace your router. They may send a technician to inspect your router before they decide it must be replaced.
2. Get A Second Router
Do you live in a large home and struggle to maintain a strong Wi-Fi connection? If so, you may simply need to get a second router to increase your Wi-Fi router. A single router should do the trick for the average home, but large homes can benefit from two routers on the same network.
Having 2 routers on the same network can significantly boost the Wi-Fi range. However, it’s best to set your second router up as an access point. This is the best way to eliminate interference, which is common in homes with multiple Wi-Fi routers.
It’s best to enlist the help of your Internet provider’s technicians if you’re unsure how to set up a second router.
3. Move Your Router To An Open Space
Is your router concealed or obscured? You will experience a weak Wi-Fi signal if your router is enclosed or obstructed by furniture and clutter. For example, some people put their router in a cabinet, but that’s a mistake.
Wi-Fi routers need plenty of open space to distribute the signal widely throughout a home or business. Many people understandably try to conceal their Wi-Fi routers because they don’t look great. You can also damage your router if you conceal it in a tight space, as it can overheat quickly.
Ideally, you should place your Wi-Fi router in an open space where the signal won’t be interrupted. This should boost your home’s Wi-Fi speed and prevent your router from overheating. Make sure to put your router in a room near your Wi-Fi-enabled devices to get the best performance.
4. Update Your Router’s Firmware
Outdated firmware can explain why your Wi-Fi signal is weak. Service providers release firmware updates throughout the year, but they don’t always install automatically. That’s especially true if you have an old router, in which case you may want to replace it.
Luckily, you can manually update your router’s firmware without too much trouble. First, you must find the IP address and login information on the back or bottom of the router. Type the IP address into the search bar on a search engine like Google to pull up your router’s information.
Enter your login information, pull up the configuration menu, and select “advanced settings”. If a firmware update is available, you must click “install”, and it should update your router. That said, it’s a sign that something else is wrong with your router if the firmware is up to date.
5. Use A Wi-Fi Extender
Wi-Fi extenders help ensure that your Wi-Fi works well throughout your home. They come in handy for people who live in large homes, especially if there are multiple floors. A poor Wi-Fi range can slow your Internet speed at home if you’re far from the router.
Wi-Fi extenders boost the signal to increase your Wi-Fi speed in parts of your home that are far from the router. However, their primary function is to extend the Wi-Fi range in your home. The ideal location for your extender depends on the size and layout of your house.
That said, it helps to put the extender halfway between the router and the room you typically cannot connect to Wi-Fi. However, some extenders won’t work if you put them more than 20 feet from your router. Read the instructions when you get a Wi-Fi extender to see how far you can put it from the router.
6. Reboot Your Router
Your Wi-Fi range and performance can suffer if the router needs to be updated. Power-cycling, also known as rebooting your router can fix many common problems, such as a weak connection. Luckily, this is the easiest way to increase Wi-Fi speed at home, at least temporarily.
All you must do is unplug your Wi-Fi router, set a timer, and leave it unplugged for 30 seconds. Plug your router back in after 30 seconds, and give it a minute or two to reboot. Sometimes, it takes a few tries to fix Wi-Fi issues with this method.
That’s especially true if your router is overheated and needs some time to cool down. This is common among homeowners who keep their routers in an enclosure or behind furniture. However, you may need to replace your router if this method doesn’t increase Wi-Fi speed at home.
7. Reduce Usage
How many devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network at home? Connecting too many devices in one home to a Wi-Fi network can cause speed and performance issues. You can make your home’s Wi-Fi performance faster if you disconnect devices from your Wi-Fi that you don’t use often.
For example, you can disconnect smart devices and appliances like Wi-Fi-enabled coffee machines to lighten the load. The more devices you disconnect, the more your router can prioritize the devices you use daily. You can always reconnect these devices at any time, but a small break won’t hurt.
While many routers can connect to 250 devices, it can strain and weaken the connection. You are unlikely to get a fast, consistent performance if the router is connected to too many devices. That’s part of why the Wi-Fi connection is often slow at hotels and convention centers.
8. Switch Internet Service Providers
Do you have consistent Wi-Fi speed and connectivity problems at home? If so, then it may be a problem with your Internet service provider if solutions like replacing your router don’t work. Some Internet providers don’t have a strong presence or great range in all areas.
It could simply be that another service provider is a better option for your location. Research online and see which company can provide the most reliable Wi-Fi speed and performance in your town. It’s also a great idea to talk to your neighbors, see which provider they use, and ask if they are happy with the speed.
Summing It Up
You can make the Wi-Fi faster at home if you put your router in an open area where nothing obscures it. It also helps to disconnect unused devices from your network to boost the Wi-Fi speed in your house. Otherwise, you may need to reboot your router, update the firmware, use a Wi-Fi extender, or replace your router.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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