Faster Internet Without Upgrading Your Plan
Your internet feels slow, but upgrading your plan is expensive. Before you call your ISP, try these free and cheap fixes that unlock hidden speed by fixing problems inside your home. You can often get a faster, more reliable connection without spending a dime more each month.
Fix 1: The Wi-Fi Reboot & Placement Tune-Up (Free)
Your router is likely the bottleneck, not your ISP.
The 30-Second Reboot: Unplug your modem and router from power for 30 full seconds. This clears their memory, resets connections, and can instantly restore lost speed. Do this monthly.
Find the “Sweet Spot”: Move your router to a central, elevated location, away from walls, metal objects, and appliances like microwaves or cordless phone bases. Just a few feet can dramatically improve signal strength.
Fix 2: Declutter Your Wi-Fi Channels (Free)
In apartments and neighborhoods, your Wi-Fi is fighting with everyone else’s on the same channel.
Use a Wi-Fi Analyzer App (like WiFi Analyzer on Android) to see the busiest channels.
Log into your router’s admin page (often
192.168.1.1) and manually change your 2.4 GHz band to channel 1, 6, or 11—whichever is least crowded. Set the 5 GHz band to Auto or a high channel (e.g., 149+).
Fix 3: Secure Your Network & Kick Off Leeches (Free)
Unauthorized devices can drain your bandwidth.
Log into your router settings and check the list of connected devices. If you see unknown devices, change your Wi-Fi password immediately to a strong, unique one. This boots off any neighbors or passersby mooching your signal.
Fix 4: The $20 Hardware Fix: Upgrade Your Equipment
Your ISP’s free modem/router combo is usually outdated and low-quality.
Buy Your Own Modem & Router: Check your ISP’s approved device list, then purchase a separate modem and a Wi-Fi 6 router. This one-time investment (often $150-$200 total) pays for itself in a year by eliminating rental fees and provides a far more powerful, reliable signal.
At Minimum, Get an Ethernet Cable: For your most important device (PC, gaming console, smart TV), use a wired Ethernet connection. A $10 Cat6 cable guarantees full speed and eliminates Wi-Fi interference and latency.
Fix 5: Tame Bandwidth-Hungry Apps & Devices
Background tasks are constant speed thieves.
On Your Computer: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and sort by “Network” to see which apps are using bandwidth in the background. Close or pause cloud backup services (OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive), torrent clients, and automatic updates during important tasks.
On Your Router: Enable Quality of Service (QoS). This feature lets you prioritize traffic. Tell your router to give video calls or gaming priority over other downloads.
Fix 6: Change Your DNS Server (5-Minute Speed Boost)
Your Internet Service Provider’s default DNS can be slow.
Manually switch to a faster public DNS. In your device’s network settings, change the DNS to:
Cloudflare:
1.1.1.1and1.0.0.1Google:
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4
This can make websites feel like they load faster by improving the “lookup” time.
Fix 7: Scan for Malware & Update Drivers
Malicious software can hijack your connection.
Run a scan with Malwarebytes or your preferred antivirus.
Update your network adapter drivers (especially on Windows PCs). Go to your PC manufacturer’s or motherboard maker’s website to download the latest drivers for your specific model.
When to Call Your ISP (The Last Resort)
If you’ve tried all the above and speeds are still far below what you’re paying for:
Run a wired speed test directly from your modem (bypassing your router).
If the wired speed is still slow, call your ISP. You may have a line issue, signal degradation, or a faulty modem that they need to fix—often for free.
The Bottom Line: Think of your internet plan as water pressure from the street. These fixes unclog the pipes inside your house. Start with a reboot and a router move—it’s free. Then wire what you can, secure your network, and tweak your DNS. You’ll be shocked how much performance was trapped inside your own four walls.