When the internet is slow, there are many reasons that can affect the performance of our connection. The internet has become an essential service, as it is now the main tool for communicating with government agencies, accessing our bank accounts, studying, and, in more specific cases, working remotely.
Although in that last case, it can't be considered a basic necessity but rather another work tool. If our internet connection is slow, the first thing we should do is find out what the causes are , causes that aren't necessarily related to our installation or devices.
What is the speed of our connection
The first thing we need to know before we start looking for solutions to a problem that's likely unrelated to our device is our internet connection speed . Phone companies offer various websites to measure speed, but the best one is the one provided by Netflix.
Netflix offers the website fast.com , which allows you to quickly check both your upload and download speeds in just a few seconds. If you have a computer, it's recommended to run this speed test by connecting an Ethernet cable to your device.
If not, and your router supports 5 GHz networks, you should connect to this Wi-Fi network and get as close to the router as possible . This type of connection offers faster speeds compared to 2,4 GHz networks; however, the range is shorter.
If the connection speed is high (it will never exactly match the speed offered by the operator), for example from 50 Mbps (not to be confused with MB) regardless of the speed we have contracted, we can rule out that our internet connection is the problem, so we must look for the reason with other methods.
If your connection speed is shown in Kbps (1000 Kbps is 1 Mbps) or is 1 or 2 Mbps, you clearly have a connection problem ; it's likely your internet service provider (ISP) isn't delivering the speed you're paying for. The only thing you can do is contact your ISP and report the problem so they can fix it or offer a solution over the phone.
2,4 GHz vs 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection
When Wi-Fi networks first became available to everyone, internet service providers (ISPs) only supplied routers compatible with 2,4 GHz networks . As these connections have evolved over the years, ISPs have improved their offerings and now provide routers compatible with both 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz networks.
2,4 GHz networks offer lower connection speeds compared to 5 GHz networks , which can offer speeds up to ten times faster.
Another difference is range. While 2,4 GHz networks have a much greater range , 5 GHz networks, focusing on speed, offer a much shorter range. Because each network type offers different capabilities, modern routers typically support both, as they complement each other.
To identify which one you are using, remember that 5 GHz networks include the term 5G at the end of the Wi-Fi network name , while 2,4 GHz networks do not add any additional term.
Coverage issues
At the top of our mobile device, an inverted triangle with a series of lines indicates the Wi-Fi coverage. If some lines are missing, the reason the internet is slow is that we are far from the router and the signal is weak.
If you're using mobile data, check the signal bars and the numbers displayed next to them. If bars are missing and 4G or 5G isn't shown, you need to move to a different location to improve speed.
Keep in mind that coverage, both mobile and Wi-Fi, can be affected by appliances, walls and barriers ; therefore, moving a few meters can quickly solve the problem.
We have run out of mobile data
If you have a prepaid plan, you have a limited amount of data per month. Once you've used it up, the carrier will reduce your connection speed to a minimum , barely allowing text messaging and making it difficult to send photos, videos, or audio files.
To check your usage, the best option is to use your mobile operator's app or, failing that, contact customer service.
Guilt, Netflix
Video streaming platforms require high speeds and, as a rule, consume most of your bandwidth when in use . If someone in your home is watching a show and your connection isn't hundreds of Mbps, that's very likely the reason for the slow streaming.
The server we connect to is slow
Sometimes the problem isn't our connection, but the loading speed of certain web pages . If a specific website loads very slowly, the problem likely lies with the server hosting it.
This often happens on less popular websites, sites of dubious reputation, or when the server is experiencing a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack that crashes its operation. In these cases, the problem isn't with our connection.
We have intruders in our connection
If we don't have a secure password, it's possible that a neighbor is using our connection to consume content , especially streaming, which consumes a large part of the bandwidth.
To check if someone is stealing our signal , we can access the router from a computer or mobile device. The login address and default password are located on the bottom of the router.
Once inside, you'll see a list of all connected devices . If you recognize any unknown devices, you can add them to the blacklist, although it's best to change your router's password immediately.
Lack of space on our device
Lack of storage space on your mobile phone or computer affects the overall performance of the device , including the speed of your internet connection.
If the available storage space is below the minimum (less than 1 GB on mobile devices and less than 50 GB on computers) , you need to clean up your device. While deleting large files is easy on a PC, it's more complex on a mobile device.
To fix this quickly, we recommend the Google Files app, which will analyze your device and prompt you to delete unused content and apps you haven't opened in a while.
VPNs reduce connection speed
VPNs (virtual private networks) allow us to browse anonymously , hiding our history from the operator, but they usually reduce browsing speed.
This happens because the device encrypts the entire connection to the VPN servers, and it is this service that guides us to connect to websites . Therefore, the actual speed will never be the same as the speed you are paying for with your ISP.
If the VPN provider does not offer a high-speed infrastructure , browsing will be significantly affected, which is a key reason why the internet is slow.
