How to make your wifi faster
What actually slows wifi down (it's usually not your internet plan), and the changes that double speed in most homes.
Quinn Yoo
February 17, 2026
Move the router
Routers tucked in closets, on the floor, or at one end of the house broadcast unevenly. Center of the home, elevated, with line of sight = better coverage.
Materials matter: brick walls, large mirrors, and metal appliances eat signal. Fish tanks too.
Switch to 5GHz
Most routers broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. 5GHz is much faster but shorter range; 2.4GHz reaches further but is slower.
For laptops and phones in the same room, use the 5GHz network. Set its name as 'YourWifi-5G' to tell them apart.
Update firmware + restart
Log into the router (typically 192.168.1.1 or similar — check the sticker on the back). Run firmware updates if available.
Restart the router. Just like computers, routers benefit from a weekly reboot.
People also ask
Should I buy a mesh system?+
Worth it for 2,500+ sqft homes or homes with multiple floors. For apartments, a single good router is fine.
How fast is my internet supposed to be?+
Test on a wired computer (or phone right next to the router) at speedtest.net. Compare to your plan's promised speed. Usually you get 70–90%.
Why is wifi worse in winter?+
More devices indoors, more signals competing. Also, moisture levels affect propagation slightly. Mostly the device count.