Why is my WiFi slow? 10 fixes to try before you call your provider

First, prove it's the WiFi and not the plan

Plug a laptop into the router with an Ethernet cable and run a speed test, then run the same test on WiFi standing next to the router, then from the room where things feel slow. If wired is fast and WiFi is slow, the problem lives in your home, and it's fixable for free.

Restart the router properly

Unplug power for a full 30 seconds, then let it boot for two minutes. A router that has been up for months accumulates memory leaks and stale connections; a weekly restart quietly fixes more slow-WiFi complaints than any other step.

Move the router out of the cabinet

WiFi is radio. Metal, water, brick, mirrors and fish tanks absorb or reflect it. The best spot is central, elevated and in open air, on a shelf, not inside the TV console, and away from the kitchen's microwave.

Check how many devices are really connected

Open your router's app and count. Old phones, smart plugs, cameras and a neighbor who still has your password all compete for airtime. Kick what you don't recognize and change the password if anything looks off.

Split or steer your bands

2.4 GHz travels far but is slow and crowded; 5 GHz is fast but short-range. If your router broadcasts one combined network, devices often cling to the wrong band. Naming them separately (Home and Home-5G) lets you pin laptops and TVs to 5 GHz.

Change the channel

In apartments especially, a dozen routers shout over each other on the same default channel. In router settings, switch 2.4 GHz to channel 1, 6 or 11 (whichever is least used nearby) and let 5 GHz auto-select.

Update firmware and retire ancient gear

A router older than 5 or 6 years predates WiFi 6 and struggles with today's device counts. If your provider includes equipment (Spectrum, Brightspeed, Metronet and most fiber plans do), ask for the current model, it's usually free.

When it IS the plan

If the wired test is also slow at peak hours, or your household has outgrown a 100 Mbps tier, that's a plan problem. Run the ZIP checker to see what faster tiers cost at your address, 300-500 Mbps is the 2026 sweet spot for most families.