path: root/wired/faster internet.txt

Sheltering at home will teach you one thing in a hurry: your internet isn't fast enough. 

The good news is that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have have [increased speeds](https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/internet-essentials-low-income-broadband-coronavirus-pandemic){: rel=nofollow} for low-income customers. Others [have suspended](https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/12/21177538/att-broadband-internet-data-cap-coronavirus-suspend){: rel=nofollow} broadband data caps. 

That makes the internet to your front door less of a bottleneck, but eliminating subpar speeds and Wi-Fi dead zones around the house is up to you. To help we've put together some suggestions on ways you can troubleshoot, and hopefully improve, your Wi-Fi reception around the house.

Be sure to also check out our guide to [securing your home Wi-Fi network](https://www.wired.com/story/secure-your-wi-fi-router/), our [guide to the new Wi-Fi 6 standard](https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-wi-fi-6/), and 

*If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. [Learn more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/). You can also support our reporting by purchasing a [1-year WIRED subscription for  (Discounted)](https://subscribe.wired.com/subscribe/splits/wired/WIR_AFFILIATE?source=HCL_WIR_EDIT_HARDCODED_0_COMMERCE_AFFILIATE_ZZ).*

###1. Move Your Router

That router in the closet? Not a good idea. Walls, cupboards, even bookshelves can potentially dampen your Wi-Fi signal. Physically moving your router can make a real difference to the speeds you get and how far its wireless transmissions can reach. The perfect spot will depend on your home, but try not to hide your router in a corner, or under a cupboard, or inside a drawer—the more central and prominent it is, the better. See our guide to [where to put your router for the best possible home Wi-Fi](https://www.wired.com/2016/03/put-router-optimize-home-wi-fi/).

You might need to apply some creative cabling to get your router in a better place, but it's going to be worth the effort for the end results. The goal is to get your main devices—consoles, laptops and so on—as close as possible to your router. Devices that don't need quite so much bandwidth, like smart thermostats, don't have to be a priority in terms of physical proximity.

If you don't have a flat surface near the best spot you can mount your router halfway up a wall. If possible, keep it away from other devices that use electromagnetic waves—that means baby monitors, wireless keyboards, and even microwaves.

###2. Go Wired Instead

A wired connection to your router is usually preferable to a wireless one—it's faster and more stable, and can't be affected by other devices or large fish tanks. The downside is, of course, that it limits where your devices can be, and it's less convenient overall.

Still, for devices that need the fastest internet possible—a gaming console or a streaming box, for example—it's often well worth the effort to run a wire. The router will have a handful of Ethernet ports spare, so all you need is a cable.

To do a really tidy job and avoid having wires trailing across your floor, you'll need to deploy some cable management. [Wall brackets like these ($14 for 40)](https://www.amazon.com/Yocice-Adhesive-Organizer-Management-Upgraded/dp/B07PNSTB4N/){: rel=nofollow} keep the Ethernet cable fixed to the walls. If you have several cables running the same direction [these wall mounts ($13 for 50)](https://www.amazon.com/Adhesive-Ethernet-Organizers-Management-Desktop/dp/B07KPTPGVB/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow} work well. For one or two gadgets, it can be worth the extra setup.

###3. Upgrade Your Router

Routers vary significantly in functionality and price, but in this case the upgrade to make is generally in terms of how far your Wi-Fi is broadcast. If you have a large house, you'll likely be better off with a router that can pair with "repeaters" that can broadcast signal into the furthest reaches of your home. Smaller homes and apartments can generally get by with a simpler system.

We don't have room for a full router buying guide here, but we've tested and like the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 ([$280 Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Nighthawk-8-Stream-AX6000-Router/dp/B07PCMG75T/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}, [$329 Walmart](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=betterhomewifi&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FNETGEAR-Nighthawk-AX8-8-Stream-AX6000-Wi-Fi-6-Router-802-11ax-Black-RAX80-100NAS%2F867351946){: rel=nofollow}), the [TP-Link AX6000](https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wifi-AX1500-Smart-Router/dp/B07ZSDR49S/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}, and the TP-Link AX3000 ([$129 Walmart](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=betterhomewifi&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FTP-Link-Archer-AX3000-4-Stream-Dual-Band-Wi-Fi-6-Wireless-Router-Up-to-3-Gbps-Speeds-Powered-by-Intel%2F100797162){: rel=nofollow}, [$150 Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-WiFi-AX3000-Smart-Router/dp/B07YMFZ28Q/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}, [$150 Best Buy](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/0vNnV){: rel=nofollow}) 

For larger homes we recommend a mesh network, where you install multiple router nodes around your house. We've tested and like the Eero Wi-Fi system ([$250 Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WMLPSRL?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}, [$250 Best Buy](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/eero-ac-dual-band-mesh-wi-fi-system-3-pack-white/6375348.p?skuId=6375348){: rel=nofollow}), and the Netgear Orbi system ([$287 Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Orbi-Whole-Home-System/dp/B07CQDHPFT/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}, [$329 Best Buy](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/EMN2P){: rel=nofollow}), [$298 Walmart](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=betterhomewifi&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FNETGEAR-Orbi-AC3000-Mesh-WiFi-System-Up-to-5-000-Square-Feet-RBK50-100NAS%2F54445769){: rel=nofollow}). There's also the Google Nest Wi-Fi system ([WIRED Review 6/10](https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_wifi)), which works well though it lacks some features found in the other systems and at $299 ([Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Nest-WiFi-Router-Pack/dp/B07YMJ57MB){: rel=nofollow}) it's not one of the cheaper options.

###4. Change the Channel or Band

Wi-Fi signal is divided into channels. Your router uses a particular Wi-Fi channel to communicate with the devices around your home, and if you've got neighbors living very close who have routers using the same Wi-Fi channel, then everything can get very congested very quickly. Switching to a different channel can solve this problem.

Every router will handle this differently—check its documentation or look up the instructions online if you're not sure—but you should be able to find the option somewhere in the device settings. Channels 1, 6 and 11 are the ones to try, as they'll have the least interference when multiple devices get hooked up.

Most routers now use dual band technology, broadcasting at the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. If your router settings allow you, you might be able to prioritize one or the other for certain devices—the 5GHz band will get you a faster connection to the internet, though it has a shorter range than 2.4GHz.

###5. Get a Wi-Fi Extender

If messing around with your router settings seems too daunting, and you have a few dollars spare, invest in a Wi-Fi extender or repeater. These devices plug into a spare wall socket, connect to the wireless internet getting beamed out by your router, and then extend it further.

They're simple to set up, easy to use, and can instantly get rid of Wi-Fi dead zones in your house. The extended or repeated wireless signals won't be as strong as the ones coming straight from your router though, so again positioning is important—try and use these devices to connect up gadgets that don't need a huge amount of bandwidth.

You've got plenty of options to pick from: take a look at the [Linksys AC1900](https://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Gigabit-Extender-Repeater-RE7000/dp/B01DT48WZS){: rel=nofollow} or the [Netgear EX7300](https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wi-Fi-Range-Extender-EX7300/dp/B01D6JEMWS){: rel=nofollow}, for example. Make sure the maximum supported Wi-Fi standard (e.g. 802.11ac) matches that of your router, so that you get as speedy a connection as possible.

###6. Use Your Electrical Wiring

An alternative to extenders is a powerline kit—you might never have realized it, but digital signals can pass through electrical wiring, and powerline devices are designed to take advantage of this. Several manufacturers make powerline networking kits, including [Netgear](https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Powerline-Adapter-Ethernet-Passthrough/dp/B0778Y6K6N){: rel=nofollow} and [TP-Link](https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-Powerline-Pass-Through-TL-PA9020P-KIT/dp/B01H74VKZU){: rel=nofollow}.

It works like this: You connect a powerline plug up to your router and then put the plug into a wall socket. Add another powerline plug in any other room in your house, and it can then provide a wired or wireless connection to that room. There will be some drop in speed, but it's a simple and effective option.

Unless your home is particularly old, it should have electrical wiring that supports this, but it's best to buy your kit from a retailer with a robust return policy, just in case. .

###7. Make Sure There's a Password on your Wi-Fi

We probably don't have to tell you this, but you need a password on your Wi-Fi. It's good for [keeping hackers away](https://www.wired.com/story/wikileaks-cia-router-hack/), and keeping neighbors from Netflixing off your bandwidth. Make sure you use AES encryption, which is both the most secure and most speed-friendly security option. 

###8. Consider Adding a Separate Network for your Guests

Another thing: You probably should have two networks. One for you, one for guests. Everyone asks for the password, but you're better off limiting the number of people and devices on your personal network to things you actually want there. Plus, let's be real: Do you really trust your friends? If they'd text your exes just because you left your phone unlocked, they'd definitely hack you just for fun.

###9. Reduce the Number of Devices Using Your Network

It also helps to reduce the number of devices on your network. Having dozens of things tapping into the Wi-Fi can be just as problematic as trying to play *FIFA* online while simultaneously torrenting the whole of _The Sopranos._ Plug anything you can into Ethernet, and unplug anything you have connected but don't need (like that "smart" tea kettle you never once got to work). Make sure only the things that need internet get internet.

On most recent routers, you can even prioritize a particular device or service through the same settings menu you'd use to create a password or update the firmware. It's a hacky but handy way to make sure your games never get interrupted by someone else using Facebook. 

###10. See What Programs are Automatically Updating

This tip is specific to computers: if the internet on your PC or laptop is perpetually slow, open your task manager or activity monitor and see what programs are running in the background. Certain programs could be set to auto-update that don't need to be. If they're always updating in the background, that could be the cause of your slow internet. Check it out and adjust the settings. 

###11. Restart Your Router

We've read this tip many times on the web, but we were skeptical. It sounds like an extension of the age-old pseudosolution to everything digital: reboot it. To see if this was more than superstition, we put the question to router maker Netgear: does rebooting your router help speed things up?

The short answer is probably not.

Sandeep Harpalani, VP of Product Line Management for Netgear tells WIRED that the company does not recommend rebooting its routers "unless you are actually encounter issues with connectivity or slow downs due to radio frequency interference." He did also say that if you're still using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and you're having speed troubles, rebooting might help since it will force the router to choose the best channel with the least interference during bootup. If you've made the jump to 5GHz you don't need to worry, it will automatically switch to the channel with the least amount of interference.

Either way there's no reason to reboot regularly the way some people have suggested. If you are having problems then it may be worth restarting your router, but for the most part, stick with out other tips.

###12. Reach Out to Your Internet Service Provider

You can always reach out to your internet provider and see if they have any suggestions. They may want to send a service technician out. They're specialists for a reason, and might be able to pinpoint an overlooked issue that is getting in the way of you and fast Wi-Fi. That's more complex right now though, as you may not want strangers in your house, and your ISP may not have technicians available to send.

***
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