Here Are Four Expert Tips to Boosting Your Internet Speeds At Home

Yahoo

13-04-2025

There's nothing worse than dealing with slow internet: the buffering, the out-of-sync video meeting, or a laggy video game. Your next thought might be to switch internet providers" target="_self, upgrade your plan upgrade your equipment" target="_self, there may be other options that could be less costly in the long run.
Even if you don't know much about your router's settings or the best way to change them" target="_self, you can still take some easy steps to ensure your speeds are as fast as possible. Let's walk through them and see if we can't speed things up for you. (To learn more about how to improve your home internet, check out our top picks of the best ISPs" target="_self, mesh routers" target="_self and Wi-Fi extenders" target="_self you can buy.)
Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2025
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If you're going to make changes to your home network, you'll want to do so from an informed position. The best way to get there is to run some speed tests" target="_self to get a good sense of any weak links in your Wi-Fi connection -- and there are plenty of free services on the web that'll help you do just that.
Among your options, the Ookla Speedtest is the most widely used and the one I'd recommend. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) It features an abundance of worldwide servers, which lets you choose from several nearby options to measure the speed of your connection. And, like most speed tests, it's also easy to use -- click the big "go" button and wait about a minute.
From there, you'll see the current upload and download speeds" target="_self for whatever device you're running the speed test on, plus the ping, which is a latency measurement of how long it takes data to travel back and forth to the server you're testing with.
Start by focusing on the download and upload speeds. Run a couple of tests at a time in various spots throughout your home where you'll be working and ballpark the average to get a sense of how your speeds hold up. If you're seeing speeds in a room that are less than half of what you see when you're connecting at close range, that might be a spot where you could improve things.
As for the latency, you shouldn't need to worry much about it unless you're an avid gamer, you've got a lot of devices running on your network, or you're sharing bandwidth with family members or roommates. In that case, run some tests while your roommate is on a FaceTime call or while your kids are playing Fortnite" target="_self -- that'll give you a good sense of how their activity might be affecting your speeds. If that ping number seems to be jumping, there are some basic steps you can take" target="_self, but the best thing to do (if you can) is to separate that side traffic from your own. More on that in just a bit.
If you can work near your router, then a wired Ethernet connection to your computer is the best way to ensure you're getting the fastest speeds. CNET's own Hallie Seltzer put this to the test by conducting speed tests for over Wi-Fi and Ethernet connection at home" target="_self. But if a wired Ethernet connection isn't an option, you might have to work in a room where the Wi-Fi signal isn't as strong as you need. That happens when you're too far from the router or because there are too many walls or obstructions separating you from it. If you're unable to move your entire workspace, try placing your router in a central location. Here's what two technicians have to say about router placement and why it matters.
Before you buy anything, the first thing you'll want to try doing is repositioning your router to strengthen the connection. For the best results, you'll want to keep it out in the open -- ideally as high up as possible. If you can reposition the antennas, try experimenting with that, too. Staggering them at different angles might be all it takes to boost your speeds. If the router is downstairs and you're trying to boost the signal upstairs, try moving one or more antennas to a horizontal position. Antennas like those tend to put out their Wi-Fi signal at a perpendicular angle, so a horizontal antenna will put out a vertically oriented signal that might be more likely to make it upstairs.
There's one last thing to check before you buy anything, and that's your router's channel. The 2.4 and 5GHz frequency bands your router uses to send signals are each divided into multiple channels, just like the TV channels you can pick up with an antenna. Your router uses a single channel at a time, and if you're using the same one as a neighbor, for instance, then that interference might slow your connection.
To change that channel, navigate to your router's settings on your computer. The best options are channels 1, 6 and 11, which don't overlap, but your router might also have an "auto" setting that can determine the best channel for your situation.
If none of that works, it might be time for a hardware upgrade. A good place to start would be to invest in plug-in range extenders" target="_self and you've got plenty of options that won't break your wallet. Your best bet is to pick one made by the same company that makes your router. It doesn't need to be blazing fast -- most of them aren't -- but as long as it can keep your speeds above 50Mbps or so, you should be able to use the web like normal, including video calls.
Best Wi-Fi Extenders of 2025
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That's the standard I used when I tested out a handful of plug-in range extenders at my home and the much larger CNET Smart Home, where speeds are capped at 150Mbps. With just a single router running the connection, speeds in distant rooms fell well below that 50Mbps threshold -- but with a good range extender boosting the connection, average speeds throughout the home were significantly improved.
The one that performed the best was the TP-Link RE605X, with sustained download speeds of at least 130Mbps to Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6" target="_self client devices throughout the entire place. Available now, it's my top recommendation in the category. For something even cheaper, consider the . It doesn't support Wi-Fi 6, but it performed well in my small home tests and is typically available for less than $20. Note: There could be a potential ban on TP-Link routers as it's currently under investigation by the US government due to security concerns. CNET recommends the . It's slightly on the pricier side, but it delivers the speed boosts you need.
Another option would be to upgrade your router altogether. As a rule of thumb, you should replace your router every five years, even if it's still in good condition. If it's the range you're concerned with, you'll want to move multipoint mesh routers" target="_self with range-extending satellite devices right to the top of your list. Again, you've got many options to choose from -- and we've tested and reviewed several of the latest systems" target="_self to hit the market.
So, let's go back to that scenario where your kids are home from school streaming Disney Plus" target="_self and playing Fortnite" target="_self while you're trying to work. There are a couple of things you might be able to do to keep their internet traffic from affecting yours.
The first, and easiest, is to make sure that you're using different frequency bands. Most routers operate both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands, and many will split those bands into two separate networks that you can connect with. The 5GHz band is faster, while the 2.4GHz band offers better range. Dedicating one of those two bands to work-related traffic only will return a much better experience than sharing a band with your family or housemates.
Most routers can also create an optional guest network, sometimes with max speed settings that can help keep your kids from using too much bandwidth. Some will even let you schedule the network if you want to cut them off entirely at certain hours. Similarly, your router might be able to schedule access for specific devices or a group of devices.
Boosting your Wi-Fi speeds doesn't have to be complicated. These four steps can be done easily in the comfort of your own home. If you don't see any speed improvements after all this, it might be worth considering contacting your ISP for a consultation to replace any faulty equipment.
There are many internet speed tests online, all of which offer unique features. Ookla is CNET's top pick for its consistency, accuracy, and ability to show your speed test history. We also use Ookla to test all our routers. If your household uses a lot of streaming devices, then Fast.com might be the best option since its program is built to measure whether your internet connection is strong enough to stream Netflix.
If you can't get a Wi-Fi extender from your ISP, you can head to our top picks for the best available Wi-Fi extenders. Our top pick is the Linksys RE7310 (valued at $90), which can support the latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds and features. When we tested the extender, it delivered an average of 150Mbps in download throughout the home and 124Mbps in uploads. It's right there with the TP-Link RE605X, it delivers solid speeds for your home.
Many factors could contribute to slow internet speeds. However, issues with your equipment are typically the most common factor. Your modem or router could be outdated or malfunctioning. Some simple, quick fixes -- including restarting your modem or router -- wouldn't require you to pay to upgrade your equipment. Other factors contributing to slow speeds include bad weather, network congestion or your provider's outage.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, the benchmark for broadband is 100 megabits per second and 20Mbps in uploads. Over at OpenVault, their latest report highlights that the average household in the US uses 567Mbps downstream and 31Mbps upstream. Many fiber ISPs like Ziply Fiber and AT&T Fiber offer blazing multi-gigabit speed tiers, but for most households, 100 to 500Mbps in downloads should be enough.