Start with a quick test

Before changing settings, measure. Run a speed test on the device that feels slow, then run another on a laptop connected to the router by an Ethernet cable. If the wired test is close to your plan but Wi-Fi is much slower, the problem is inside your home. If both are slow, the problem is more likely the modem, the provider or the line.

Write down download, upload and ping for each test. Having numbers makes it far easier to tell whether a fix helped, and it gives your provider’s support team concrete evidence if you need to call them.

  1. Test on the slow device over Wi-Fi.
  2. Test on a wired device next to the router.
  3. Restart the modem and router, wait two minutes, then test again.
  4. Compare results with the speed in your contract.

Causes 1–5: Wi-Fi and the router

1. Distance and walls. Wi-Fi weakens quickly through concrete, brick, metal and floors. Move closer to the router or move the router to a central, raised, open spot. 2. The 2.4 GHz band. It reaches farther but is slower and crowded; connect to the 5 GHz or 6 GHz network when you are near the router.

3. Channel interference. In apartments, dozens of neighbouring networks may share the same channel. Let the router choose a channel automatically or pick a less crowded one. 4. An old router. Routers older than about five years may lack Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 and cannot deliver fast plans. 5. A large home. A single router rarely covers several floors; a mesh Wi-Fi system or a wired access point fixes dead zones better than a cheap range extender.

Restarting the router clears memory leaks and stuck connections. If you need to restart it every few days, it is probably due for replacement or a firmware update.

Causes 6–9: devices, apps and settings

6. Too many devices at once. Cloud backups, game downloads and 4K streams on other devices compete for bandwidth. Pause large transfers or use the router’s quality-of-service setting to prioritise calls and gaming. 7. Background updates. Windows Update, game launchers and phone backups often run in the evening.

8. A VPN. Encrypting and routing traffic through a distant server adds latency and can cap speed. Pick a nearer server, switch to the WireGuard protocol, or turn the VPN off briefly to compare. 9. Slow DNS. If pages take a long time to start loading but downloads are fast once they begin, try a fast public DNS resolver.

Also check the device itself: an old phone, a laptop on battery-saver mode or a browser with dozens of heavy tabs can feel like slow internet even when the connection is fine.

Causes 10–12: the provider and the line

10. Peak-time congestion. If speed is fine in the morning but drops every evening, the provider’s local network may be overloaded. 11. Throttling or data caps. Some mobile and fixed plans slow you down after a monthly data allowance or slow specific traffic types; check your plan’s fair-use policy.

12. Line or modem faults. Damaged cables, loose connectors, water in outdoor boxes or a failing modem cause slow speeds and frequent drops. The modem’s status page may show errors or a low signal.

If wired tests are consistently slow at several times of day after you restart your equipment, contact your provider with your test results. Ask them to check the line signal and whether your area has an outage.

A useful note for provider support
Plan: 300 Mbps down / 30 Mbps up
Wired test 08:00: 285 / 29 Mbps, ping 9 ms
Wired test 21:00:  42 / 28 Mbps, ping 65 ms
Modem restarted, other devices disconnected

Quick fixes that solve most problems

Most slow-internet complaints are solved by a few simple steps. Work through them in order and test after each one so you know which change made the difference.

If none of these help, your plan may simply be too small for your household. Our guide on what internet speed you need explains how to estimate it.

  1. Restart the modem and router.
  2. Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable for important devices.
  3. Move the router to a central, open, raised position.
  4. Pause big downloads, backups and updates.
  5. Update router firmware, or replace a router older than about five years.
  6. Try a nearer VPN server or switch protocol.
  7. Contact your provider with wired test results.

Common questions

Why is my internet slow only at night? Evening is peak time, both in your home and in your provider’s network. Test with a wired connection at night; if it is still slow, congestion at the provider is likely.

Why is Wi-Fi slow on one device only? The device may have an older Wi-Fi chip, be far from the router, have a VPN or security app running, or need a driver or system update.

Does a speed test use a lot of data? A full IP Lens test transfers up to about 15 MB. That is small for home broadband but worth knowing on a limited mobile plan.