INTERNET users are only just realising how to boost their WiFi speed in just 12 free and easy steps.
Sometimes your surroundings and the activities of your neighbors can have a negative impact.
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For example, the kitchen can be a poor choice because it’s full of gadgets that can interfere with your internet speed.
But there are some surefire ways to boost your internet connection speed.
And they are quick and easy to access for beginners, thanks to experts from Avast.
Get closer to your router
One of the easiest ways to get better connection is to get closer to your router.
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It goes without saying that the farther away your PC or laptop is from your Wi-Fi router, the slower your internet speed becomes.
You don’t have to put your computer actually next to your router to stream your favorite shows, but closer is better.
Make sure there are no thick walls, especially concrete walls, between your router and your device.
Not every router is alike — some have a strong signal strength, and others don’t.
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Restart your router or modem
This is likely the first course of action for anyone suffering from internet problems.
Restarting your router or modem can often fix slow internet speeds.
This method works surprisingly well as a quick Wi-Fi boost.
However, your internet connection can sometimes simply get slow for no reason at all.
Clear your browser’s cache and browsing history
Too much cache data can result in websites not loading, partially loading, or even loading very slowly.
This can lead to unnecessary problems with how quick you can browse.
Clear out your browser’s cache, cookies and get rid of any files that might be interfering.
Update your computer
Improving the performance of your computer or laptop may be helped by updating your device.
You should check for software or driver updates to address bugs and improve performance.
Your router’s firmware can also be updated.
Close unnecessary background programs
If the internet is slow on your device but works well on your phone, then unnecessary background programs could be hogging your bandwidth.
This can bog down your internet connection and cause delays.
Stopping these background programs and quitting unused applications can help speed up your connection speeds.
Use a plug-in (Ethernet) connection
If your Wi-Fi connection is persistently slow or if you don’t want to invest in a new router, you should try switching to a wired connection.
Connect your PC or Mac to your router using an Ethernet cable.
An actual cable will deliver the fastest possible speeds for your connection, potentially reaching speeds of many Gbps.
Check your cable and shorten length
Cables are the fastest and most reliable way to connect your PC to your router.
But if you’re using an Ethernet connection make sure that the cable isn’t too long and that it doesn’t have any kinks.
It’s a very easy way to increase your internet speed and improve a poor connection.
Map the signal strength in your home
It may be easier to figure out where the signal in your home is strongest rather than moving your modem around everywhere.
A tool like Heatmapper can help, but you’ll need to register for a trial.
An internet signal map of your home will let you know where to expect slow download speeds or even connection drops.
Get a Wi-Fi extender
If you can’t move closer to your router, or you can’t move your router, a Wi-Fi extender is a great way to boost your internet speed throughout your home.
Wi-Fi extenders connect to your router’s Wi-Fi signal and repeat the signal to extend the range of your wireless network and eliminate dead zones and weak spots.
Limit devices connected
If you have too many devices connected that might be causing a drop in network performance.
Try turning off the devices you don’t need to see if your network’s speed and reliability improve.
Scan for viruses
Malware infections can result in high bandwidth usage, especially when they’re digging into your personal files or downloading malicious code.
To prevent this from happening, use security software that will scan your computer from top to bottom.
It can identify and remove any malware or other threats.
Get an ad blocker
We’ve all been bombarded by pesky ads as we browse on our computers.
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This can be more than an annoyance and actually bog down your internet connection.
Using an ad-blocker or privacy-focused browser can cut out all those annoying ads, freeing up valuable space for your internet connection.
