Is Your Internet Slow? Here's How to Test and Fix It

Your internet feels slow. Pages take forever to load. Videos buffer. Zoom calls freeze. You're not imagining it, and you don't need to call your internet provider just yet. Most of the time, slow internet has a simple fix you can do yourself in a few minutes.

Let's figure out what's going on and get you back to full speed.

Quick Fixes (Try These First)

Before we dig into the details, try these three things. They solve the problem about half the time.

1. Restart your router. Unplug the box that gives you Wi-Fi (it probably has blinking lights on it). Wait 30 seconds. Plug it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully start up. Then try your internet again.

2. Move closer to your router. If you're far away from it (or there are walls between you and the router), your signal might be weak. Try using the internet in the same room as the router and see if it's faster.

3. Close extra tabs and apps. If you have 30 browser tabs open, a video streaming in the background, and a big file downloading, your internet has to split its speed across all of those things. Close what you don't need.

If one of those fixed it, great. If not, keep reading.

Step 1: Test Your Internet Speed

Before you can fix slow internet, you need to know how slow it actually is. Here's how to check:

1. Open the app you use for the internet (Chrome, Safari, Edge, or whatever you normally use).
2. Go to speedtest.net and click the big "Go" button.
3. Wait about 30 seconds. It will show you two numbers.

The two numbers that matter:

• Download speed is how fast you can pull things from the internet (loading pages, watching videos, downloading files). This is the big one.
• Upload speed is how fast you can send things to the internet (video calls, uploading photos, sending large emails).

What's a good speed?

Here's a rough guide:

• Under 10 Mbps: This is slow. You'll notice problems with video streaming and video calls.
• 10 to 25 Mbps: Fine for one person browsing the web and streaming video.
• 25 to 100 Mbps: Good for a household with multiple devices.
• Over 100 Mbps: Fast. If your speed test shows this and things still feel slow, the problem is probably not your internet speed itself.

Write down your numbers. You'll want to compare them to what you're paying for. Your internet bill or your provider's website should tell you what speed you're supposed to get.

Step 2: Check If It's Your Wi-Fi or Your Internet

This is an important difference. Your internet comes into your home through a cable. Your Wi-Fi sends that internet around your home wirelessly. Sometimes the internet itself is fine, but the Wi-Fi signal is weak.

Here's how to tell:

1. If you have an ethernet cable (it looks like a wide phone cord), plug it directly from your router into your computer.
2. Run the speed test again.

If the speed is much faster with the cable plugged in, your internet is fine but your Wi-Fi signal is the problem. Skip to the "Fix Your Wi-Fi Signal" section below.

If the speed is still slow with the cable, the problem is your actual internet connection. Keep reading.

Step 3: Fix a Slow Internet Connection

If your speed test shows numbers much lower than what you're paying for, even with a cable plugged in, try these fixes in order:

Check for outages first

Go to your internet provider's website or app and look for outage information. You can also search "[your provider name] outage" on Google. If there's an outage in your area, there's nothing to fix on your end. It should come back on its own.

Restart your modem (not just your router)

You might have two boxes: a modem (connects to the wall) and a router (sends out Wi-Fi). Some people have a single box that does both. Either way, unplug everything, wait 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, wait two minutes, then plug the router in and wait another two minutes.

Check for devices using lots of bandwidth

Someone in your house might be downloading a large game, backing up to the cloud, or streaming in 4K on multiple TVs. All of that uses your internet speed. Pause any big downloads and see if things improve.

Check your plan

Log into your provider's website and check what speed plan you're on. If you're on a basic plan and you have six people in the house all using the internet at the same time, you might just need more speed. But try everything else first before upgrading your plan.

Step 4: Fix Your Wi-Fi Signal

If your internet speed is fine with a cable but slow on Wi-Fi, the issue is your wireless signal. Here's how to improve it:

Move your router to a better spot

Your router works best when it's:

• In the center of your home (not tucked in a corner)
• Out in the open (not inside a cabinet or behind the TV)
• Up high (on a shelf, not on the floor)
• Away from microwaves and baby monitors (these can interfere with Wi-Fi)

Switch to the 5 GHz network

Many routers broadcast two Wi-Fi networks. You might see your network name with "5G" or "5GHz" at the end. This one is faster but has a shorter range. If you're close to the router, connect to the 5 GHz network for better speed.

To switch, go to your device's Wi-Fi settings and look for your network name with 5G or 5GHz. The password is usually the same as your regular Wi-Fi.

Disconnect devices you're not using

Every device connected to your Wi-Fi shares the signal, even if you're not actively using them. Smart TVs, tablets, old phones, smart speakers, security cameras. If you have dozens of devices connected, it can slow things down. Disconnect the ones you're not using.

Consider a mesh Wi-Fi system

If your home is large or has thick walls, a single router might not cover the whole space. A mesh Wi-Fi system uses multiple small units placed around your home to spread the signal evenly. They cost between $100 and $300 and are usually much easier to set up than the old-style Wi-Fi extenders.

Step 5: If Nothing Works

If you've tried everything above and your internet is still slow:

1. Call your provider. Tell them your speed test results and what you've already tried. They can check the signal on their end and may need to send a technician.
2. Check your equipment age. If your router is more than 5 years old, it might not support current speeds. Your provider may send you a new one for free, or you can buy your own.
3. Ask about line quality. If you're on DSL or cable, the physical lines coming to your house can degrade over time. Your provider can test this remotely.

Still Stuck?

If you'd rather have someone walk you through this based on your exact setup — your specific router, your operating system, your provider — that's what ForgeWay does. You describe the problem, it asks about your devices, and it gives you step-by-step instructions tailored to your situation.

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