It’s frustrating when you’re trying to watch your favorite show and it buffers, or you’re on an important video conference and the screen freezes, or even if your mobile device moves slow when connected to WIFI. What causes your WIFI internet connection to be slow and how can you fix it?

Number of Connected Devices

How many devices are connected to your network?  How many people in your household are using the internet?  It may seem simple if you say “it’s only me and my couple of devices.”  But consider everything that is connected…cellphone, laptop/computer, tablet, smart TV(s), security system/cameras, gaming system, smart devices (appliances, thermostats, Alexa/Siri/Google devices, etc.).  The more devices you have the more the speed will be hindered.

Fix: You likely have more devices than you realize connected to your network.  It’s best to disconnect any that are not being regularly used.  Also clear out your WIFI connection history to clear the congestion of past users who connected to your internet (think friend who used your WIFI last time they were visiting). If these solutions don’t fix your speed, you may require a faster speed (Get a Faster Speed)

Home Layout

The layout and structure of your home could be interfering with your WIFI connection.  Some of the factors that contribute to this include:

• Large home size
• Long layout
• Wall construction, including concrete walls
• Centrally located appliances

Fix: Since you can’t change the construction of your residence, consider investing in a mesh system such as Google Wifi or Eero.  These systems help boost and expand your signal throughout the home.  Both of these can be moved to a new home if needed.

Subscribed Speed

The speed you have subscribed too may not be fast enough to handle your usage.  It’s probably time to review your options and see if there is a better plan than your current one.