We’ve rounded up 10 easy, cheap, and practical tips to get you a faster internet connection and stop waiting for Netflix to buffer.
1. Make your deadline
Data limit is one of the main causes of slow internet speed there. ISPs don’t advertise their data limits for obvious reasons, but they can mess up your connection.
The data cap means you can use any amount of data each month, from hundreds of megabytes to hundreds of gigabytes. If you exceed your data limit, your ISP will severely limit your Internet speed. And you will see.
If you don’t know if you have a data limit or not, check your bill. make sure you succeed, and it will be spelled out in the fine print. If you continue to exceed your data rips each month, share with your provider the internet plans with higher data rips.
Which ISPs have data caps and which don’t?
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Thinking of switching to a new Internet provider? data policy checks. We have a list of which ISPs offer unlimited data versus which ISPs cap your data each month.
2. Rest your router
Reboot your router every month or so to rest your device and refresh your internet connection. If you are experiencing serious upload and download speed issues, you may want to consider restarting your router daily.
If you have a separate modem from your router, reset the plays. Resetting the modem establishes your connection to your ISP, and that’s what turns it on and off again.
Don’t want to add another task to your to-do list? Easy, the outlet timer becomes just like the Century programmable timer. You can connect your modem and router to a timer that will turn the system on and off for you. Set a timer to reboot the system every night while you’re in bed. That way you can create a new internet sensation every morning.
Keep in mind that restarting your router and modem will not magically turn your connection into a cheetah. But it will help, and it’s a very embarrassing solution.
3. Change your position router
Quick: Is your router in remote corners of your house? If so, move it.
If the Wi-Fi signal from the router cannot reach you, the speed of your Internet connection will be affected. Position your router toward the center of your home, preferably on the floor where you spend the most time. If you are all the time you are in the living room on the first floor, the router instead is on the same floor.
4. Embrace Ethernet
Everyone uses Wi-Fi these days, which is great. The wireless connection is good and convenient, but not always fast. A wired connection, like Ethernet, will always be faster and more reliable than a wireless connection. The cable carries the signal directly to your connected devices instead of relying on transmission over the air.
If you can, connect your most important devices to the Internet via an Ethernet cable.
You can connect this device to ethernet:
TV
PlayStation, Xbox or other console games
laptop or desktop
Especially if you tend to watch data-heavy media like videos on TV, a cable connection is best.
Oh, and there’s a bonus: Ethernet auto-drying is preferable to Wi-Fi. If you want to keep your banking information confidential, Ethernet is a better way.
We highly recommend the ethernet cable for gaming.
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There is nothing worse than missing out on the mid boss fight. That’s why we recommend using an Ethernet cable if you’re gaming. And if you’re looking for a new ISP to support your gaming habits, we think these 10 ISPs are perfect for gaming.
5. Block those ads
Almost all content providers show ads. No matter where you are online, there are ads, images, GIFs, and videos that autoplay endlessly.
Even if you don’t see/see ads, the speed of your internet connection doesn’t matter. Advertising media slow down your Internet connection, so sometimes it’s better to just block it. Install an ad blocker plugin that will disable autoplay for data-heavy videos, giving you a break for your connection.
The ad blocker we recommend is the Adblock Plus plugin. It’s free and works in most web browsers. Some VPN games offer ad blockers, such as NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost.
6. Use a simplified browser
If you’re like us, you typically open dozens of tabs and windows in your browser. (Actually, you’ll be reading Buzzfeed’s list of We Know.) But any open media can cause slow internet connection speeds, so we recommend having a backup browser like Opera.
7. Install a virus and malware scanner
If you haven’t already, we highly recommend installing antivirus and malware scanner software. It’s probably obvious that any virus or malware lurking on your computer will seriously disrupt your internet speed. Plus, you should install protection software as a general rule.
Once you have some good software, set it up to scan for viruses and malware automatically on a regular basis. If the software finds an existing virus or malware (hence your slow internet speed), remove the virus or malware by a computer technician and return to browsing with ease.
8. Install the “clear cache” plugin
If you’ve never heard of “cache” in your internet browser, now is the time to find out what it is. When you visit a website and enter information, the browser collects a small amount of information about you, often in the form of a cookie. Marketers use your data to send you relevant ads for things you might want to buy based on your browsing behavior. If you have ever seen the same ad following you on the internet, then you are familiar with this concept.
To get rid of all those cookies and trackers, you have to clear the “cache” in your browser. You can do it manually, but it’s easier to install a plugin like Clear Cache for Chrome so you can do it in one click. Make it a habit to clear the cache every day so that all the collected data does not affect your internet speed.
9. Negotiate with your internet service provider
Even if there is only one ISP in your city, there may be multiple plans. If you don’t like your internet speed, your provider may offer a higher download and upload speed plan that will serve you better. Yes, we know it’s no fun paying more money every month, but if your internet is driving you crazy and there’s no better provider, it might be the best option you have.
Call your provider and ask about alternative plans, or do some research online to find out what other users are paying for similar plans. You may also be able to find offers online that the company won’t tell you over the phone.
Need a confidence boost before calling customer service?
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We support you. Try these three tips for calling your internet customer service. They will help you stay calm and maybe even give you an edge when it comes to negotiating.
10. Get a different internet provider
Sometimes your internet provider is the biggest problem. We admit these tips are not always easy or simple, but they are practical and may even be cheaper for you in the long run. If your internet provider will give you a slow internet connection no matter how many other tips you try, consider swapping.
Most regions only have a few Internet Service Providers (ISPs) available, so it should be a pretty quick check to see if other providers serving your area have better rates for faster internet speeds. You can skim through this roundup of the best ISPs and check out this month’s internet deals to see if alternative providers might give you a better price.
Switching providers should be a last resort, but if you’ve tried the other tips on our list and your speeds are still sluggish, it might be time to make a change. Especially if you use satellite internet and know that you can switch to cable or DSL. (DSL or cable will most likely give you faster speeds and more data than satellite internet.)
Check out our top recommended internet providers or use our zip finder below to see your picks in your area.