The dependency on the internet has increased by leaps and bounds over the years. Coronavirus, alongside the consequent remote-work culture, has made this dependency even more severe. This is why it becomes intolerable for us when our internet becomes slow. Many try to investigate the reasons behind the low pace of their connection. If you are one of these people, this blog is ideal for you. We have listed down and given solutions for the most commonplace reasons for slow internet connection.

Too Many Devices

The amount of smart devices in people’s homes has increased tenfold over the past few years. Many of these smart devices make use of your home’s internet to function. Thus, they occupy a significant chunk of the bandwidth provided to you by your internet service provider (ISP). If your internet is slow, it might very well be worth it to recall if you have recently installed a Google Home or Alexa at your place. In the case that you did install one or multiple home automation devices, you have found the cause behind the slowness of your connection. Now you have to choose between a couple of options: 1) Remove those devices and stop using them. 2) Increase the speed of your internet. You can get high-speed internet at a reasonable price tag by availing Xfinity internet deals.

Smart home items aren’t the only devices taking up valuable bandwidth. Your internet speed might very well be low because of an increase in the number of mobile phones or laptops connected to your WiFi. 

Background Usage

Do you have too many apps running on your phone at the same time? Just because you are not currently using an app does not mean it is not taking up bandwidth. In fact, a lot of personal computer programs and cell phone apps take up high amounts of bandwidth. To prevent any wastage of bandwidth, make sure you shut down all apps that you are not currently using.

Poor Location

Another reason for slow internet connection is an unideal location. There are two types of WiFi: one’s distribution entirely depends on a router in one location of your building; the other uses multiple nodes to provide symmetrical coverage throughout the building. If you have the former type, how far you are from your router significantly impacts the quality of your internet. In the case that location is the cause behind your slow connection, you can move your computer closer to your router for now. However, for the long term, you should change your network connection to one that provides symmetrical coverage. 

Faulty Wiring

Just like issues can arise with your WiFi, issues can also arise with wired internet connections. A lack of quality of the wire linking your router to your personal computer can negatively impact your connection. If you are experiencing slow internet on a wired connection, try using a different wire. If you do not have an alternate wire, look for signs of wear and tear on the wire. If they are present, there is a high likelihood your wire is causing the malfunction. 

Virus

Another issue that could be impacting your connection is the presence of malware, such as viruses. At eachEvery second, viruses are being manufactured by nuisance makers to damage computers all around the world. These viruses impact the overall performance of your computer, including the speed at which you can use the internet. If you are experiencing slow internet and you see no issue with the availability of bandwidth, location of the WiFi router, or wiring, go ahead and utilize an antivirus scan. It is also a good idea to get antivirus software to prevent future malfunctions due to viruses. 

Low VPN Speed

Last but not least, a connection to a slow virtual private network (VPN) can also slow down your internet. If you have investigated all scenarios mentioned above and you still cannot diagnose why your internet is being slow, check if you are connected with a VPN. If you are, go ahead and connect yourself to a different one. Remember, paying for a good VPN is always cheaper than bearing the cost of inefficiency due to a low-quality free VPN. 

Conclusion

By this point, we hope you have diagnosed the cause of your slow internet and found a solution to it. If you haven’t, know that although the scenarios mentioned above are the most commonplace, the list is not exhaustive and there can many more reasons for the lack of speed of your internet. Calling your ISP might be a good idea as its customer service representatives might be able to guide you in an effective manner.

We wish you the best of luck with your internet and everything else in your life!