7 Mistakes You’re Making That Slow Down Your Wi-Fi and How To Fix Them

Are you constantly struggling with buffering, lag, and weird distortions in your Zoom calls? If so, there may be things you’re doing wrong that are slowing your Wi-Fi connections to slow-as-snail speeds. Yeah, we said it.

But don’t fret. The good news is your Wi-Fi will see sunny days once again. We go over seven possible mistakes and how you can banish those dreadful Wi-Fi speed woes with quick and easy fixes.

Having loose connections is like using old-as-dirt gas in your car—it tries to go, but it just can’t. Maybe you connected that new modem in haste and didn’t screw on the coaxial cable tight enough. There’s probably no solid connection if that’s the case, so your wired and Wi-Fi speeds are spotty.

How to fix it

Here’s what you should do based on the internet type:

• Cable internet: The coax cable needs to be tight on the connector—use pliers if you must.
• DSL internet: Make sure the telephone cable clicks into the modem’s RJ11 DSL port.
• Fiber internet: Verify that the S/PDIF module clicks into place and fits snugly in the optical network terminal’s S/PDIF port.
• All internet connections with a standalone router: Make sure the Ethernet cable connecting your modem or fiber ONT to a standalone router snaps into the Ethernet port. If the locking clip is broken and the connector moves just a hair in the port, you need to swap it out for a new one.

Mistake #2: Your router or gateway is in a bad spot

Standalone routers and all-in-one gateways do a good job blasting Wi-Fi throughout your home based on our tests. Heck, we’ve seen them stored in closets and still pump out good Wi-Fi (believe it or not).

But there may be cases where these devices have trouble sending signals into places where you need them the most. Super thick walls made of brick and stone will thwart your superfast speeds like a bullet bouncing off Superman’s chest.

How to fix it

Moving a standalone router or gateway isn’t like shifting a house plant from one room to another. Both devices are tethered to the internet connection coming into your home, so your options are limited. Here’s what we suggest:

• Call your internet provider to see what it can do for you
• Wire your home with Ethernet
• Invest in a mesh networking system

Be sure to check out our guide on how to move your router to another room for more information.

Mistake #3: Your router antennas aren’t aligned correctly

Router antennas broadcast Wi-Fi perpendicular to their position. In other words, if they’re positioned vertically, then they broadcast in all directions horizontally.

So, if you have all antennas positioned vertically, the resulting Wi-Fi shape is an elongated oval, providing the best long range. But if they’re pointing in all kinds of wacky directions, we’re positive you’re not getting the coverage where you need it the most.

How to fix it

If you have a single-story home and need Wi-Fi in every room, make sure all antennas are upright. If you have a multi-story home and need Wi-Fi in a bedroom upstairs, at least half of your antennas should be horizontal(ish). However, you get less long range because now you’re making more of a perfect sphere than an elongated oval.

Mistake #4: You’re using a crowded channel group

We say channel group because routers, gateways, and Wi-Fi devices haven’t used a single channel in years. They use groups of channels bonded together to make one. Unfortunately, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are more crowded than Disney World on a summer day, making your channel choices slim. You’re probably using the same channels hogged by your neighbors, slowing your Wi-Fi speeds to a hair-pulling crawl.

How to fix it

Routers, gateways, and some mesh systems give you the ability to change channels, but the problem is they only list the single ones, not the bonded ones. So, while you may choose channel 36 thinking you’ll improve your speed, your neighbor may be using channel 40. Both are used in the same bonded channel group.

To see what you can do to bypass neighboring Wi-Fi networks, consult our guide on how to find the best Wi-Fi channels for your router.

Mistake #5: You’re connected to the wrong band

Modern routers, gateways, and mesh systems have at least two Wi-Fi connections you can use: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 add the third 6 GHz connection. So, if you’re having speed issues, it’s quite possible your device is using the 2.4 GHz band, which is the slowest (and most crowded) of the three.

How to fix it

If your router, gateway, or mesh system has band steering (or smart connect) turned on, it’s probably forcing your device to use the 2.4 GHz connection. You may be able to disable band steering, but you’ll also need to create two separate Wi-Fi networks if you do so.

What if you can’t (or don’t want to) disable band steering? Another option is to go into your router, gateway, or mesh system, select the device with the Wi-Fi speed woes, and manually set the preferred connection, like 5 GHz or 6 GHz.

Mistake #6: You’re using old equipment that can’t handle your Wi-Fi use

You probably need an upgrade if you’re using older equipment, like a Wi-Fi 5 router or a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem. Home networking technology and standards change pretty frequently, and newer modems and routers are faster, have better range, and run more efficiently.

How to fix it

Getting a new router, gateway, or mesh system can be inexpensive and will future-proof your network for years to come. The newest Wi-Fi standard for home networking is Wi-Fi 7. It handles interference better than the previous standards, giving you a bit more speed on Wi-Fi 6E and older devices. It includes the new 6 GHz connection, too, providing you with a whole new Wi-Fi frontier to fill.

We have loads of guides on what router you should get, so give them a gander. What’s your poison? Long-range? Gaming? Budget-friendly? We have it all.

Mistake #7: You limited the bandwidth

This mistake is probably the least common of the ones we list here, and could happen if your router, gateway, or mesh system uses profiles. You normally assign devices to the profiles you create, so if you accidentally assigned your gaming rig to a child’s profile, it may be slowed due to speed restrictions.

How to fix it

Go into your router, gateway, or mesh system’s app and locate the device(s) experiencing speed woes and make sure they’re assigned to the proper profile.

You may also want to make sure the setup process didn’t automatically set bandwidth restrictions based on your internet connection. Did you manually set the QoS to allocate more bandwidth to specific applications than others? You might want to check on that, too.