Why is my internet so slow and what can I do to fix it?

Your internet can be slow for many reasons. Below we’ve listed some of the most common reasons and potential ways to address them.  

You purchased a data plan with your internet service provider that doesn’t support your usage  

• Check with your internet service provider to verify the amount of data included in your internet service package. Ask them to let you know how much data you are using compared to your plan over the past 3 months. If your data usage exceeds the amount in your plan regularly, consider upgrading to a higher data plan.  

You’ve exceeded your data quota for the month and your speeds are now slowed down 

• If you consistently exceed the data allotment in your internet service plan, internet service providers will typically slow down your data. Once the new billing cycle hits, your data resets. If this is the case, follow the steps in the bullet point above.  

Heavy usage could be caused by several things like multimedia streaming (video, music, etc.), neighbors may have hacked into your Wi-Fi and are using it or too many people in your household are using the connection at the same time.  

• During working hours, try to limit any video or music streaming to free up bandwidth for other things such as work-related tasks. If able, limit devices that are connected to the internet as well (for example: if you are using your laptop, take your iPad off the WiFi). 
• Log into your account and check to see how many devices are currently connected to your internet/Wi-Fi. If there are devices you don’t recognize, you can block those devices. Consider changing your Wi-Fi password as well. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, your internet service provider can help.  
• Limit the number of windows you have open simultaneously. Although this isn’t tied to your internet speeds, it can use up a great amount of computer resources which may cause your computer to slow down.  

Your internet service provider is having issues. These have become more common given that more people are working from home and are using their internet connection more throughout the day.  

• Most internet service providers have an outage website that you can visit that lets you know if there is an outage or issue in your area. For example, you can review Comcast’s site by going to https://www.xfinity.com/support/status. If you continue to have constant issues, you can ask your internet service provider to provide you some type of credit on your next bill for your troubles.  

Wi-Fi interference happens when nearby Wi-Fi networks are operating on the same frequency as your Wi-Fi or things such as metal, thick walls, microwaving, and cordless phones cause interference.  

• To address the frequency issue, you can try changing the channel that your Wi-Fi operates on. This is usually channel 1, 6, or 11. This can be done by logging into your internet router. If you are unfamiliar with this process, you can call your Internet service provider and have them make this change for you.  
• You may be able to reduce interference by moving closer to your internet router, turning off cordless phones, or moving to a more open location within your house.  
• Plug directly into your internet router versus using Wi-Fi. You can do this by running an ethernet cable from your computer or laptop ethernet jack directly into the ethernet jack on your internet router as seen below. 

For more information on how to access free or affordable internet or phone coverage during COVID-19, please see: How do I find free or discounted phone, data or internet services available to families who need extra help during COVID-19?