WI-FI can be a fickle beast – a fix for slow internet troubles might work one week, but not the next.
In which case, it may be best to stick with the basics and not overlook one of the simplest and quickest remedies out there.
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A router that has been on and in use for a while can become strained.
“Just like your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, your router has a central processor, memory, and an operating system,” according to experts at internet provider CenturyLink.
“With routers typically on and running 24/7, we tend to place more demand on them than on most other personal electronics — except for maybe our overworked mobile phones.
“Like our computers, routers need to be rebooted.”
A Wi-Fi router with parental controls store cache and network information, just like a computer.
If an error gets stored in this cache, it can lead to router malfunctions and even dropped internet connections.
But usually, it just makes the router sluggish if it’s not cleared for a while.
It’s important to wipe this clean this regularly, say CenturyLink experts.
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“Depending on the age and health of your router, a reboot should be done anywhere from monthly to daily,” they add.
“This is sometimes called a ‘power-cycle.’
“Rebooting your router cleans out the device’s short-term memory (also called ‘cache’) to keep it running more smoothly.
“It also allows the router to re-select the least crowded channel for each frequency, which means a stronger connection to your devices.”
How do I reboot my router?
To manually reboot your router, simply unplug it from the wall, flick the off switch on the wall outlet or push the off button on the side of the device.
Then wait one minute, and switch it back on again.
The router will usually take a few minutes to wake up again and reconnect to the network.
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