10 Ways to Easily and Effectively Speed Up Your Wi-Fi Connection

Most households today cannot do without stable internet connectivity. However, quite a large part of them often face Wi-Fi problems, which include both outages and fluctuating connection speeds.

It's not always the internet provider's fault, which is why we've compiled a short guide on ways to easily and effectively speed up your Wi-Fi connection at home.

1. Focus on the location of your router

For quality Wi-Fi signal coverage, the proper location of your router is essential. Ideally, it should be located in the center of the household, which may not always be possible or sufficient. The greatest enemies of Wi-Fi signal are obstacles such as thick walls, metal objects, or electrical appliances.

The most common culprits of signal interference are microwave ovens, refrigerators, cordless phones, or baby monitors. Often, a bathroom or home aquarium can also be a problematic barrier.

When placing your router, follow these rules:

1. Place the router in an elevated location – make sure the antennas have enough space.

2. Choose a spot in the middle of the apartment or house, or ideally in the room where you most often use the Wi-Fi connection.

3. Do not place the router near disruptive objects, bathrooms, kitchens, or next to thick walls.

4. If the router has adjustable antennas, try pointing them in the desired direction. This adjustment is particularly useful in multi-story houses, where you can set one antenna horizontally and the other towards the lower floor. For large rooms, it is best to set side antennas horizontally.

2. Update the router's firmware

Firmware is crucial for internet speed. Internet connection parameters and requirements change, making regular updates necessary. Updates also fix minor issues, improve security, and increase connection speed. If you have a modem and router from your provider, they usually handle the firmware updates.

If you purchased your own router, it's definitely worth checking available updates to help achieve or get closer to the ideal internet speed. Simply log into the router management system and find the updates section. Most routers now offer automatic updates, but you typically need to enable this feature in the settings.

TIP: To verify if updating improves the signal, perform an internet speed test using our tool before updating. After the update, run a control speed test and compare the results. If the value doesn't change significantly, proceed with the next steps.

3. Try changing the Wi-Fi channel

People living in densely populated areas are the most likely to seek ways to speed up their internet. This is mainly due to the congestion of used channels, especially in the 2.4 GHz band. Fortunately, most modern routers offer the option to manually switch Wi-Fi channels. The 2.4 GHz band has 14 channels, while the 5 GHz band has 45 channels.

If several households around you use one channel, there's a high chance your connection speed will decrease. First, perform an internet speed test and ensure it's not just a temporary outage. If problems persist, proceed to change the channel.

To find free channels, you can use online tools like Wi-Fi Analyzer or inSSIDer, or diagnostics directly in your device's operating system. 

On Windows, you can access the list of channels through PowerShell (enter netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid in the command prompt). You'll get a list of networks and used channels immediately after. On a Mac, you can only use the wireless diagnostics. After the analysis, you'll get a list of available channels to connect to. 

Just like firmware updates, you'll need to log into the router management system to switch the used channel in the settings.

4. Try connecting via the 5 GHz band

Switching the used band can help with internet speed. The vast majority of routers already support switching between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The former offers greater range but poorer stability and lower speeds. Conversely, the 5 GHz band provides faster, more stable connections with shorter range. 

SUITABLE USE	BAND TYPE
	2.4 GHz	5 GHz
	Web surfing Using connection far from the router Connecting older devices Connecting smart home devices	Downloading large files Streaming movies and music Connecting Smart TVs Playing online games Connecting to the internet in densely populated areas Connecting devices near the router

5. Connect devices to the router using an ethernet cable

If the connection speed is insufficient, connecting devices to the router using an ethernet cable can help. The internet will be faster and more stable. This solution is ideal for more demanding activities, such as working on a PC or playing online games. A wide range of devices can be connected, regardless of the distance from the router. The only limitation might be the cable length.

6. Make sure the problem is not with your device

The issue could be with your device not being able to adequately process the Wi-Fi signal, thus reducing connection speed. Ensure that the software and drivers of the device are current, and update them if necessary. Updating won't help very old devices.

Such devices shouldn't be left connected, as they will slow down the network further. Some might even be connected without your knowledge. You can easily check and reduce the number of connected devices by logging into the router management system. If you have long-term internet speed issues, try to minimize their number.

7. Use network extenders

Especially in older houses with thick walls, spreading Wi-Fi to all rooms can be challenging. You usually won't manage with just a regular router and will need to invest in additional devices. The cheapest solution is an extender, which you simply plug into an outlet and pair with your router. However, the connection quality won't be particularly high.

A much better way to speed up the internet is buying a mesh Wi-Fi. It consists of multiple devices that act as satellites, spreading across the household. After turning on, it creates an invisible network over the selected area. Compared to extenders, the connection is faster and more stable. Connected devices also automatically switch between available satellites.

8. Consider buying a new router

Technology evolves rapidly, reflecting on the devices themselves. Routers bought six years ago can't be compared with current models on the market. If you have Wi-Fi speed issues and your budget allows it, consider investing in a more modern device. High-quality routers are available from 2,000 CZK.

When choosing, make sure the router offers:

• Wi-Fi 6 – the latest Wi-Fi standard version, providing higher speed, capacity, and efficiency. Generally suitable for households with multiple devices.
• Dual-Band – supports switching between two bands. There are also Tri-Band routers offering an additional 5 GHz band.
• WPA3 – the most advanced router security technology.
• QoS – allows prioritization settings for devices and applications that need priority access to the connection.

9. Regular router restart

Regularly restarting your Wi-Fi router can also help improve signal quality. Like other devices, the router occasionally needs a break to clear its memory and resolve minor software errors that can lead to reduced internet speed.

It is generally recommended to restart the router about once a month. There are several ways to do this. Most models already have a restart button that needs to be held for a moment. After that, you can turn off the router and temporarily disconnect it from the power source.

Especially with older routers, restarting is possible only by the second mentioned method, i.e., turning the device off and on again. For better results, it is good to turn off the Wi-Fi connection on all devices and turn it back on a while after the restart. The same procedure should occasionally be performed with the modem.

10. Upgrade your internet provider's plan

If your current internet speed is insufficient and none of the mentioned solutions work, it is appropriate to consider changing the chosen plan or even the type of internet. First, perform a speed test to see if you really reach the speed of the chosen plan.

If so, contact your provider and ask for a speed upgrade – otherwise, confront them about not delivering the promised services. However, speed cannot always be increased, especially with wireless or ADSL internet. On the other hand, faster alternatives like cable or fiber optic internet are only available in urban areas.

Low internet speed and insufficient Wi-Fi coverage can have a number of causes and solutions. If you do not want to engage in complex router configurations, in most cases, restarting it or purchasing an extender will suffice. For better control of the changes, you can also use our internet speed test, which will serve as a starting point when negotiating with your provider.