Slow Wi-Fi at home? How to fix it: placement, bands, channels and mesh

TUREFF• •0

Slow Wi-Fi is one of the most common household tech complaints, and most of the time the problem is not your broadband plan. It is how the signal gets from the router to your devices. Work through these steps roughly in order; the first few cost nothing.

1. Find out where the problem actually is

Before changing anything, measure:

Run a speed test on a computer connected to the router with an Ethernet cable. That shows what your connection is really delivering.
Then run the same test over Wi-Fi next to the router, and again in the rooms where it feels slow.

If the wired result is also slow, the problem is your line or provider, and no Wi-Fi tweak will fix it; contact your provider. If wired is fast but Wi-Fi is slow, read on. If Wi-Fi is fine next to the router and poor two rooms away, the issue is coverage. Run tests a few times and at different times of day, because speeds vary with how busy the network is.

2. Restart the router properly

Switch the router off at the wall, wait about 30 seconds and switch it back on. It clears memory problems and lets it pick a fresh channel. If you need to do this every few days, the router may be overheating or failing.

3. Move the router

Placement matters more than almost anything else.

Central and high: a shelf in the middle of the home beats a floor corner at one end.
In the open: not inside a cupboard, behind a television or under a desk.
Away from interference: thick walls, metal, mirrors, fish tanks and large appliances all weaken the signal. Microwave ovens can disrupt the 2.4 GHz band while they run.

4. Understand the bands

Most routers broadcast on more than one frequency band:

2.4 GHz: the longest range and best at passing through walls, but slower and more crowded, since neighbours' networks and many smart-home gadgets use it.
5 GHz: much faster, with shorter range. The best choice for devices in the same or the next room.
6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7): very fast and uncongested, but the shortest range and the weakest through walls. Only newer devices can use it.

Many routers combine the bands under one network name and steer devices automatically. If a device keeps clinging to 2.4 GHz next to the router, giving the 5 GHz band its own name lets you connect to it directly.

5. Change the channel

In a block of flats, dozens of networks can share the same channels. Most routers choose automatically, but if your speed is poor at busy times, try a different one in the router's settings. On 2.4 GHz, stick to channels 1, 6 or 11, which do not overlap with each other. Free Wi-Fi analyser apps show which channels your neighbours are using.

6. Update the firmware

Router firmware updates fix bugs, improve performance and close security holes. Check the router's app or admin page. A router many years old may no longer receive updates at all, which is a reason to replace it in itself.

7. Check what is using the connection

Cloud backups, game downloads, security cameras and 4K streams on other devices can all eat bandwidth. Many router apps show which devices are using the most. While you are there, change the Wi-Fi password if you see devices you do not recognise.

8. Extenders versus mesh

If one router simply cannot cover your home:

Wired is best. If you can run an Ethernet cable to a second access point, or to a desk, do it.
Powerline adapters carry the network over your electrical wiring. Results vary widely by building.
Extenders (repeaters) are cheap and repeat the signal, but they usually create a separate network and roughly halve the speed they pass on. Place one halfway between the router and the dead zone, where the signal is still good.
Mesh systems use several units that work as one network, handing your devices between them as you move. They are the most seamless option for large or awkward homes, and they work best when the units are connected to each other by cable.

9. Check the device, too

If only one laptop or phone is slow, the problem may be that device: update its system and Wi-Fi drivers, forget and rejoin the network, and test again. Older devices may only support older, slower Wi-Fi standards. Still stuck? Describe your home layout, router and speed test results in the comments, and others can help you work out the next step.