How to Increase Your Internet Speed
Contents
1) Test Your Current Speed First
2) Quick Fixes (Do These First)
3) WiFi Optimization
4) DNS Settings
5) Stop Background Bandwidth Hogs
6) Router Settings Worth Tweaking
7) Secure Your Network
8) Advanced Optimization (For Tech Users)
9) When to Upgrade Your ISP Plan
10) Troubleshooting Specific Problems
If you're reading this, chances are you're frustrated with your slow internet connection. Maybe your Netflix keeps buffering, your Zoom calls freeze at the worst moments, or you're just tired of waiting for pages to load. The good news? Many speed issues can be improved with some simple optimizations and some don't even cost money.
I've been running OpenSpeedTest.com for years, and I've learned a thing or two about what actually makes internet connections faster. This guide covers everything from quick 5-minute fixes to advanced tweaks for the technically inclined.
Test Your Current Speed First
Before you change anything, you need to know what you're working with. Visit OpenSpeedTest.com and run a quick test. Write down these numbers:
Download speed (Mbps)
Upload speed (Mbps)
Ping/latency (ms)
Compare your results with what your ISP promised. Speed can vary based on time of day, network congestion, WiFi vs wired connection, and server location. If you're consistently getting much less than advertised (especially on a wired connection during off-peak hours), it's worth investigating.
Pro tip: Test multiple times throughout the day. Your speed at 3 PM might be very different from your speed at 8 PM when everyone in your neighborhood is streaming. Always test with a wired connection first to rule out WiFi issues.
The Quick Fixes (Do These First)
Restart Your Router and Modem I know, I know - "have you tried turning it off and on again?" But seriously, this works more often than you'd think. Unplug both your router and modem, wait 30 seconds, plug the modem back in, wait for it to fully boot up, then plug in the router. This clears out memory leaks and resets your connection.
Here's something most people don't realize: that old ethernet cable you've been using for years might be limiting your speed. Standard Cat5 cables (not Cat5e) are rated for 100 Mbps at 100 MHz. While short runs of good quality Cat5 might sometimes achieve higher speeds, it's not guaranteed and not recommended for gigabit connections.
If you have gigabit internet or plan to upgrade, use Cat5e (rated for 1 Gbps) or Cat6/Cat6a cables (rated for 10 Gbps). You can check what you have by looking at the text printed on the cable. They're inexpensive - usually $10-20 for a good quality cable. While you're at it, make sure all your cables are plugged in firmly. A loose connection can significantly reduce performance.
Your router isn't a modem - it doesn't need to be hidden in a closet or tucked behind your TV. WiFi signals spread out and down, so put your router in a central location in your home, up high (on a shelf or mounted on a wall), away from metal objects, aquariums, and microwaves and out in the open, not in a cupboard.
I've seen people gain 40-50% better WiFi performance just by moving their router from the basement to the main floor.
WiFi Optimization - This Makes a Huge Difference
Change Your WiFi Channel This is the single most effective free fix for slow WiFi. Think of WiFi channels like radio stations - if everyone in your apartment building is using the same channel, you're all competing for bandwidth.
Download a WiFi analyzer app on your phone (WiFi Analyzer for Android is free, or NetSpot for Windows/Mac). Look at which channels your neighbors are using. Then log into your router and switch to a less crowded channel.
For 2.4 GHz: Only use channels 1, 6, or 11. These are the only non-overlapping channels. Pick whichever one has the least traffic.
For 5 GHz: You have way more options here. Channels 36-48 and 149-165 usually work great. If your router supports DFS channels (52-144), even better - hardly anyone uses them.
Most modern routers broadcast on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz band is faster but has shorter range. If you're in the same room or nearby, always connect to 5 GHz. Save 2.4 GHz for devices that are far from the router or behind thick walls.
If your router is more than 3-4 years old, it's probably WiFi 5 (802.11ac) or older. WiFi 6 routers (802.11ax) offer improvements in throughput, lower latency, and better handling of multiple devices simultaneously. Whether you'll notice a significant speed improvement depends on several factors: your internet plan speed, how many devices you have, and your environment's WiFi congestion. If your plan is 100 Mbps or less, you might not see dramatic differences. But if you have a fast connection (500+ Mbps) and multiple devices, WiFi 6 can help you actually use that bandwidth. You can get a decent WiFi 6 router for around $100-150 now. WiFi 6E models use the new 6 GHz band which has less interference.
Change Your DNS Settings
Your DNS is like the phone book of the internet - it translates website names into IP addresses. Most people use their ISP's DNS servers by default, and they're often slow or congested.
Switching to faster DNS servers can improve page loading times, especially if your ISP's DNS is slow. The improvement varies - you might notice faster initial page loads, particularly on sites you haven't visited recently. Here are the best options in 2025:
Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (fastest, privacy-focused)
Google: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (reliable, works everywhere)
Quad9: 9.9.9.9 (blocks malicious sites)
How to change DNS on your router: Log into your router admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), find the DNS settings under WAN or Internet setup, enter 1.1.1.1 as primary and 1.0.0.1 as secondary, save and reboot. This changes DNS for all devices on your network at once.
Stop Background Bandwidth Hogs
You might not realize it, but apps running in the background can consume a significant portion of your bandwidth. Here's what to check:
OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox - they're all constantly uploading and downloading files. If you're working and your internet feels slow, pause these services. Or better yet, schedule them to only run at night when you're asleep.
Windows loves to download updates at the worst possible time. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Properties → Set your connection as "Metered." This stops Windows from automatically downloading huge updates.
Steam, Epic Games, Xbox App, Battle.net - they all auto-update games in the background. Go into each one's settings and disable auto-updates. Update your games manually when you're not using the internet for other things.
On Windows: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab, and click on your network adapter. You'll see which apps are using bandwidth.
On Mac: Open Activity Monitor (in Applications → Utilities), click the Network tab. Sort by "Sent Bytes" or "Received Bytes" to see the culprits.
Router Settings Worth Tweaking
Log into your router's admin panel and look for these settings:
QoS lets you prioritize certain types of traffic. Set video calls and gaming as high priority, and downloads as low priority. This way your Zoom meeting won't lag just because someone's downloading a game.
Router manufacturers regularly release updates that improve performance and security. Check your router manufacturer's website for the latest firmware. Some routers can update automatically - enable that if you have the option.
Some routers have a "Hardware NAT" or "CTF" (Cut-Through Forwarding) option in Advanced settings. This offloads network processing from the CPU to dedicated hardware, which can help achieve line speeds on very fast connections (500+ Mbps). However, this feature is hardware-dependent and enabling it typically disables QoS, SQM, and other advanced features. If you prioritize low latency for gaming or video calls, leave it off and use QoS instead. If maximum throughput is your only goal and your router supports it, try enabling it.
WPS is a security vulnerability and offers no speed benefits. Turn it off in your WiFi security settings.
Secure Your Network
An unsecured or poorly secured WiFi network means neighbors or random people might be stealing your bandwidth. Here's how to lock it down. Use WPA3 or WPA2, Never use WEP or leave your network open. WPA3 is the newest and most secure, but WPA2 is fine if your router doesn't support WPA3. Use at least 16 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols for your password. Change the default admin password your router came with a default password (usually "admin"). Change it. Attackers know all the defaults. Check connected devices regularly, Log into your router and look at the list of connected devices. If you see anything you don't recognize, someone's on your network.
For Tech Users: Advanced Optimization
If you're comfortable with technical tweaks, these can help in specific scenarios:
Bufferbloat is when your router's buffers get overloaded, causing lag spikes. You'll notice this when your ping shoots up during downloads or uploads. The fix is called SQM (Smart Queue Management). If your router supports it (common in OpenWrt, DD-WRT, or higher-end routers like certain ASUS or Netgear models), enable SQM with the "cake" algorithm. Set the bandwidth limits to about 95% of your actual connection speed. This keeps latency consistent even under heavy load. This is particularly useful for gaming, video calls, or real-time applications.
If you're running Linux as a server or on your router firmware (OpenWrt, pfSense, etc.), you can enable BBR congestion control. BBR can improve throughput on high-speed or high-latency connections, particularly for server uplinks or if you're routing traffic through Linux. This is not relevant for typical home users with consumer routers:
echo "net.core.default_qdisc=fq" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo "net.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control=bbr" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo sysctl -p
Requires Linux kernel 4.9 or newer. Only apply if you understand TCP congestion control and have a specific use case.
Your browser can impact your internet experience. Clear your cache monthly (Ctrl+Shift+Del), disable extensions you don't use daily, and enable hardware acceleration in settings. Modern browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox already use optimized network protocols (HTTP/2, QUIC), so you don't need to tweak those settings.
When to Upgrade Your ISP Plan
Sometimes, you've optimized everything you can locally and you still need more speed. Here's when it makes sense to contact your ISP or upgrade. You've done everything above and you're consistently getting much less than advertised speed on a wired connection during off-peak hours. Your household has grown and more people are working from home or streaming simultaneously. Video calls are choppy even with good WiFi and no background apps running. 4K/8K streaming buffers frequently despite a wired connection.
Some issues like ISP network congestion, poor line quality from the street, or outdated infrastructure require your ISP to fix them. Don't hesitate to call if you've ruled out local issues.
Modern speed recommendations:
1-2 people, basic use: 100 Mbps minimum
Family of 4, HD streaming + video calls: 300-500 Mbps
Heavy users, 4K streaming, gaming, WFH: 1 Gbps
Content creators, large file transfers: 2+ Gbps (fiber required)
If fiber is available in your area, get it. Fiber is faster, more reliable, lower latency, and usually offers symmetrical speeds (same upload and download).
Common Mistakes That Slow You Down
I see these all the time, Using powerline adapters instead of proper WiFi or ethernet They're convenient but often slower than good WiFi. Router sitting on the floor, WiFi signals spread downward, so this wastes half your signal. Too many WiFi extenders Each hop adds latency. Use a mesh system instead. Leaving VPN on 24/7, VPNs add overhead. Turn it off when you don't need it. Using the ISP's router/modem combo, These are often lower quality. If possible, use your own router. Not checking for firmware updates Old firmware can have performance and security issues.
Troubleshooting Specific Problems
Fast wired, slow WiFi? Your router's placement is wrong, your WiFi channel is congested, or you need a router upgrade. Try changing channels first - it's free and often helps significantly.
Network congestion. Your ISP's network is overloaded during peak hours. Cable internet is especially prone to this. Contact your ISP or consider switching to fiber.
You likely have bufferbloat. Enable SQM/QoS on your router, or pause any uploads happening in the background (cloud sync, video uploads, etc).
Either your router is overheating (make sure it has proper ventilation), your modem is failing (if it's over 5 years old, consider replacement), or there's a problem with your ISP's line (call them).
The Bottom Line
You don't need to be a network engineer to improve your internet experience. Start with the basics. Test your speed at OpenSpeedTest.com using a wired connection. Restart your router. Change your WiFi channel. Switch to Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1). Close background apps that use bandwidth. Position your router better. These steps can make a noticeable difference in many cases.
If you've done all that and you're still not satisfied, then look into hardware upgrades - quality cables, a WiFi 6 router, or contacting your ISP about line quality or plan options. Some issues require professional help or infrastructure improvements that are outside your control.
One last thing: After you make any change, test your speed again. That's the only way to know if what you did actually helped. And don't change multiple things at once - you won't know which one made the difference.