Slow internet is more than just annoying—it can disrupt your work, frustrate your video calls, and ruin your streaming experience. Whether you’re working from home, gaming online, or running a business, a fast, reliable connection is essential.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through 10 practical ways to improve your internet speed—starting with the basics and moving to more advanced fixes.
1. 🔄 Restart Your Modem and Router
Sometimes, the simplest fix is the most effective. Power off your modem and router for 30 seconds, then turn them back on. This clears temporary glitches and resets your connection with your ISP.
2. 📍 Move Your Router to a Better Location
Wi-Fi signal strength is heavily affected by physical obstructions. Place your router in a central, open area—ideally elevated and away from thick walls or electronic devices. This ensures your signal travels farther and more evenly.
3. 🚫 Reduce Bandwidth-Hogging Apps
Background apps like cloud syncing, large downloads, or streaming services can eat up your bandwidth. Close them when you’re not using them, and enable QoS (Quality of Service) on your router to prioritise important tasks like video calls or gaming.
4. 🔗 Use a Wired Connection
Whenever possible, connect critical devices (like your desktop or gaming console) via Ethernet. Wired connections are faster, more stable, and immune to Wi-Fi interference.
5. ⚙️ Upgrade Your Router or Modem
Still using a router from 2015? It’s time for an upgrade. Modern Wi-Fi 6 routers offer better range, speed, and capacity—perfect for homes with multiple devices. If your router is bundled with your ISP plan, you might be eligible for a free upgrade.
6. 📶 Limit the Number of Connected Devices
Too many devices connected at once can strain your network. Disconnect unused devices—especially older smart TVs, tablets, or phones that still ping your network in the background.
7. 🧪 Run a Speed Test
Check your current speed using tools like Speedtest by Ookla or Fast.com. Run tests at different times of day and on different devices to diagnose whether your issue is time-based or device-specific.
8. 🔒 Secure Your Wi-Fi
Make sure your Wi-Fi is protected with WPA2 or WPA3 encryption and a strong password. Neighbours or unknown users piggybacking on your network can slow down your speeds significantly.
9. ☎️ Contact Your ISP
If you’re not getting the speeds your plan promises, it’s worth contacting your ISP. They may need to reconfigure your modem, check for issues in your area, or suggest a more suitable plan.
10. 🧑💻 Need Expert Help? Call IT Service Geeks
If you’ve tried everything and still can’t figure out the issue, don’t worry. At IT Service Geeks, we provide professional home and business network optimisation. From diagnosing slow speeds to setting up mesh Wi-Fi and router upgrades, we’ve got your back.
👉 Book a consultation or contact us today to get your internet running at top speed.
Final Tip: Always test speeds using both wired and wireless connections—this helps pinpoint whether the issue is your provider or your setup.