Top 5 Reasons Your Home Internet Is Slow

One of the biggest reasons people contact our tech support team is because their internet is slow. They know their home internet speed should be enough to do the things they normally do online, and they notice when the connection is not keeping up. They want to know how to fix slow internet so they can get back to living their lives.  

What causes slow home internet? While there are many things that can cause issues like lagging and buffering, most of the common internet issues we encounter fall under five main categories. Read on to learn about each of them and some quick steps you can take to troubleshoot home internet on your own.  

As always, if you need assistance, please contact our help center. We are ready to assist you.

Reason 1 – Weak WiFi Signal 

Dead zones and spotty connections are often a sign of a weak WiFi signal. Multiple things can interfere with your signal, including: ➤ Distance from the router ➤ Thick walls, floors, and other dense materials ➤ Household interference, such as microwaves and other devices using the same signal band 

You can easily check if you are experiencing a weak signal by walking throughout the area with your device connected to WiFi. If the signal bars drop to zero, you are likely in a dead zone.  There are a few things you can try to address a weak signal. First, you can reposition your router. Choose a central location, up off the floor and away from the wall. If that doesn’t work, you may need to add extenders or upgrade to a mesh network.  Extenders are relatively inexpensive and plug into an outlet. Their range is limited, though. A mesh network is more expensive but can reach further.

Reason 2 – Too Many Devices Connected 

Streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices can all compete for bandwidth. The more devices using the connection, the slower it gets. The router will start throttling internet speed down as it tries to meet the demands of more and more devices.  How can I tell if my internet is being throttled? The simplest way is to disconnect most devices from the router. If the internet on the devices that are left speeds up, you know what your problem was.  If you disconnect devices and find that it was the solution to fix slow internet, you might benefit from a faster connection. Consider upgrading your internet plan to handle more demand. 

Reason 3 – Outdated Equipment 

Old routers, modems, or even network cables can bottleneck speeds. Older equipment is not designed to handle modern demands. And by older equipment, even equipment that’s two or three years old might not be sufficient to keep up with the best internet plans offered today.  Plenty of customers have contacted us and asked, “Why is my internet slow if I just upgraded my speed?” Our first question is whether they have upgraded their equipment or not. If you just upgraded to a faster internet plan and you find that your network is moving much slower than expected, it could definitely be your equipment.  Check the age of your devices and consider upgrading your modem and router. 

Reason 4 – Network Congestion During Peak Hours 

Internet speed can decrease due to network congestion, both in the household and in the neighborhood. That’s why many people find that their internet slows down during peak usage times, like when everyone is streaming TV after dinner.  There are several things you can do to address this problem. If you need to download big files, schedule the downloads for off-peak times. You can also adjust your router to take advantage of Quality of Service (QoS) settings, which can help dictate the way your router distributes bandwidth during specific times.  One of the best ways to solve network congestion is to upgrade your internet. A better plan will give you more speed and bandwidth. If fiber is an option, you can choose it and avoid network congestion altogether. 

Reason 5 – Malware, Viruses, or Background Apps 

Malicious software and even legitimate apps running in the background can drain bandwidth. Malware and viruses can both hog up resources and leave you with little left over. Some background apps can also use up bandwidth without you knowing it.  Warning signs include lag spikes, unexpected data usage, and unresponsive devices.  Antivirus scans can pick up malware and viruses. For background apps, you can conduct an app audit using tools like Task Manager on Windows devices.  Resetting your router after you eliminate malware, viruses, and problematic apps can also help. 

Speed Up Your Home Internet with WOW! 

Weak WiFi signals, too many connected devices, outdated equipment, peak hour congestion, malware, viruses, and background apps – all of these can slow down your internet. Use the above tips to troubleshoot home internet and get things back to normal.  Still having trouble speeding up your home internet? Reach out to one of our internet experts for quick and knowledgeable assistance or check out our Internet Help Center for more assistance.