Why Is My WiFi So Slow?! The Annoying Issue Plaguing Millions and How to Fix It

The Scope of the Problem

According to a recent survey by router maker TP-Link, over 80% of households experience regular WiFi slowdowns or dead zones. Another study by Wakefield Research found that the average home has 17 connected devices all jockeying for limited bandwidth. With so many gadgets taxing networks to the max, it's no wonder sluggish internet has become the norm rather than the exception.

"Slow WiFi is the number one issue we hear complaints about from customers," says Joe Rodriguez, a Geek Squad agent at Best Buy. "There are a few common culprits, and usually it's a combination of things rather than a single fix."

Top Causes of Sluggish Home WiFi

So what's really behind those endlessly spinning wheels and dropped connections? Here are some of the most typical reasons:

1. Too Many Devices On One Network - Between smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and an ever-increasing array of smart home gadgets, modern homes are maxing out their WiFi's capabilities. Rodriguez says he frequently sees homes with 30+ connected devices all sharing the same overloaded router.

   • Solution: Consider separating high-bandwidth devices like streaming TVs and gaming consoles onto a guest network, or limiting the number of devices connected at once.
     

2. Outdated Router - Speaking of routers, they're often many years (or even a decade!) behind current WiFi technology. Older routers use outdated WiFi protocols and hardware that can't keep up with today's speeds and device demands. If your router is more than 5 years old, it's likely time for an upgrade.

   • Solution: Replace your router with a newer model that supports the latest WiFi 6 or 802.11ax standard for faster speeds and greater capacity.
     

3. Poor Router Placement - Where you put your WiFi router can have a huge impact on speeds and coverage. Routers need to be centrally located, out in the open, and not blocked by walls or large furniture. Placing them in closets, utility rooms or corners is a recipe for poor signals.

   • Solution: Relocate your router to a more central, unobstructed location, preferably elevated off the ground. Avoid putting it near large metal objects, microwaves, or other potential sources of interference.
     

4. Too Much Interference - Many common household devices like microwaves, cordless phones, and even concrete walls can cause interference and degrade WiFi performance. Things like having the router too close to a microwave or in a home with very thick walls can significantly hamper speeds.

   • Solution: Identify and eliminate sources of interference. Move the router away from potential culprits, and consider using the less crowded 5GHz band if your devices support it.

   
   

5. Background Bandwidth Hogs - That high-speed internet connection gets carved up by things happening in the background. Software updates, automatic app refreshes, cloud backups, and kids streaming music or movies can all be working behind the scenes and slowing things to a crawl.

   • Solution: Pause or limit bandwidth-intensive background activities when you need maximum speeds. Prioritize critical devices and traffic through router settings.

   
   

6. Internet Package Speeds - How fast your internet package is marketed versus how fast it is in reality can be quite different. Check your plan's fine print and run some online speed tests to see if you're actually getting what you pay for from your provider. If not, it may be time to call and negotiate.

   • Solution: Upgrade your internet service plan to a higher tier if your current speeds are insufficient, or negotiate with your provider for better rates.

Easy Fixes To Speed Up Your Home WiFi

1. Reboot Your Router - It may seem obvious, but rebooting your router frequently can really help. "We recommend doing it once a week on average," says Jill Curtis, a networking specialist at Linksys. Unplug the router, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in to reset the connection.
   

2. Update Router Firmware - Just like your laptop or smartphone, routers run on firmware that occasionally needs updating. Check the manufacturer's website and update your router if an update is available. This can improve performance and patch any security flaws.
   

3. Change Router Position - Try moving your router to a more central location off the floor and away from large appliances or obstructions. Routers need good airflow around them and should be kept away from things like microwaves.
   

4. Turn Off Unused Devices - If you have a smart home with tons of connected gadgets, temporarily disconnect anything you don't actively use to reduce the burden on your network. Then reconnect them one by one if needed.
   

5. Prioritize Important Devices - Most modern routers allow you to prioritize bandwidth usage for certain devices. Use this feature to ensure things like streaming smart TVs or work laptops have priority.
   

6. Check for Interference - Determine if a particular interference source may be impacting speeds. Try turning off nearby cordless phones, microwaves or anything else that operates on the 2.4GHz band while testing WiFi performance.
   

7. Update to Latest WiFi Standard - If you have an older router or devices, consider upgrading to ones that support the latest WiFi 6 or 802.11ax standard. These offer much faster speeds, greater capacity, and improved range. While more expensive, it can be a night and day difference.

   
   

If you've tried all the free fixes and still can't get your WiFi up to par, it may be time to call in a professional networking tech or your internet provider for help. But those basic tips can go a long way in helping optimize your home network.

With so many internet-enabled devices in our homes today, dealing with sluggish WiFi has become an unfortunate fact of life for many. But by following some simple troubleshooting steps, adjusting settings, and implementing some easy hardware changes, you really can take back control of your network and banish those spinning wheels of doom for good.