(NewsNation) — Dealing with slow internet speeds can be a pain, but there are a few ways you can help boost it.
First, before purchasing a Wi-Fi plan, you should know what speeds are being offered. Speed is always displayed as megabits per second (Mbps), and the higher that number, the faster your speed will be.
For example, a plan with 200 Mbps speeds, which is pretty common, is much slower than a plan with 800 Mbps speeds. If you aren’t sure what speed your internet plan has, you should be able to check with your internet service provider.
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If you still can’t find it, you can also perform a speed test by Googling “internet speed test” while connected to your Wi-Fi network and hitting the blue “RUN SPEED TEST” button at the top of the search engine.
Here are some tips on how to boost your internet speed:
Put your router in a different spot
If you are having issues with your internet speed, it could be the placement of your router. If your router is up against a wall or in a corner, the walls surrounding it could block a lot of its speed. It is best to keep your router in a central area in your home and away from any walls.
If you are unable to move your router to a better location, you could upgrade to a mesh router or purchase Wi-Fi extenders.
Use an Ethernet cable
If you use an Ethernet cable, your Wi-Fi speed should increase. Wired connections are always faster than Wi-Fi connections, and they won’t be affected by where your equipment is. However, this will limit where you can have your devices.
But if you have a gaming PC or a gaming console, this might be the best option for optimal internet speeds.
Purchase an upgraded router
Technology is always evolving, so if you have an older router, it might be time for an upgrade. Even though routers don’t typically evolve much, it could still be better to upgrade an old one.
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If you have a larger home, you should also have a router that can pair with Wi-Fi extenders, which can help your internet connection reach all parts of your home.
Check your computer
Instead of there being an issue with your router or your Wi-Fi network, it could be your computer that’s the problem. If your phone or gaming device is connecting to the Wi-Fi and not having issues with slower speeds, then it could be a problem with the computer you are using.
You could also clear the cache in your browser, like Google Chrome, and that could help with internet speeds. It could also be that there are too many programs running in the background on your device.
If this doesn’t help, you can try restarting your computer. If the restart doesn’t fix anything, then there could be a bigger issue that would require reaching out to an IT tech.
Make sure your Wi-Fi network has a password
Your Wi-Fi network should always have a secure password tied to it. If it doesn’t, anyone near your Wi-Fi could connect to it. For example, if you live in an apartment complex, your neighbors could be using your Wi-Fi without knowing, which would cause your speeds to suffer.
Last-ditch effort? Restart your router
The last thing you can try before you might need professional assistance is restarting your router. It seems silly, but a lot of the time, your devices just need a quick reboot to start working properly again.
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However, the vice president of product management at Netgear, Sandeep Harpalani, told WIRED that Netgear doesn’t recommend restarting its routers “unless you actually encounter issues with connectivity or slowdowns due to radio frequency interference.” However, if you have the company’s 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi router, then it might help.
Restarting your router should be done only when absolutely necessary, and it should not be a daily or even monthly task.
Call your internet provider
If you’re still having issues after trying these tips, then it might be time to call your internet service provider. Typically, if you are having issues that you can’t solve on your own, the internet company can send a technician out to your location (normally free of charge) to find the problem.
