How to Make Your Home Wi-Fi Faster

Slow Wi-Fi is frustrating, especially when you're paying for good internet. Before you call your provider or buy new equipment, try these free fixes. Most take a few minutes.

1. Test your speed first

Run a speed test on fast.com or speedtest.net, once close to the router and once in the room where it's slow. If it's fast near the router but slow far away, the problem is your Wi-Fi coverage, not your internet plan.

2. Move your router

Where your router sits makes a huge difference.

• Put it in a central spot in the house, not in a corner or at one end.
• Raise it up off the floor, on a shelf or table.
• Keep it away from concrete walls, metal, microwaves and fish tanks. Block walls are common in Jamaican homes and block signal badly.
• Don't hide it inside a cabinet.

3. Restart it

Turn the router off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on. Doing this every week or two clears up a lot of slowdowns.

4. Use the 5 GHz network

Many routers have two networks, often with "5G" or "5GHz" in the name. The 5 GHz one is faster but has shorter range. Use it when you're in the same room or close by, and the 2.4 GHz one for farther rooms.

5. Kick off unwanted users

If your password is weak or has been shared widely, neighbours may be using your Wi-Fi. Change the password to something strong, and reconnect your own devices.

6. Limit heavy use

Big downloads, game updates and video streaming on several devices at once slow everything down. Schedule updates for overnight.

7. Plug in when you can

For a TV, computer or game console near the router, a network cable is faster and steadier than Wi-Fi.

8. Extend your coverage

If one part of the house is always weak, a Wi-Fi extender or a mesh system can help. Mesh systems cost more but work much better in big or multi-level homes.

When to call your provider

If speeds are slow even right next to the router, or the internet keeps dropping, call your provider. Your router may be old, or there may be a line problem only they can fix.