Slow internet speeds can be caused by a number of things. Your router could be outdated or it could be too far away from your TV or computer, for example.
Those fixes may be as easy as restarting your modem and router or upgrading to a mesh network. But another reason for your slow Wi-Fi could be bandwidth throttling.
Resulting from the Supreme Court decision declining to hear an appeal on net neutrality, ISPs can still legally stifle your internet, limiting your broadband if you're streaming more TV than they want and serving slower connections to websites owned by their competitors. One solution to slow Wi-Fi -- if it is, in fact, caused by internet throttling -- is a virtual private network.
Basically, ISPs need to see your IP address to slow down your internet, and a good VPN will shield that identity -- though it comes with some limitations and downsides, which I'll discuss below. The cause of your sluggish Wi-Fi connection might be something simpler; maybe you just need to reposition your router or need to add a Wi-Fi range extender. We'll walk you through how to tell if throttling is to blame and, if not, what to do about fixing your crummy Wi-Fi.
Read more: 11 ways to make your Wi-Fi faster. Read more: The best Wi-Fi extender for almost everybody. So your Wi-Fi is slow and you think your service provider is throttling your connection.
Before you jump to those conclusions, it's important to run through the usual troubleshooting list: Check that your router is centrally located in your home, reposition its antennas, double check your network security and so on. To get the best performance, make sure devices, apps and software are up to date, free of malware, and not being overloaded.
Antivirus protection is essential for good performance. Viruses and malware can slow down your whole system, including internet speed performance. Make sure every device is healthy by installing well-rated security software , keeping it updated and running security scans at least weekly.
CenturyLink internet subscribers can get McAfee protection for free on two devices. Your web browser Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox, etc. Make sure yours is running smoothly. Check device speed and wireless adapters. Many devices have WiFi connectivity built in, like cell phones and newer laptops, smart TVs and other smart devices.
Others, like desktop computers and older laptops, may need a wireless adapter to access WiFi. Some devices including newer WiFi devices may transmit data over WiFi at a slower speed than your router. You can look up speed specifications by doing a web search or going to the device manufacturer website. The speed will be shown in Mbps Megabits per second. Adjust device settings or usage. Devices can get bogged down by too many applications running. Be in the habit of shutting down programs that you're not using to free up memory on your computer.
The same is true if you tend to keep several browser windows or tabs active at the same time. This can cause lags or other problems when browsing the internet, so close any extra tabs that you're not actively using.
If you have smart devices running around your home, try lowering the screen resolution on any devices with a screen to save even more bandwidth and guard against a slow internet connection. Finally, checking both indoor and outdoor wiring can help determine if there's a connection problem that needs attention, either with your home equipment or with the CenturyLink network.
Check all cords and cables for damage. Also check to make sure both ends of the cables are firmly plugged in. Sometimes in regular use, they can get pulled loose. You can figure out if there's a connection problem inside or outside your home by testing your service at the network box Network Interface Device or NID.
Do you have both internet and home phone service from CenturyLink? If you have both internet and home phone service from CenturyLink, then you will need to put DSL filters on all landline phones in the house. This ensures that your internet signal doesn't interfere with your landline. Plug the phone cord into a filter and then into the wall jack. Note: If you have cordless phones, you only need to install a filter on the phone base that plugs in to the wall jack; no filters are needed on the cordless units that only plug into an electrical outlet.
Make sure you do not have a filter installed between the modem and the wall jack. The DSL cord from the modem to the jack should not have a filter.
If you want to plug both your modem and your phone into the same wall jack, you can use a DSL splitter, as shown in the diagram below.
Use a DSL splitter to plug a phone and a modem into one wall jack. Tried everything and still need more speed? Once you've gone through the steps above, run the internet speed test to find out your current download and upload speeds. If you want to see what speed you're paying for, check your plan details in My CenturyLink.
It's a good idea to run the speed test a few times to get an average. For the best view of the network speed to your home, run the test on a computer plugged directly into your modem with an Ethernet cable.
It can be useful to compare that result to your speed on different devices, to help determine if there's a slowdown occurring on one particular device. After running the speed test, which statement best describes your situation? Click below to see solutions. If your internet is dropping or you are frequently getting slower internet connection speeds than you expect, then there may be a problem with the network connection at your address.
There are two things you can do:. If you're testing close to your plan speed, but still struggle with lag times and other symptoms of low bandwidth, you may simply need faster service. In this case, you have two options:. As more and more business applications have moved to the cloud, the amount of bandwidth required has increased as well.
Obstructions between the WiFi router and the connected device—such as elevators, cubicle walls and even metal furniture—will degrade the signal.
A clear path will provide the best performance. Your browser could have add-ons and plug-in features that are consuming bandwidth. It might also have security features that scan pages for safety before loading. Install an upgrade to the latest version to ensure your devices are browsing at the maximum speed.
One of most common causes of slow speed on the internet is the host server, which hosts websites, files, images, games and applications. Browse All Buying Guides. Best Portable Monitors. Best Gaming Keyboards. Best Drones. Best 4K TVs. Best iPhone 13 Cases. Best Tech Gifts for Kids Aged Best 8K TVs. Best VR Headsets. Best iPad Mini Cases. Best Gifts for Cutting the Cord. Best Bluetooth Speakers. Awesome PC Accessories.
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