TUTORIAL
How to Increase WiFi Speed
by Graeme Messina
Project Overview
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Entry-level, Beginner-Friendly
TIME TO COMPLETE: 30-60 minutes
ESTIMATED COST: Free (unless you need hardware upgrades)
YIELD: Basic computer navigation and router access
Tools and Materials Needed:
A Computer, smartphone, or tablet
Access to your router's admin panel
WiFi network password
Speed testing website or app
Before You Begin:
Make sure you have admin access to your router so that you can access its settings, and that you know your WiFi network password. Also, find out about your current internet plan and what internet speeds you should be expecting. If your WiFi is lightning fast internally, but browsing the internet and streaming is glacially slow, then you could be limited by your internet plan.
Would you rather have slow WiFi or watch paint dry? Ok, WiFi still wins, but not by much. The frustration is real, though. You click a link and nothing happens. Your video call freezes mid-sentence. Your smart TV buffers every thirty seconds. It is frustrating enough to make you want to put down the TV remote and pick up a book instead.
The good news is that most WiFi speed problems aren't necessarily about your internet connection. For most people, it's about how the network is set up and configured. With just a few tweaks to your router placement and network settings, you can turn your sluggish and unreliable connection into something that is quick and just works.
WiFi speed depends on dozens of factors working together. Your router's location is a big one. The channel it broadcasts on also matters, especially in congested environments like apartment buildings and tightly spaced houses.
Finding out which devices are hogging all the bandwidth is another cause of slow WiFi, so locating them and putting them on a bandwidth diet is going to be a huge win. The best part is that the secret isn't necessarily about buying expensive gear (though sometimes that helps). It's about understanding how your network actually works and fixing the bottlenecks one by one.
How to Increase WiFi Speed in Eight Easy Steps
If you are having WiFi speed issues, then start with Step 1 and work your way through the list. This should help you tackle most Wi-Fi killers. Each one follows the previous steps to give you the fastest, most reliable connection possible.
Step 1: Test Your Current Speed
Before you change anything, you need to know what you're working with. Testing your speed gives you a baseline and helps you spot problems from the start.
Go to Speedtest.net on your computer or download the Speedtest app on your phone and run the test three times, and write down the results. You're looking for two numbers: download speed and upload speed. (Remember where you were standing or sitting when you ran these initial tests so that you can test from the same location for the most accurate numbers.)
Compare these results to what you're paying your ISP (internet service provider) for. If you have a 100 Mbps plan but you're only getting 25 Mbps, something's very wrong. If you're getting 95 Mbps, then your WiFi isn't the problem, and you might be experiencing slight losses on your ISP’s end.
To pinpoint problems on the internal network, test both a wired connection (if possible) and your WiFi. Plug an Ethernet cable directly into your router and run the same test. This tells you if the problem is with your internet connection or your WiFi setup, as an Ethernet cable bypasses your WiFi and provides a clearer view of what your router is receiving from your ISP.
What the numbers mean: Download speed affects streaming, browsing, and downloading files. Upload speed matters for video calls, uploading photos, and backing up files to the cloud. If your wired connection is fast but WiFi is slow, you've got a WiFi problem. If both are slow, call your ISP and have them check your settings and connection quality.
Step 2: Optimize Router Placement
Your router's location makes a huge difference for WiFi performance because WiFi signals get weaker as they travel through walls, floors, and other obstacles.
If possible, move your router to the center of your home, preferably on an upper floor or an elevated surface. Central placement gives you the best coverage, which is ideal for WiFi.
Keep your router away from these WiFi signal killers:
Microwaves (they interfere with 2.4 GHz WiFi signal)
Cordless phones
Baby monitors
Thick walls and metal surfaces
Fish tanks and mirrors
If your home decor permits it, don't hide your router in a closet or cabinet. WiFi signals don’t work well in confined areas, so you’ll want to place your router on a shelf or mount it on a wall where the antennas (if it has them) can point in different directions.
Step 3: Update Firmware and Drivers
Outdated firmware on your router could be leaving some WiFi speed on the table. Router manufacturers release updates that fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features, so it is worth checking if your router is due for an update.
How to update your router firmware:
Open a web browser and type your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Some routers have these default details on a sticker on the router if you are unsure.)
Log in with your admin details
Look for "Administration," "System," or "Router Update" in the settings
Check for firmware updates and install any available updates
Reboot your router when the update completes
If your router supports backing up your settings, perform a backup before updating your router’s firmware. This is a wise move in case the settings revert to factory defaults. Restoring your router’s settings from a backup can save you a lengthy phone call to your ISP if you need to set everything up again from scratch.
Next, update device drivers. On Windows, go to Device Manager, find your network adapter, right-click, and select "Update driver." If you use a Mac, then software updates to the OS usually include driver updates.
Some newer routers update their firmware automatically, but it's worth checking manually from time to time. Firmware updates can have a huge impact on speed and stability, especially if you have an older router that has never been updated before.
Another important step is to write down your current firmware version before starting any updates. If something goes wrong during the firmware flashing process, then you'll know what firmware version was working before you got started. Router updates usually go smoothly, but if a firmware update fails, it typically reverts to the last working version you had. Having that info helps if you need to troubleshoot and then roll back later.
Step 4: Adjust WiFi Channels and Bands
WiFi works on specific channels, and when a channel experiences congestion, it slows down your WiFi connection. Most routers broadcast on two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz band is faster but has a shorter range, while the 2.4 GHz band travels further but becomes more congested and has slower maximum speeds than 5 GHz.
Switch to 5 GHz when possible:
Connect to your router's admin panel
Look for "Wireless Settings" or "WiFi Settings"
Find the 5 GHz network settings
Make sure it's enabled and broadcasting
Connect your devices to the 5 GHz network instead of 2.4 GHz
Use 5 GHz for devices near your router that need speed - laptops, phones, streaming boxes, and gaming consoles. Use 2.4 GHz for devices that are far away from the router, or ones that don't need much speed - Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets like smart home devices, printers, or older devices that only support 2.4 GHz.
The 6 GHz Band
Routers from 2021 onward usually support a third band: 6 GHz. Only devices made in the last few years support it, which means that there is likely to be way less congestion on it than the older, more adopted 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels.
If both your router and device support 6 GHz:
Check your router settings for "WiFi 6E" or "6 GHz band"
Make sure it's enabled
Connect your newest devices (phones, laptops from 2022+) to this band
The catch is that the range of 6 GHz is even shorter than 5 GHz. You'll get amazing speeds but only within a room or two of the router. It's usually best to use it for devices near the router that need maximum performance, like gaming PCs, laptops, and streaming boxes.
For most people, 5 GHz is still the sweet spot between speed and coverage, but if you've got the hardware, 6 GHz is there when you need it.
Change Your Channel
Download a WiFi analyzer app on your phone to see which channels your neighbors are using and pick a channel that's less crowded. For 2.4 GHz, try channels 1, 6, or 11. For 5 GHz, you have more options since there are more available channels.
Many routers have an "Auto" channel setting, but manual selection often works better in crowded areas. Your router doesn't know what your neighbor's router is doing, so a little manual investigation can go a long way.
Step 5: Limit Bandwidth Hogs
Some devices and applications consume massive amounts of bandwidth, leaving little for everything else. One person streaming 4K video can slow down the entire network if there isn’t enough overhead.
Identify Bandwidth Hogs
Check which devices are connected to your network through your router's admin panel. Look for "Connected Devices" or "Device List." Carefully disconnect any devices you don't recognize or don't need, and see if anything stops working around the house.
You might be surprised how many devices are on your network that might not need to be. Take stock of what's actually on your network and do some housekeeping if you spot devices that don’t need to be connected to the internet.
Set up Quality of Service (QoS)
QoS lets you prioritize certain types of traffic so that it jumps the queue and gets the best performance. If video calls are important for work, you can give them priority over file downloads or streaming.
Find "QoS" or "Traffic Control" in your router settings.
Enable QoS if it's not already on.
Set priorities for different device types, ports, or applications.
Save your changes and reboot the router.
Some routers make this simple with presets like "Gaming" or "Video Conferencing", but others need manual configuration. QoS can make a noticeable difference when multiple people are online at the same time.
Manage Streaming and Downloads
If you have large downloads, think about scheduling them for off-peak hours. This is handy for massive game or OS updates that ship from time to time. If you are really in a pinch, try using lower video quality settings when multiple people are online so you can still watch your favorite shows without buffering. You might need to consider upgrading your internet plan if you consistently run out of bandwidth when more people are connected to your home WiFi.
If you have groups of people trying to stream HD video on a 25 Mbps connection, then no amount of optimization will solve the problem. Sometimes you just need more bandwidth. Check if your current plan matches your household's actual usage and make some adjustments to your monthly plan if you are still struggling.
Step 6: Secure Your WiFi Network
An unsecured or poorly secured network lets unauthorized users steal your bandwidth. Even worse, weak security makes your network vulnerable to attacks and the interception of your personal information.
Enable Strong Encryption
Use WPA3 if your router supports it, or WPA2 if WPA3 isn't available. Avoid WEP entirely- it’s ancient and easily broken, especially if you have WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) enabled.
Go to "Wireless Security" or "WiFi Security" in your router settings
Select WPA3 or WPA2 as your security type
Create a strong password (at least 12 characters with mixed letters, numbers, and symbols)
Save the settings and update all your devices with the new password
Don't use your address, phone number, or anything someone could easily guess. Random combinations work best. If you worry about forgetting it then write it down and keep it somewhere safe - you'll need it when connecting new devices.
Check for Unauthorized Devices
It's a good idea to review the list of connected devices in your router admin panel regularly. Kick off any devices you don't recognize, and add them to a ban list. Some routers let you see device names, making it easier to identify intruders if you don’t recognize the device type.
Most routers show MAC addresses for connected devices. These look like "A1:B2:C3:D4:E5:F6" and don't mean much to most people. Most devices have a manufacturer identifier called an Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI). A quick Google search will tell you who the manufacturer is, helping you spot an Android phone easily if you are an Apple-only household, or vice versa.
Change Your Default Settings
If you're still using the default network name and password that came with your router, then that needs to change right now. Default credentials are easy to guess and can be looked up online, which makes your network a sitting duck.
Isolate Your Smart Home Devices
Your smart doorbell, lightbulbs, and security cameras are the weakest links in your network. IoT devices usually have terrible security (or none at all), and some manufacturers don’t often patch vulnerabilities. When one of these devices gets hacked, it can become a gateway to the rest of your network for malware.
The easiest fix is to keep them separated from your important devices.
You can create an IoT network by logging into your router settings and looking for "Guest Network" or "IoT Network." A lot of newer routers have this built-in, allowing you to enable it and give it a different name and password quite easily. The drawback is that you’ll have to connect all your smart home devices to this network instead of your main WiFi, which can be a bit inconvenient.
The good news is that it will isolate your smart devices from your main network and still give them access to the internet, so that your cloud apps will still be able to communicate with your smart devices.
Step 7: Expand Coverage with Additional Hardware
Sometimes a single router can't cover your entire space effectively. This means, unfortunately, dead zones and weak signal areas will need additional hardware to boost signal range and performance. There are three main options: mesh WiFi systems, WiFi extenders, and powerline adapters.
Mesh WiFi Systems
Mesh systems use multiple nodes to create seamless coverage throughout your home. They're more expensive than single routers, but they work better in large spaces or homes with challenging layouts.
Popular mesh options include Eero, Google Nest WiFi, and ASUS AiMesh. These systems automatically manage connections and hand off devices between nodes, so you don’t have to keep reconnecting your phone as you move around the house.
WiFi Extenders
WiFi extenders amplify your existing signal to reach dead zones. They're cheaper than mesh systems, but usually create separate network names you have to connect to manually.
Extenders work fine for simple setups, but if you need coverage throughout a large house, mesh systems work better.
Powerline Adapters
These use your home's electrical wiring to extend network access by treating it as Ethernet cables. You just plug one adapter near your router and connect it with an Ethernet cable, and then plug the second adapter in the room where you need better coverage.
Powerline adapters are not perfect, though, and they work best in homes with newer electrical wiring. These are great for situations where WiFi struggles and running Ethernet cables isn't practical.
Step 8: Evaluate Your ISP Plan and Hardware
Sometimes the problem isn't your WiFi setup. It's your internet plan or old hardware that can't keep up. Look at your current plan speed and compare it to your actual usage. If you have multiple people streaming, gaming, and video conferencing at the same time, then you might need more bandwidth.
Most households need at least 25 Mbps for basic use, and 50-100 Mbps for moderate use. You’ll need 100+ Mbps for heavy use with multiple devices, assuming that everyone's doing normal stuff like browsing, gaming, and watching regular online videos, not all streaming 4K at once.
Next, consider the age of your router. Routers older than four or five years might not support the latest WiFi standards, so be on the lookout for these signs that it's time to upgrade:
Your router doesn't support 5 GHz WiFi.
It caps out at speeds much lower than your internet plan.
It disconnects devices or needs rebooting often.
It doesn't support current recommended security standards like WPA2-AES or WPA3 and only has WEP or TKIP as options.
Conclusion
Faster WiFi feels like magic, and it’s achievable with systematic checks that will help you eliminate bottlenecks and streamline your network setup. Start with the free fixes like router placement and channel optimization, and only consider hardware upgrades if you're still not getting the performance you need.
The biggest mistake people make is assuming they need to buy new equipment right away. Most WiFi speed problems come from configuration issues, not hardware limitations, but it takes a little work to figure out where the issue lies. If you can work through these steps, then you'll probably see significant improvements without spending anything.
Want to learn more about wireless networks? Check out this Wireless Networking training to master the concepts that power modern WiFi systems.