How to Improve Your Wi-Fi Speed: 12 Proven Fixes

Start with a baseline

Before changing anything, run a speed test on a device plugged directly into your router with an Ethernet cable. That tells you the maximum your line can deliver. Then test over Wi-Fi in each room. The gap between the two is what you are trying to close.

Placement and environment

1. 1Move the router to a central, elevated, open location — not inside a cabinet or behind a TV.
2. 2Keep it away from microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors and thick masonry walls.
3. 3Point antennas vertically for single-floor coverage, or split them for multi-floor homes.
4. 4Reduce the distance and number of walls between you and the router where possible.

Bands and channels

• Use the 5 GHz band for nearby devices — it is much faster than 2.4 GHz.
• Keep 2.4 GHz for distant devices and smart-home gear that need range over speed.
• If you have a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router, the 6 GHz band is the least congested.
• Switch your 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6 or 11 to avoid overlap with neighbours.

Hardware upgrades that actually help

If your router is more than four or five years old, it likely predates Wi-Fi 6 and struggles with modern device counts. A current router or a mesh system (for larger homes) is usually the single biggest improvement. Mesh beats a single powerful router when you need coverage across floors or a large footprint.

Reduce congestion and interference

• Disconnect devices you are not using — each one competes for airtime.
• Enable Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritise video calls and gaming.
• Turn on band steering so devices pick the best band automatically.
• Set up a separate network for bandwidth-hungry guests or IoT devices.

When to call your ISP

If a wired test is well below the speed you pay for, the problem is upstream — your modem, line or ISP — not your Wi-Fi. Run a few tests at different times of day to rule out congestion, then contact your provider with the results.