Why is my internet so slow? How to improve your connection speed

Whether you’re waiting too long for a web page to load or your streams are regularly interrupted by lag and buffering, slow internet can be frustrating, not to mention a real productivity killer.

In some cases, we can reasonably expect slow internet speeds. For example, when connecting to public wifi at a busy airport. Yet, sometimes, the reason for having a slow connection isn’t immediately apparent. You may clear your browser’s cache and cookies or restart your router only to find that the same problem persists. We help you troubleshoot slow internet by taking you through the possible causes and their fixes.

Why is my internet so slow?

Not sure what’s behind your slow internet speeds? Chances are that the issue is caused by one of the following:

Network congestion

If too many devices are using the same network simultaneously, this can cause a network to become congested. In other words, the network becomes too busy or crowded. Network congestion may be local to your wifi network or the broader network at the ISP level.

Local network congestion happens when you have too many devices at home competing for the same bandwidth. When multiple devices are streaming, gaming, or making video calls, all of those tasks consume more bandwidth.

If congestion is at the ISP level, your ISP’s infrastructure is overwhelmed by the sheer number of users. This is most likely to occur during peak hours when there’s more demand for bandwidth. For example, in the evenings when more people are likely to be home and streaming or playing games.

Solution

When you have too many people and devices connected to the internet at home, the solution is relatively simple. You need to disconnect devices that aren’t in use, limit bandwidth-heavy activities, or upgrade to a higher bandwidth plan to better meet your home’s demand.

If network congestion is at a wider level, it may be worth switching ISPs. Be sure to look for an ISP with a strong presence in your local area and a strong reputation for consistent speeds and uptime.

Weak Wi-Fi signal

The weaker your Wi-Fi signal is, the more unreliable your connection is. Too much distance between your device and your router, or too many objects standing between them, particularly walls and floors, weaken the connection, resulting in slower speeds.

Solution

You want to be as close as possible to your router for the strongest Wi-Fi signal. Make sure your router is in a central location in your home or in a room where you most often use your devices. You’re most likely to have better results when the router is elevated. Using a wifi extender or, better still, a mesh network can boost your connection around your home. Ensure the router antennae are parallel and, in most environments, pointed up.

ISP throttling

One of the more frustrating causes of slow internet speeds is ISP throttling. This is when your ISP intentionally slows your connection because you’ve exceeded a data cap or to better manage network load during peak usage hours. If you’re unsure as to whether your ISP is throttling your bandwidth, you can check your ISP’s website or service agreement.

Solution

Your best bet is to contact your ISP and see if you can upgrade to a plan with a higher data cap or one that doesn’t throttle your bandwidth. Alternatively, you might want to consider switching to another ISP, one with a higher data allowance or which doesn’t throttle as excessively.

Outdated router

Using an outdated router can significantly slow your internet connection and may mean you’re not achieving the speeds you’re paying your ISP for. The fact is that older routers may not support the latest wifi standards, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7, both of which provide faster speeds than their predecessors.

Solution

If you’ve had the same router for many years, it might be time to upgrade to a newer one that matches the speeds you require. Look for one with dual or tri-band capabilities that provide access to the 5Ghz band for even faster speeds. Modern routers also come with updated firmware for improved performance, not to mention stronger security.

Background apps and updates

It may be that your device (or other devices connected to your network) are running automatic updates, backing up to the cloud, or even streaming content. All of this can consume valuable bandwidth without you realizing it.

Solution

The solution here is straightforward. You should check connected devices for ongoing downloads or updates and pause them if you immediately require faster speeds. You can then return to them at a more convenient time. On PC, you’ll want to use Task Manager while Mac users can identify bandwidth-heavy apps via Activity Monitor.

Malware or viruses

Slow internet speeds can sometimes be attributed to malware and viruses. When your device is infected, malicious software can consume bandwidth by running background processes that use the internet. Indeed, some types of malware such as trojans and worms can turn your device into a botnet which sends out spam, mines cryptocurrency, or takes part in DDoS attacks. Malware can also cause your device to perform poorly overall, contributing to slower internet speeds.

Solution

Antivirus protection is essential to protect your device against malware and viruses. Be sure to run regular antivirus scans and keep your antivirus and operating system up-to-date. If you do suspect that malware is on your device and making your internet slow, disconnect from the internet and run a full scan before reconnecting.

High latency

Latency measures the time it takes for your data to travel from your device to the server. The higher the latency, the slower the speeds. High latency is often caused by long distances between your devices and servers or poor routing from your ISP.

Solution

If you suffer from high latency, try connecting to a VPN to test alternative routing paths. Selecting a server close to your location will likely have the best results. Some VPNs offer servers optimized for low latency, often under streaming and gaming categories.

Faulty cables or connections

Something that’s often overlooked yet can be a significant factor when it comes to slow internet speeds is damaged Ethernet cables or loose connections. It may even be that the infrastructure you’re using is simply outdated. For example, your Ethernet cable may be category 5 (Cat 5), which only supports up to 100 Mbps. Upgrading to a Cat 6 cable allows for up to 10 Gbps.

Solution

Be sure to check all your cables for wear and tear and replace those frayed with new, high-quality ones. Make sure all connections are secure, as a loose connection can negatively impact your internet speeds.

Plan limitations

Sometimes, slow speeds are down to something as simple as your internet plan being too limited. You may not be paying for the speeds you need for online activities such as 4K streaming or online gaming. Plans with low bandwidth can feel limiting as your usage demands rise.

Solution

Review the details of your internet plan to see if it still meets your needs. If not, you can always contact your ISP to explore faster plans or even consult with alternative ISPs.

ISP or local issues

The reason for the slow internet speeds may be beyond your control. Whether that’s down to ISP maintenance, an outage, or an infrastructure issue in your area, all can slow or even cut your connection.

Solution

Here, your best bet is to contact your ISP to check for any reported outages or maintenance. This will give you an idea as to whether you need to wait for the issue out or, if it doesn’t appear to be the cause, whether you need to investigate further.

How to improve my internet speed

Not sure where to start when it comes to finding the cause of your slow internet speeds and fixing them? Here’s a step-by-step guide covering some of the essential steps. We can’t guarantee it will solve your issues, but, at the very least, it will help rule out several potential causes.

Here’s how to improve your internet speeds:

1. Run a few speed tests using tools such as Speedtest.net or Fast.com, taking note of the results.
2. Unplug your router, wait for a minute, and plug it back in before allowing it to reboot. This can clear temporary issues.
3. Disconnect devices connected to the wifi network that are not currently in use. Doing so can free up bandwidth for active devices.
4. Stored browsing data can slow down loading times so it’s important to periodically clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
5. Perform an antivirus scan to make sure your device isn’t connected with device-slowing malware such as a trojan or worm virus.
6. Having done all of the above, run another set of speed tests, preferably at a similar time to the previous tests, for the most accurate comparison.

Hopefully, your speeds will improve after you have done the above. If not, it may be worth enquiring with your ISP to troubleshoot further the cause and potential solutions, such as upgrading your internet plan.

Slow internet FAQs