A slow internet connection can come up at the worst possible times — during a work call, the climax scene of an action movie, or during your favorite YouTube cat compilation. Whatever the setting of your 21st-century crisis may be, here are a few tips to get the Internet up to speed.
- Close background programs.
Apps on your phone and software applications on your computer can slow down your device and limit bandwidth. Having too many devices using the network simultaneously can make everything function slowly. Many games also run downloaders that patch the game without requiring approval or intervention. If the download speed suddenly slows, it may be a game downloading patch files in the background.
- Avoid signal interference.
A large number of wireless connections can be slowed due to signal interference, requiring computers to continually resend messages to your device to overcome signal overlap. To improve the WiFi strength on your device, reposition the router closer to your device and change the Wi-Fi channel number.
- Protect yourself from worms and other malware.
A computer worm can spread from device to device on a network and silently generate network traffic, causing the Internet connection to slow down. To protect your devices, regularly scan for viruses and other malware, update your antivirus software, and install a malware-removing tool.
- Check router settings.
If the MTU setting of your router is too high or too low, it can cause a slow internet connection. Be sure to follow your internet service provider’s settings recommendations.
- Check network speed.
Run a speed test to check the quality of your internet connection. The test may reveal the problem lies in your computer. Another potential cause of slow speed is heavy utilization of system memory, disk input/output, and CPU cycling.
- Check your router and other network equipment.
Glitches in different components of your network equipment can negatively affect performance. To troubleshoot equipment, try rearranging and reconfiguring different devices to bypass the router. Swap cables and test with multiple devices to identify the device slowing down the system. Once you’ve figured out the cause of the slow speed, decide if the device can be upgraded or repaired, or if it should be replaced.
- Call Blue Apple Electric for help with Internet cabling.
If running these tests doesn’t identify and resolve a slow internet connection, then it’s time to call in Blue Apple Electric for professional service. Our trained technicians will get to the root of the problem and get your Internet back to speed in no time!