Why Is My Internet So Slow? 12 Reasons and How to Speed It Up

Your internet is slow most often because of your Wi-Fi, your equipment, or too many devices using the connection at the same time. Other common causes include being far from the router, an old router, busy times in the evening, background downloads, and a plan that is too slow for your home.

The quickest fix is to restart your modem and router. If that does not help, a simple speed test will tell you whether the problem is in your home or with your internet provider.

This guide walks you through 12 common reasons your internet is slow and how to fix each one.

Step 1: Test your internet speed

Before you change anything, find out how fast your internet really is. This tells you if something is actually wrong.

1. Open a free speed test in your web browser, such as Speedtest by Ookla or Fast.com.
2. Run the test on a device near your router.
3. Write down the download and upload speeds. They are shown in Mbps (megabits per second).
4. Compare them to the speed in your internet plan. You can find this on your bill or your provider's app.

What the results mean:

Test with a cable if you can. Plug a laptop into the router with an Ethernet cable and test again. If the wired speed is good but Wi-Fi is slow, the problem is your Wi-Fi, not your internet service.

12 reasons your internet is slow

1. Your modem and router need a restart

Routers are small computers. After running for days or weeks, they can slow down or get stuck. A restart clears these problems.

How to restart them the right way:

1. Unplug the power cord from your modem and your router. (Some homes have one box that does both.)
2. Wait about 30 seconds.
3. Plug the modem back in first. Wait until its lights stop blinking, which can take 2 minutes.
4. Plug the router back in and wait a few more minutes.
5. Run a speed test again.

This simple step fixes a lot of slow internet problems.

2. You are too far from the router

Wi-Fi signals get weaker the farther they travel. Walls, floors, doors, and furniture block them even more. If you are two floors away or at the far end of the house, your speed can drop a lot.

Fix: Move closer to the router and test again. If the speed jumps up, distance is the problem. See the next section for ways to spread Wi-Fi around your home.

3. Your router is in a bad spot

Where you put your router matters a lot. A router hidden in a closet, behind the TV, or on the floor sends a weaker signal.

Best places for a router:

• In the middle of your home
• Up high, like on a shelf
• Out in the open, not inside a cabinet
• Away from thick walls, metal objects, mirrors, and fish tanks
• Away from microwaves and cordless phones

4. Too many devices are online at once

Every phone, laptop, TV, game console, smart speaker, and camera shares your internet. If several people are streaming videos, gaming, and on video calls at the same time, there may not be enough speed to go around.

Fix:

• Pause big downloads while someone is on a video call or gaming.
• Disconnect devices you are not using.
• If your home is busy every day, you may need a faster plan.

5. It is a busy time of day

Many people get online in the evening, often from about 7 to 11 p.m. In some areas, this can crowd your provider's network and slow down everyone. Cable internet is more likely to slow down at busy times than fiber.

Fix: Try big downloads or updates early in the morning or late at night. If evening slowdowns are bad every day, contact your provider and ask about it.

6. Something is downloading in the background

Your devices might be using your internet without you knowing. Common examples are:

• Phone, computer, and game console updates
• Cloud backups of photos and files
• Large game downloads
• Streaming on a TV that someone forgot to turn off

Fix: Check your devices for updates or downloads in progress. Pause cloud backups while you need speed. Set updates to run at night.

7. You are using the wrong Wi-Fi band

Most routers send out two Wi-Fi signals, called bands:

• 2.4 GHz reaches farther and goes through walls better, but it is slower and more crowded.
• 5 GHz is much faster, but it does not reach as far.

Newer routers may also have a 6 GHz band that is even faster but has an even shorter range.

Fix: If you are close to the router, connect to the 5 GHz network. It may have "5G" or "5GHz" in its name. (This is different from 5G cell service.) If you are far away, 2.4 GHz may actually work better.

8. Your router or modem is old

Old routers cannot keep up with fast internet plans or lots of devices. If your router is more than about 5 years old, it may be slowing you down. If you rent your equipment from your provider, it may be out of date too.

Signs your router is too old:

• It does not support Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, or newer
• It needs a restart often
• Your speed is fine with a cable but bad on Wi-Fi everywhere

Fix: Ask your provider if they have a newer modem or router. Or buy a newer Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 router. Make sure your modem is approved by your provider before you buy one.

9. Your home needs more Wi-Fi coverage

In large or multi-story homes, one router often cannot cover every room well.

Fix: A mesh Wi-Fi system uses two or more small units placed around your home. They work together to give you one strong network everywhere. Mesh systems usually work better than basic range extenders. If you can run a cable, a wired access point is even better.

10. Your device is the problem

If only one device is slow, the problem might be the device, not the internet.

Fix:

• Restart the device.
• Close apps and browser tabs you are not using.
• Update the operating system and web browser.
• Check for viruses or malware with a trusted security app.
• Forget the Wi-Fi network and connect again.

If a device will not connect at all, see our guide on how to fix Wi-Fi that is not working. If your whole laptop feels sluggish, not just the internet, see our guide on how to speed up a slow laptop. A phone that is busy and slow can also get warm. Our guide on why a phone gets hot explains how to calm down apps running in the background.

11. A VPN is slowing you down

A VPN sends your internet traffic through another server to keep it private. This extra trip can make your connection slower, especially if the server is far away.

Fix: Turn off the VPN and run a speed test. If it is much faster, try a VPN server closer to you, or only use the VPN when you need it.

12. Your plan is too slow, or there is a provider problem

Sometimes the problem is not in your home at all. Your plan may be too slow for how you use the internet today. Or your provider may have an outage, a problem with the line, or a data cap that slows you down once you use a lot of data.

Fix:

• Check your provider's website or app for outages.
• Look at your plan's speed and any data limits.
• If your speed is much lower than your plan, even with a cable and after a restart, call your provider. They can test your line and send a technician if needed.

How much internet speed do you need?

The right speed depends on how many people live in your home and what they do online. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uses 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload as its benchmark for broadband.

Here is a simple guide:

Upload speed matters too, especially for video calls, uploading videos, and working from home.

Quick checklist to speed up your internet

Try these steps in order:

1. Run a speed test and compare it to your plan.
2. Restart your modem and router.
3. Move closer to the router, or move the router to a better spot.
4. Connect to the 5 GHz band if you are close to the router.
5. Pause downloads, updates, and backups.
6. Disconnect devices you are not using.
7. Turn off your VPN to test.
8. Test with an Ethernet cable.
9. Update your router's software (firmware) in its app or settings page.
10. Call your provider if speeds are still slow.

How to keep your internet fast

• Restart your router every few weeks.
• Keep your router's software updated. Many routers can do this automatically.
• Use a strong Wi-Fi password so neighbors cannot use your internet.
• Use a cable for game consoles, TVs, and desktop computers when you can.
• Schedule big updates for nighttime.
• Replace old equipment every 4 to 5 years.
• Review your plan once a year to make sure it still fits your home.

When to call your internet provider

Call your provider if:

• Your speed is much slower than your plan, even with a cable
• Your internet drops out many times a day
• The modem's internet or status light is red or blinking
• There is no outage, and restarting does not help
• Your equipment is old or rented and may need replacing

Tell them what you already tried. This can save time and help them find the problem faster.

The bottom line

Slow internet is usually caused by weak Wi-Fi, old equipment, or too many devices online at the same time. Start with a speed test and a router restart. Then move the router to a better spot, use the right Wi-Fi band, and pause background downloads. If your internet is still slow, even with a cable, the problem is likely with your provider or plan, and it is time to give them a call.