How to Speed up Your Internet for Free – 8 tips
This article is about how to Speed up Your Internet for Free. Are you suffering from poor Wi-Fi access? Slow internet is annoying. We offer solutions to speed up your internet connection for free and improve your Wi-Fi signal at home.
Before we start, let’s see
what causes your Wi-Fi to slow down:
- It’s too far from your Wifi point
- Other nearby devices cause interference
- Many devices use wireless networks
- Outdated firmware or wireless network driver
- The router is infected with malware or viruses
- The router may be faulty or disabled
How to Speed up Your Internet for Free
Here are some ideas that can help you increase your Wi-Fi speed and improve your productivity.
1. Upgrade your router to increase network speed
- The Nearer, the better. Move your Wi-Fi router to an easy-to-reach location. Keeping the router 3 to 9 feet from your device will help eliminate issues with network devices losing Wi-Fi connectivity. Upgrade the router
- Reduce interference. Make sure you stay away from obstacles to avoid interference, such as fireplaces and microwave ovens, which block the signal.
- Reduce the number of devices. Make sure all unused devices are turned off and are not consuming your Wi-Fi bandwidth. Because many devices using wireless networks can affect Wi-Fi performance.
2. Speed up your internet connection by changing your Wi-Fi channel number
Signal transmission can be improved with the right frequency and better storage space.
To improve your Wi-Fi signal at home, you can change the channel on your router.
You can do this by going to the router’s admin interface and looking for channel settings.
Try using different numbers until you find the best one for your network.
5 GHz is fast and provides a reliable connection.
But the shorter radio waves of 5GHz Wi-Fi mean it can cover shorter distances and doesn’t penetrate through solid objects like 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.
In other words, 2.4 GHz can cover a large area and works well in going through walls.
2.4ghz vs. 5ghz Wi-Fi channel
3. Secure your Wi-Fi network
If a neighbor steals your Wi-Fi connection, your Wi-Fi performance may suffer. But don’t worry! We have a solution.
You can change the wireless network password from your router’s control page.
Protect your network with a strong password that anyone can guess, hide the name (SSID) of the wireless network.
Finally, it is important to use the strongest wireless network encryption method.
Currently it is WPA2, but soon it will be replaced by the new WPA3 standard.
4. Update router software
If your WiFi network is lagging or experiencing performance issues, it is a good idea to update the software for additional features, system stability and security improvements.
You can check for firmware updates in your router settings if an update is available.
Your router will download and install the firmware update and reboot when done.
Update the router’s firmware and settings
If there is no new firmware available for your router, you can do a simple flash now.
Each router is different, but usually there is a similar router firmware upgrade process.
Here are the basic steps to get a quick upgrade.
- You can also check the router manufacturer’s website for a user manual with instructions specific to your router.
- Download the firmware file from the manufacturer’s website.
- Log in to your router’s admin page.
Find the Firmware section in the router settings. - Download the firmware file to the router.
- Click the upgrade button to start the upgrade.
- Update the router software
5. Update the wireless driver
If your network driver is out of date, you may need the latest driver. You can try a system update first.
In Windows, use Windows Update to download and install any necessary patches or updates, including operating system and network adapters.
You can manually update network adapters in Device Manager.
Select the arrow next to the network adapter to expand the list of adapters, then right-click the wireless network adapter,
select Driver Update > Search automatically for updated driver software, and then follow these instructions.
Also, you can check device manufacturers’ websites for the latest drivers, download them, and install them on your device.
6. Run Windows Network Troubleshooter
Run a network troubleshooter to identify hidden issues.
Type troubleshoot in the search box and launch it, then open “Troubleshooting Settings”,
click “Internet Connections”, then run the troubleshooter.
7. Check your router for malware
If one of your computers is infected with an Internet virus or other malware, it itself can generate network traffic without your knowledge and slow down your Internet connection.
Keep your anti-virus software up to date to catch and remove worms and malware from your device.
8. Buy a new router
Older drivers may experience frequent shutdowns, restarts, and overheating.
If the router has a few years of history, it may be time to retire.
If you find that your internet is not working properly, buying a new router is a good idea.