One of the most annoying things in the world is when your internet connection decides to start acting up. This affects everyday activities such as remote work, smart home management, online gaming, streaming, and much more. Not only that, but it also starts to feel like life is stagnant, since you can’t even doomscroll social media without seeing that dreaded buffer wheel. Well, there are some easy hacks to help your internet start working smoothly and quickly again. Here’s everything that you need to know.
This is the simplest solution you can run to improve your internet performance. Though it sounds technical, it really isn’t. All you have to do is turn your router off and leave it be for a minute. Then, turn your router back on and voila! You’ve successfully run your router through a power cycle. What this basically does is clear your router’s cache, making sure it goes back to optimal performance. You won’t have any signal issues, and your internet speed will be relatively better as well. Therefore, the first thing you have to do is to run your router through a power cycle. If that doesn’t work, you can move on to the next steps.
The next thing that you should do is check whether your router has any overdue updates. Usually, if your router has outdated firmware, it can result in a bottleneck that can slow down your internet speed, resulting in stutter, packet loss, and even disconnection. This is why you should always check whether your router has an overdue update or not. To do that, all you need to do is enter the IP address mentioned under the router to open the portal to your router. There, enter the login credentials (also mentioned under your router) and check for a tab that leads to system updates. Check for updates; if there’s one available, make sure you download and install it to optimize your router.
If you’re having problems with your internet signal, then it is very likely that you have your router placed in the wrong place. This leads to dead zones in your house, which are areas where the Wi-Fi signal isn’t strong. For instance, if you currently have your router in a corner in your house, then you won’t get uniform signals all over your house, causing a spotty internet connection. This is why it is necessary to move your router to a central location in your home. Make sure the router is placed right at the center and is at an elevated position. Keep it away from concrete walls and pieces of furniture, as they can disrupt the signal. Similarly, try keeping your router away from devices that can cause interference in signal dissipation, such as cordless phones and baby monitors.
Depending on whether you want greater signal strength or internet speed, you should adjust your router’s frequency accordingly. Most routers come with two frequency options, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, while newer models have an additional 6 GHz band as well. The 2.4 GHz band emphasizes signal range, which comes in handy if you have a large house and need more signal strength. On the contrary, the 5 GHz band focuses on internet speeds but compromises on the signal range, making it perfect for smaller spaces that need a faster internet connection. However, most new routers have a dual-band feature, letting you switch between both of the bands at will, depending on whether you need more speed or internet range. So, these are some of the basic things you need to know about speeding up your internet connection. The next time your speeds start acting up, be sure to go through all of these steps, and the speed should be back to normal in no time.If none of the steps seem to work, there might be an issue on the ISP’s end, so it’s worth calling customer service, and they should fix your connection.
