I know it is muy doloroso (a big pain) when you try to watch your favorite NFL team, movie, or even play your favorite shooter game, and all you can see is an error that says server disconnected, or a circle that keeps revolving into eternity. It is frustrating, and we all hate that. But you can definitely fix that. How?
There are proven ways that can help you fix your struggling internet connection, and I will make them simple for you to follow. If that sounds good to you, let’s hop right into it.
Relocate Your Router
This is the simplest yet most effective hack when you need to speed up your internet.
How does it work? I will explain.
Okay, so your WiFi router uses wireless signals to transmit the data to your devices. Those signals, although efficient, are highly prone to external factors like electrical appliances around your home. What happens is that when you turn on your appliances, they create a magnetic field around themselves, and those magnetic fields might interfere with the wireless signals of your router.
When your router’s signals get interrupted, you feel that your internet is going slow.
To avoid all of that from happening, it is advised to place your router in a sweet spot. “¿Cuál es ese punto dulce?”, you might wonder. Well, any place where your router’s signal can avoid the magnetic field. Ideally, it becomes a central spot that is raised a bit above the rest of the space around it.
That way, the router will be able to distribute the signals evenly to every corner of your home.
Change Your WiFi Password
The next step that you can take to increase your WiFi speed is to change your password.
We often get sufficient internet speed, but sometimes what happens is that your neighbor, who one day asked for your WiFi password for a very, very urgent piece of work, forgets to log off from using your WiFi network. They binge-watch Netflix which consumes your data while you keep calling your ISP to fix this issue.
You can ask these neighbors to ‘forget the network’ (which they might never do), OR better yet, change your WiFi password. To change your WiFi password:
- Log in to the portal of your router
- Go to the security sub settings
- You will see your password in asterisks
- Now, click on the button right below it to show your password
- Enter a new password, and hit ‘Apply’
I know you are finding this complicated, the way I did when I had to change my password. What I did was reach out to Optimum servicio al cliente en español (basically, my internet provider). They helped me go through each step in the simplest way possible. After that, I found my internet speeding up, knowing the bandwidth wasn’t being throttled by anyone else’s devices.
Go Wired
This is another great hack to improve your WiFi speed, only if you use a laptop or a desktop computer.
Wireless signals will always be susceptible to external factors. What doesn’t get affected by external factors is an Ethernet cable. Plus, it gives you full bandwidth.
An Ethernet cable is a cable that comes directly from your ISP. It is usually attached to the back of your router, and it might be shorter in length. Ask your ISP for a longer cable instead, and then insert that cable into your computer, and you will be good to go.
Disconnect Unused Devices
There might be more devices than you know hogging your WiFi; deberías desconectarlos (you need to disconnect them).
What happens is that when devices are connected to your WiFi, they make the space for themselves, which in simple words means less WiFi, and its speed for the active devices you are using.
Although changing your password will disconnect all of the unused devices, you might still want to keep a check on the unused devices, like your smart TV, a refrigerator, or anything else from the world of IoT.
So, yeah, if you are gaming or want to watch your favorite movie in 4K, disconnect the idle-sitting devices.
Talk to an Expert
Last but not least, it is always better to talk to an expert.
You might first want to try the fixes I have mentioned. If nothing works, then it is the moment you need to give up and talk to an expert. It can be a friend, or better than most, your internet service provider.
It might be underestimated, but they can actually help you fix the problem once and for all.
The bottom line is to try yourself first, and if nothing works, talk to an expert.
A slow internet connection doesn’t just disrupt entertainment — it can also affect online learning. If you’re preparing for IELTS, strong internet is essential for practice and study. While you’re fixing your WiFi issues, check out our IELTS Vocabulary on Internet to learn useful words and phrases that will boost your Speaking and Writing scores.
