Why Is My Internet & Download Speed So Slow? (Solutions)

Nobody likes to wait for their Netflix to buffer or for files to download in the modern age. But somehow, no matter how much we pay our internet service provider, we all encounter slow internet speeds at some point. It’s probably got you wondering, why is my internet so slow? This article will answer that question and help you fix it.

Several factors can contribute to slow internet speeds, including issues with your Wi-Fi signal, problems with the device you’re trying to connect, or a service outage in your area. I’ll cover the most common reasons for a poor internet connection and offer troubleshooting steps for each. By the end of the article, your internet should be in perfect condition.

Let’s fix that disappointing internet performance.

Check Your Internet Plan

Before getting technical and fiddling with your internet connection, it’s wise to review your internet plan and understand what you can expect.

First, confirm the details of your internet service by logging into your account with your internet service provider or by contacting the company directly by phone. Once you’re certain of what speed you’re paying for, you can test whether you’re getting that speed.

Now, shut down or close every device or app that requires internet access. After that, visit a website that checks your internet speed, such as speedtest.net, and run a test. Wait for it to finish, then compare the measured download speed to what you’re paying for. If the values are equal, you’re good to go.

Note that the test may show even higher speeds than you’re supposed to get. That can happen when your ISP prioritizes servers near you. Alternatively, if your test results are slightly lower than what you are paying for, it may be due to peak hours.

Another way to check your internet plan is by downloading a random file from the internet. However (ever wondered why my download speed is so slow when I have fast internet?), if you go that route, be aware:

• Speed test results and speeds given by your internet service provider are in Mbps (megabits per second).
• When you download a file, you see MBps (megabytes per second).
• 1 MB (megabytes) = 8 Mb (megabits).

Therefore, when downloading a file, multiply the displayed number by 8 to obtain the correct units. If the result matches the package provided by your internet service provider, everything is a-okay.

Tip: 100 Mbps supports download speeds at 12.5 MB/second

If your download speed is significantly worse than what your ISP claims it’s delivering, it’s time to move on to the troubleshooting steps below.

Why Is My Internet Speed So Slow and How Do I Fix It?

There are various reasons you may experience slow internet speeds. We will talk about each everyday problem users face and their best possible solutions. Read to the end.

1. Issues With Modem & Router

Your modem and router affect every aspect of your internet connectivity. From distributing a Wi-Fi signal to regulating internet activity on connected devices, these two devices are responsible for it all.

Since they do the heavy lifting, your modem and router are particularly susceptible to technical issues. This can cause slow internet speeds. Here are some fixes you can use to eliminate the problems with your modem and router.

Reboot/Power Cycle

Just like us, network equipment needs to refresh itself sometimes. To refresh your equipment, unplug your modem and router, and wait for 30 seconds. Then, plug them back in. They’ll come back online in a few minutes.

Rebooting, or power cycling, clears system memory, clears up any communication issues, and creates a fresh connection. This can give your internet connection a quick boost and help solve your connectivity problems.

Update Firmware

Router and modem firmware are released for a reason. If you haven’t updated the software for your devices, you can expect all sorts of internet breakdowns. From slow internet connection speeds to limited download speeds, not updating your devices can cause a lot of havoc.

To update the firmware on your modem and router, search online for their manuals and review the official documentation for the process. Don’t try to do it on your own if you don’t know the process, as doing it wrong can destroy your devices.

Factory Reset

Performing a factory reset on your modem and router can work wonders. However, doing so will remove all settings stored on your devices, including your network name and password. You’ll need to reconfigure your network before you can use the new details to reconnect on each device.

Buy a New Modem & Router

Last and certainly not least, if you didn’t see any improvement in your connection, and if your modem and router are old, it may be time to buy new ones. Don’t settle for cheap routers and modems, as they don’t last long.

But before you purchase new network devices, try implementing the many solutions presented in the remainder of the article. You could be experiencing a different issue altogether.

2. Unoptimized Wi-Fi Setup

In the digital age, most people use wireless internet connections, also known as Wi-Fi. But few people realize how much an unoptimized Wi-Fi setup contributes to sluggish internet and slow download speeds.

So, allow me to break down the most common mistakes people make when setting up their Wi-Fi connection.

Wrong Router Location

The location of your Wi-Fi router could cause your entire issue. Place your router in a central location in your living space, away from large, dense physical obstructions such as walls, ceilings, doors, and furniture. Materials like glass and metal can deflect Wi-Fi signals, so it could help to move your router away from such materials and to ensure they aren’t sitting directly between your router and the device with slow internet.

That’s not all you have to consider. Signals from microwaves, cordless phones, Bluetooth speakers, and other signal-emitting devices can also interfere with your router. Put your router in a place that’s far from these signals.

If you are still experiencing poor Wi-Fi signal strength, you can try using a Wi-Fi extender. But check out the rest of the article before making that investment.

Crowded Channel

Routers broadcast signals using channels. If a channel is crowded, users on that channel may experience performance issues with their Wi-Fi networks. For instance, in apartments, many routers in one building can use the same channel, leading to slow internet speeds.

Switching to a less congested channel can make you and your devices happy again. There are apps for PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices that analyze the best Wi-Fi channel for the area you’re in.

Slower Band

Commonly, Wi-Fi routers operate in two frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 band has better range and signal strength, but it’s slower. In contrast, the 5 GHz band is faster but offers shorter range and weaker signal strength.

Most modern devices support both bands, with the 5 GHz band being the more recent addition to home devices. Basically, you should connect your bandwidth-heavy devices, like smartphones and laptops, to the faster 5 GHz band. Other devices can remain on the 2.4 GHz band. Note that some routers still aren’t capable of using both bands simultaneously, but most modern routers are.

Have you applied all these solutions to your Wi-Fi router without success? If you couldn’t manage to speed up your internet connection, network congestion may be playing a part. Let’s talk about that next.

3. Network Congestion

One likely reason you’re facing poor internet speeds is network congestion. During peak times when everyone is using the internet, networks can get busy, causing your internet service provider to throttle the internet speeds of its users.

Just like how cars get stuck in a traffic jam during peak hours, your connection can suffer when everyone is using the internet at the same time. And unfortunately, you can’t do anything about it except use the internet at other times of the day.

You can look for other ISPs in your area that have fewer subscribers. But in the end, you still can’t control when and how people around you are using the internet, so you can’t prevent connection congestion.

Note: Internet service providers that offer fiber internet aren’t usually affected by an area’s level of congestion. Fiber-based infrastructure can deliver uninterrupted information at lightning speeds, regardless of traffic volume. Use your ZIP code to search for internet service providers that offer fiber packages in your area.

4. Data Cap/Limitation

For those who don’t know, most ISPs provide limited total bandwidth or a data cap. Once you hit the bandwidth included with your internet package, your Wi-Fi connection may start acting up.

To avoid hitting your bandwidth limit, first, contact your internet provider and ask about your data cap. Then, budget your data usage on your computer, smartphone, and other devices according to the bandwidth assigned to you.

Disable automatic updates and downloads on your devices. Don’t use your computer and other smart devices excessively during peak hours. If your device has a data limit feature, use it to set a limit on your bandwidth use.

If your Wi-Fi router can limit data usage, make sure to set a limit according to your available bandwidth. Moreover, ask your family members to conserve bandwidth on your Wi-Fi network. Lastly, avoid data-hungry content like 4K videos and large file downloads.

5. High Latency

Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the destination and back. High latency results in delays between your inputs and outputs. Therefore, high latency can cause a slow connection speed.

High latency can result from various factors. If you are farther away from your Wi-Fi router, your device may take longer to open websites and download files. But network congestion and your distance from internet servers can also play their part in the problem.

Internet speed tests can reveal your connection’s latency in seconds. Go to a speed test website, connect to the nearest server, and wait for the results. You’ll see latency in milliseconds; lower is better. Note that if all other factors are equal, servers farther from you will always have higher latency than servers closer to you.

To reduce latency, use an Ethernet cable when possible, or buy a fiber-based internet package. Furthermore, you can try the new 5G technology, which can handle faster signals and provide low latency.

6. Speed Throttling

This is very common among streamers. If you are streaming or downloading a lot, it’s likely that your ISP is intentionally throttling your speed.

Another reason behind your slow connection may be speed throttling. Many internet providers slow down your internet speed based on your activity. For instance, if your ISP has partially blocked torrents, you’ll face terrible download speeds when torrenting.

Most internet providers have certain websites or services that they don’t want you to access. Sometimes they block your access entirely, and sometimes they throttle your speed, making it inconvenient to use.

To check if your internet provider is throttling you, run an internet speed test with and without a VPN (virtual private network) active. Then do the same thing while downloading a file or accessing a website that’s giving you issues: try it with a VPN, then without one. If you notice a positive difference when using a VPN, your internet connection is likely being throttled by your internet service provider.

To resolve the issue, I highly recommend using a reliable VPN, such as ExpressVPN. Once you are connected to a VPN, your ISP won’t be able to track your online activity, so there’s no more speed throttling.

You can also contact your internet service provider’s customer support for assistance. Report the problem you are facing with your connection. Share your speed tests, zip code, and any other additional information to make your case stronger. Lastly, keep following up with your network service provider about the issue, so they prioritize it over other complaints.

7. Saturated Connection

Your internet speed is shared among all the devices connected to your router. So, more devices mean more sharing. If a single device is heavily consuming bandwidth, other devices on the network will suffer. For instance, if a gaming console on your network is downloading a significant game update, all other devices connected to the router will experience a slower internet speed.

There are several fixes for a saturated connection. First, if any devices on your network aren’t yours or your family members’, you can switch them to the guest network. Then, you can configure the guest network to consume a limited amount of bandwidth. Next, disconnect any home devices that you’re not using from the network.

Then, check if any of your devices are consuming a significant amount of bandwidth. If you identify any data-hogging devices, disconnect them or tweak their active processes so that everyone at home can enjoy uninterrupted internet.

Here’s another option: Most Wi-Fi routers have a QoS (quality of service) feature. Check if your router has a QoS feature and turn it on. It will automatically manage the devices connected to your network and will share bandwidth between them according to usage priority.

Lastly, upgrading your current modem and router with cutting-edge alternatives can also resolve issues with a saturated connection.

8. Slow DNS Server

A DNS, or Domain Name System, is a decentralized naming system for computers, services, and other resources connected to the internet.

Here’s how a DNS works. When you connect to a website, your computer first contacts its DNS server to ask for the IP address associated with the website. When your computer receives a DNS response containing an IP address, it uses that IP address to access the website.

In some cases, a slow DNS server can slow down your connection. Typically, your ISP assigns a single DNS server to multiple users. If it gets overcrowded, every client connected to it can experience slow internet.

However, a benefit of DNS servers is that you can switch to a publicly available set. Open DNS and Google Public DNS are the two most popular sets of DNS servers that you can connect to on your computer or any other smart device.

However, note that some internet service providers do not allow their customers to use DNS servers other than the ones assigned to them. So if you are unable to use the internet after manually setting up a different DNS server, chances are you’ll have to settle for the DNS server that your ISP allotted to you.

9. Faulty/Slow/Outdated Devices

Are you still experiencing slow internet speeds on your device? Especially if it’s a particular device, the problem may be with that device rather than your network. Your computer, gaming console, smartphone, tablet, or other device could be outdated and unable to handle modern internet speeds.

On the other hand, if you’re facing a connection problem on a new computer or smart device, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the issue:

• Power cycle your device by turning it off, unplugging it for 30 seconds, and then plugging it back in. This will clear the cache, refresh your connections, and lighten the processing burden.
• Make sure your device isn’t running too many applications at a time. Furthermore, check the background usage of processes, and if you notice any abnormal activity regarding your network, kill the process.
• Outdated software/drivers can also slow down your device. Make sure to update all software and drivers to their latest versions, then reboot the device.
• Don’t forget to update your applications, as outdated ones can slow down your network.
• Clear your internet browser’s cache and reset it to factory settings. Many users have reported that their web browser was the culprit all along.
• Lastly, disable any network-hungry apps that you don’t use anymore, as they can hog your internet connection in the background.

10. Defective Wires

Whether you are using DSL, cable, or fiber, there’s always a possibility of defective wires. A broken wire can adversely affect not just your Wi-Fi signal strength but your overall internet experience.

Inspect the wires that are going into your modem and Wi-Fi access point. Any breakage means you’re experiencing the effects of defective wires. Call your internet service provider and ask them to send a team to examine your physical connections.

If you are using any splitters, disconnect them and connect your internet line directly to your modem, and then to the router. Many people have reported that connecting their bandwidth wire directly to the network equipment resolved their slow internet problem.

You can also try replacing any wires that connect your modem to other devices, like your PC or router. Furthermore, make sure all the cables are securely in place, as loose cables can cause slow connections.

11. Viruses

Another reason your home or office internet could be dead-slow is viruses. If your device is infected with malware, it may horribly degrade your internet service in addition to the expected impacts on device performance.

Viruses basically run in the background of your computer or smart device and may consume your internet bandwidth. This can result in sluggish network speeds, affecting your browsing, downloading, and other activities.

To fix the issue, install renowned antivirus software on your devices. Then initiate a quick scan and wait for a few minutes. The program will automatically detect viruses and other harmful files and, with your confirmation, delete them from your device.

Once you have cleaned your device with antivirus software, try browsing a few websites and downloading a few files. If you aren’t facing any issues with your internet, you figured out what the problem was.

12. Slow Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Are you facing limited download speeds after installing a VPN on your computer or phone? The problem could be with the VPN service itself.

A VPN adds an additional layer of security between your device and the internet. Although a VPN service significantly increases your safety and privacy, it can negatively affect your internet speed.

High-quality VPN services like ExpressVPN tend to have minimal effects on the internet and download speed. But free and low-quality VPNs are known for causing slow connections.

If you’ve recently started using a VPN because you’re working from home or for privacy concerns, try connecting to the internet without it. If you are not satisfied with the speed of your VPN, you may need to consider using a more reputable VPN, such as ExpressVPN, or one that has servers in your location.

13. You Need A Better Plan

Lastly, if you still think your internet and download speeds aren’t good enough, it’s time to upgrade your internet service package.

In today’s world, everything around us depends on the fast internet. The standards of the digital world are rapidly becoming more demanding. As of May 2021, the global average download speed for mobile internet was 54.53 Mbps. DSL won’t cut it anymore. A multi-person household can’t function on a 5 Mbps package.

So it may be time to switch to a speedier service package. If you aren’t using a fiber connection, but you can, I highly recommend giving it a try.

Conclusion

This guide outlined the most common reasons why your internet is slow and the steps to improve your connection and download speed. From comparing speed test results to optimizing your Wi-Fi router setup, I explained everything you need to get the bandwidth you deserve from your internet service provider. If none of these solutions worked, upgrading your internet plan is the last resort.

Did you fix your slow internet? What was your problem, and what resolved it for you? Share your experience in the comments below to help out other readers.

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