Are web pages taking longer than usual to load? Does your download speed not match what you should have? When it comes to your internet connection, there are many factors that come into play. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to improve performance so that you can notice changes in a matter of minutes.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Verify Your Hardware, Network, and Connection
Step 1. Take a speed test
Before checking your hardware and computer settings, check the type of speed you have and compare it to the speed advertised by your dealer. There is a wide variety of websites that you can use to check your speed, just search Google for “speed test” and choose one of the first results.
- Different tests will give you different results. Even it will give you a different result each time you do it. This is due to the location of the test servers and the number of people sharing your connection.
- Run multiple tests and find out the average speed you receive.
- You may have to download add-ons (plugins) to perform the tests.
- If you have the option, choose the test server closest to your physical location. Doing so will help you get the most accurate results (on speedtest.net, this is chosen automatically based on ping).
Step 2. Compare the resulting speed with the one you pay
Check with your service provider to see how fast you "should" receive. Keep in mind that the speed advertised in the service contract occurs "under ideal conditions" and that you may not actually be able to reach that number regularly (especially if you are using Wi-Fi).
- If you haven't improved your internet speed in a long time, you may be able to get a higher speed for less money. Companies generally don't bother to inform you of the best deals, so check to see if there are newer services available that are better than when you requested the service. Check with all providers in your area.
- Take into account the difference between megabyte and megabit. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) promote speed in megabits, not megabytes. There are 8 megabits (Mb) in a megabyte (MB), so if you pay for 25 megabits per second (Mbps) it means that you are actually paying for a little over 3 megabytes per second (MBps) of maximum transfer speed. the test result has been measured in Kbps, you will have to divide this number by 1000 to get the measurement in Mbps.
Step 3. Restart your network
Restarting your modem and router will help you fix many of your connectivity problems. If your modem or router doesn't have switches, you can unplug the cable, wait 30 seconds, and plug it in again. Read this guide for more details on how to reset your network.
Step 4. Verify that the signals are not in conflict
If you use a wireless router, some devices may affect the connection due to interference. Wireless routers come in multiple varieties; 802.11 b, g, and n (2.4 GHz) or 802.11 a (5.8 GHz). Common devices that can interfere with your wireless connection are microwaves and cell phones, many of which operate in the 2.4 GHz range. To minimize interference, turn off your phone's data and move the microwave away from wireless devices. and the router when you use the connection.
Step 5. Check if you have reached the data limit of your ISP
Many Internet Service Providers place a data limit on their clients. This will limit the amount of information that you can download and upload online for a month. Sometimes they might call it a "data usage plan." Log in to your account page or contact customer service to see if you have exceeded your monthly limit. Often the penalty for exceeding the limit is a reduction in speed for the remainder of the billing period.
Step 6. Contact your provider's technical support service
Sometimes the problem with your service can only be solved from the side of your provider. They can usually tell you if your connection is bad without having to send a technician to your home. To do this, they will read the signal levels of your modem. If necessary, they will send a line technician to your home or neighborhood to check your infrastructure. If the problem is on your part, they could charge you an amount for the visit, so it will be important that you first try to solve it over the phone or online.
Step 7. Check all the devices on your network
If someone else on your network is doing a lot of internet processing, such as watching videos or downloading large files, they are probably hogging your bandwidth. If you know the web interface of your router, you can find the quality of service settings to give priority to traffic from certain IPs or services, and limit performance for others. Otherwise, ask the person to download as little as possible.
Step 8. Relocate your wireless router or your computer
If you connect to the Internet through a Wi-Fi router, the bad signal can cause the speed to drop and the connection to drop. If possible, move your router closer to your computer or move your computer closer to the router. You can also place the router on top of a cupboard to transmit a better signal.
- Blow the dust off your router and modem with a can of compressed air. This will help reduce heat and increase hardware reliability.
- Properly ventilate all electrical components to prevent them from overheating.
Step 9. Check your filters if you have a DSL connection
When you activated DSL, you connected the line from a phone jack to the side of a rectangular box filter. On the other side, there are two lines coming out, one for your phone and the other for your modem. If you use a DSL connection for your landline, make sure you have high-quality filters for optimal signal speed.
Step 10. Check the weather
If you use satellite Internet, your connection may be affected by wind, snow, rain, lightning, static, or some other electrical interference.
Part 2 of 3: Optimize Your Computer and Network
Step 1. Run a virus scan at least once a week
Viruses can greatly reduce your connection speed, in addition to putting your information and identity at risk. Keeping your computer virus-free will increase your connection speed.
You should always have an antivirus installed and activated, especially if you use the Internet. Antiviruses are free. You should only install one at a time (otherwise they may conflict with each other)
Step 2. Run a malware and adware scan periodically
Most antivirus programs do not search for adware or spyware. However, these programs are potentially dangerous and can greatly reduce your connection speed as they constantly connect to other servers. Removing them can be difficult, but there are a variety of programs specifically designed to find and remove invasive programs. Unlike antivirus, you can and should have multiple antimalware programs installed on your computer:
- Malwarebytes Antimalware
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- Adw Cleaner
- HitMan Pro
Step 3. Remove excess toolbars
The large number of toolbars for your browser can significantly reduce your connection speed. Deleting them can help you increase the speed of your browser and also protect your private information.
Some toolbars can be difficult to remove and you may have to use one of the antimalware programs mentioned in the previous step
Step 4. Change your browser
If your old browser is infested with difficult-to-remove toolbars and everything seems to run very slow, you might consider switching to another. Switching to a faster browser like Firefox will be more beneficial for slow computers and networks.
Step 5. Clean your hard drive
A poorly optimized hard drive can slow down your computer by affecting everything you do, including browsing the web. Keeping your hard drive optimized takes only a few minutes and can significantly improve your browsing experience.
- Make sure to defragment your disk regularly. Most modern versions of Windows do this automatically.
- Run Disk Cleanup to remove files that could slow down your browser.
- Try to keep at least 15% free space on your hard drive. If it's too full, programs will take longer to load and make changes, which can drastically slow down your browser.
Step 6. Optimize your cache
Web browsers store data from websites you visit so that you can access them faster in the future. But if your cache gets too big, it could negatively affect performance.
Read this guide for instructions on how to clear your cache depending on the browser you use
Step 7. Check which programs are hogging your bandwidth
Your connection speed is often slow because other programs are using it. To check if other programs, such as antivirus and other updates, are accessing the Internet without you knowing, you will need to open the Command Prompt. Press "Win + R" to open the Run window. Type cmd and press Enter (in Win 7, Start> All Programs> Accessories> right click on Command Prompt, choose "act as Administrator").
- Type netstat -b 5> activity.txt and press "Enter." You will begin to see a list of programs that are accessing the Internet. After about a minute, press Ctrl + C to finish the analysis. A file will have been created with a list of all the programs that use an Internet connection.
- Type activity.txt and press "Enter" to open the file and see the list of programs.
Step 8. Close all programs that you don't need
Press "Ctrl + alt =" Image "+ Del" at the same time to open the Task Manager. Go to the Processes menu and close those that may be hogging your valuable bandwidth. (NOTE: closing processes with unknown file names may cause known programs to not work properly.)
Look for the "User" column in the "Processes" tab. If the name "System" appears in this column, it means that closing it may cause some programs to fail, which will require you to restart your computer. If the process has your name on it, closing it probably won't cause any problems other than that program. Often times, the system will not allow you to close (or reopen) the programs that are necessary for it to function
Step 9. Uninstall the bandwidth hogging programs
If you have found programs that take up bandwidth and are unnecessary or you do not remember having installed them, uninstall them to improve the speed with which you can access your browser.
- Read this guide to uninstall Windows programs.
- Read this guide to uninstall programs on OS X.
Step 10. Change your Wi-Fi channel
If many people use the same channel in the building where you live, you could experience a further decrease in your Internet speed. Use a program like inSSIDer for computer and KisMAC or WiFi Scanner for Mac to scan channels that are not loaded. Switching to one of these channels will decrease interference and possibly increase your speed.
If you see more channels open, switch to one of them to increase your internet speed. You will need to consult the documentation or find your router's support site to find out how to access your router and change the wireless channel
Step 11. Update your router's firmware
Check the manufacturer's website to find firmware downloads for your router. Compare it with your version and update it if necessary. Most routers will check for firmware updates when you open their configuration pages.
Part 3 of 3: Upgrade your hardware
Step 1. Upgrade your computer
If your computer is slow, no matter how fast your Internet connection is, everything will seem slow. You can only access the Internet at the speed that your computer allows.
One of the quickest and easiest improvements you can make to increase the performance of your web browser is to install more or better RAM on your computer
Step 2. Upgrade your router
If your router is old, chances are it can barely handle modern web traffic. Older wireless routers also have a weak antenna, which can leave your devices without a solid connection to the network. All this set of elements combined can cause the speed to be low when browsing the web.
- Look for routers from reliable companies like Netgear, D-Link, Cisco, and Belkin. Make sure the included antenna will be strong enough to go anywhere you need to.
- If you are covering a large area with your wireless network, you may need to install a repeater. This will relay your wireless signal to another area of your home or office and greatly increase the range of your network.
Step 3. Replace the old cable on your modem
Any electronic device will degrade over time due to accumulated heat damage. Your broadband modem will have more and more difficulty “concentrating” or maintaining a good connection as time goes on (the noise / signal ratio will decrease and the number of requests forwarded for the same packet will increase). Contrary to the modems given by your Internet dealer, a cable modem will generally offer a better connection.
Make sure any third-party cable modem you buy will work with your current service provider
Step 4. Try to use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi
If possible, try to connect all your devices via cables to access the Internet. This will give you higher speed on those devices, as well as less interference for your remaining wireless devices, such as tablets or phones.
Advice
- DNS (domain name system) is the service that translates domain names (like wikihow.com) into IP addresses that computers can use to communicate with each other. If this search service is slow, access to web pages will be the same speed. One option to deal with this problem is to change your DNS server. Namebench is a popular tool for determining which servers are the fastest for you. You may have to look up specific instructions for changing the DNS server on your computer or router.
- Don't expect a moderate speed or switched line connection service to be fast. The Internet is primarily geared towards bandwidth connections, which are around 512 kbs or higher. Sometimes you have to wait a bit.
- It is normal to experience somewhat slow speeds on servers that are far away (such as across international borders and oceans).
- Change your ISP's "public" DNS server to a more stable one, such as Google DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1)
- Replace your hard drive with a solid state drive. These can be up to 10 times faster.
Warnings
- Beware of scams you may encounter with websites that claim they can check your computer or the internet for free to tell you if you can increase the speed. They are often just a sort of scanner to report "problems" that normally no they arrange until you (pay) to register the software or get the professional version of its promised "solution".