How to fix slow internet speeds at home

How to fix slow speeds at home

If you’re like everyone, you rely on a good internet connection to perform a variety of tasks each day. From streaming movies and TV shows to browsing and staying connected with friends and family on social media. A fast internet connection has become a necessity.

Unfortunately, internet speeds in South Africa can be quite slow, especially in aspirational areas. Slow speeds and slow networks can be really frustrating, and if you are experiencing speed issues with your network, it can really affect your overall performance. If you’re finding that your network connection is slower than it should be, there are a few things you can do to try and improve your speed.

Here is how you can try to fix slow internet speeds at home.

1. Check your wifi speed

Before you start looking into a new ISP, it’s a good idea to run an internet speed test. This will give you an idea of what your current network speed is and what the improvement is after you’ve made some changes.

You can go to websites like Speedtest.net or Fast.com, or just type Internet speed test on Google and run the speed test.

2. Restart the router

An equipment restart is always a good place to start when troubleshooting your internet connection. It’s quick, easy, and effective.

  • Step 1: Unplug the power cable from the back of the router.
  • Step 2: Wait 60 seconds.
  • Step 3: Plug the power cable back into the back of the equipment.
  • Step 4: Wait for the equipment to reboot (this can take up to 20 minutes).

3. Your home network is congested

Your slow speeds might be the result of trying to do too much at once on your internet connection. There may be some devices connected to your network that you rarely use—if at all. Even if you’re not actively using these devices, it still uses bandwidth for updates and other background services. Your router may even have a limited number of devices it can connect to simultaneously, depending on the plan you are on with your service provider. If you have more devices connected than your current plan can handle, you might need to consider upgrading.

Another method is to change the wifi password. Once you do, you must manually reconnect your devices again.

4. Change your password

Someone who you have shared your password with is consuming the bandwidth. They may be downloading large files, such as movies and series, which is causing your internet to slow down dramatically. The solution? Change your password. By changing your password, you are able to control who has access to your internet connection.

You can change your password by logging into your portal and selecting the “change password” tab. Enter your old password and the new one you want to change it to. Confirm your password by entering the new one in again, and you are all set. It is important to share your password with people you know.

5. Reset your router

If everything fails, you can also completely reset your router to factory settings which should revert any wrong changes that may be affecting your wifi. Most routers come with a tiny reset button at the back of the router. This button is hidden inside a hole and can be accessed with a toothpick, or even the back of an earring.

Press and hold this button for 10-15 seconds and your router should restart, confirming it has been reset. It is important to reset your router with the permission from your ISP, as they can assist in resetting up your router again. Once the router is back up and running, and your ISP has assisted you in confirming the router settings, your wifi will be restored to its original speed.

6. Contact your Internet Service Provider

If none of the above solutions worked, you should consider contacting TooMuchWifi and creating a ticket. It could be a problem they are able to assist with remotely, but if not, they will send a technician to assist and fix the issue immediately.

Wifi slow speeds are one of the most annoying problems internet users deal with on a regular basis. The good news is that learning how to fix slow speeds at home is an invaluable skill that can avoid further frustration when using the internet.