The kettle's boiled.
You settle in with a brew and press play.
The subtitles are flying. The picture... not so much.
Whatever finally tipped you over the edge, you're here because your internet's slow.
Before you start shopping around for a new broadband deal or spending an afternoon rebooting everything with a plug, it's worth knowing that plenty of slow internet problems start much closer to home.
Better still, many of them take just a few minutes to fix.
It could be a weak Wi-Fi signal. It could be a router that's seen better days.
Either way, we'll help you get to the bottom of it.
Slow Internet Signs
Slow internet has a wicked way of turning ordinary tasks into surprisingly long ones.
Your phone's connected to Wi-Fi but Instagram won't load.
Your laptop says you've got a full signal yet every website's taking an age.
If you've found yourself muttering, "Come on..." more than once today, there's a good chance your internet's running slower than it should.
Tell-tale signs of slow internet include:
- Videos buffering halfway through.
- Pages loading painfully slowly.
- Frozen video calls.
- Laggy gaming.
- Downloads that barely move.
- Random Wi-Fi dropouts.
- Devices disconnecting for no obvious reason.
Why is My Internet So Slow?
If we had a pound for every time someone asked that, we'd have... well, quite a few pounds.
The frustrating part is that slow internet doesn't have one obvious cause.
It could be your Wi-Fi. It could be a device using more of your connection than you realised. It could even be something as simple as a router that needs a quick restart.
These are the checks we'd work through before blaming your broadband provider.
How To Fix Slow Internet
1. Restart Your Router
Let's get the obvious one out of the way first.
Turning your router off and on again has become a bit of a cliché but clichés don't stick around for no reason.
Like any bit of tech, routers can have the occasional off day. A restart clears temporary hiccups and gives your connection a chance to start fresh.
Switch your router off, leave it for around 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Give it a few minutes to reconnect before testing your internet again.
If things are back to normal, happy days. If not, keep going.
2. Run a Broadband Speed Test
Sometimes your internet feels slow. Sometimes it really is.
A broadband speed test tells you whether you're getting the speeds you'd expect from your package.
Run it a couple of times throughout the day, as speeds can change depending on how busy the network is.
If you're getting close to the speeds you're paying for, the issue may be your Wi-Fi rather than your broadband connection.
If the results are much lower than expected, you've got something useful to refer to if you end up speaking to your provider.
3. Check Whether It's Just One Device
Before you blame your broadband, make sure it's not your laptop, phone or tablet causing the problem.
Try opening the same website or streaming the same video on another device connected to your Wi-Fi.
If one device is struggling while everything else works perfectly, you've already narrowed things down.
A quick restart, software update or closing a few hungry apps might be all it needs.
4. Move Closer to Your Router
Ever notice how everything works perfectly in one room, then slows to a crawl the moment you head upstairs?
That's usually a Wi-Fi problem rather than a broadband one.
If moving closer to the router suddenly speeds everything up, you've found a pretty big clue.
5. See What Everyone Else Is Doing
Your broadband connection is shared between every device in your home.
If someone's downloading a huge game update, backing up thousands of photos or streaming a film in 4K, there's less bandwidth available for everyone else.
You don't need to ban the family from using the internet, but it's worth checking whether a busy evening at home is what's slowing everything down.
6. Check for Broadband Outages
Sometimes the problem has nothing to do with your setup.
Broadband providers occasionally carry out maintenance, and unexpected faults can happen too.
Before you spend half an hour troubleshooting, have a look at your provider's service status page.
If there's an outage in your area, you'll save yourself a lot of head scratching.
7. Give Your Router a Better Home
Routers aren't particularly fussy, but they do have their preferences.
If yours is tucked away in a cupboard, hidden behind the TV or sat on the floor, your Wi-Fi signal could be struggling before it even reaches you.
8. Check for Background Downloads
Updates have a habit of picking the worst possible moment.
Your laptop could be downloading a new version of Windows. Your games console might be updating overnight. Your phone could be backing up years' worth of photos without you realising.
If your connection suddenly feels sluggish, it's worth checking whether another device is quietly using more bandwidth than expected.
9. Use an Ethernet Cable Where You Can
Wi-Fi is convenient.
A wired connection is usually faster and more reliable.
If you're working from home, gaming online or making regular video calls, plugging directly into your router with an Ethernet cable can make a noticeable difference.
10. Restart the Device That's Giving You Trouble
Sometimes your broadband gets the blame when your device simply needs a fresh start.
If it's only one laptop, phone or tablet that's running slowly, restart it before changing anything else.
It's a small step, but you'd be surprised how often it works.
11. Think About How Old Your Router Is
If your router has been faithfully blinking away for years, it might be struggling to keep up with today's homes.
If yours is showing its age, it could be worth asking your broadband provider whether you're due an upgrade.
12. Ask Yourself Whether Your Broadband Still Fits Your Home
Think about how your household has changed over the last few years.
Maybe you've added another TV.
A couple of games consoles.
Smart speakers.
Video doorbells.
Tablets.
Laptops.
All of those devices share the same broadband connection.
If your home is asking much more of your internet than it used to, it may be time to look at a faster package.
Still Got Slow Internet?
By now, you've hopefully got a much better idea of what's slowing your connection down.
If you've worked through all 12 checks and your internet's still slow, it's probably time to get your broadband provider involved.
They can test your line, check for faults and confirm whether the issue is inside or outside your home.
And if it turns out your household has simply outgrown its current broadband package, that isn't bad news. It just means your internet needs have changed, and your broadband should keep up with them.
Run a broadband speed test to see how your current connection stacks up.
If your household's asking more of the internet than it used to, upgrading to full fibre broadband could help keep everyone streaming, scrolling, gaming and working without getting in each other's way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my internet so slow all of a sudden?
If your internet has suddenly slowed down, it's often caused by something temporary.
Your router may need restarting, another device could be downloading updates in the background or there may be a fault affecting your broadband provider.
Working through the checks in this guide is the quickest way to narrow down the cause.
Why is my Wi-Fi slow but my broadband speed is fine?
This usually points to a Wi-Fi issue rather than a broadband problem.
Thick walls, the distance from your router or interference from other wireless devices can all weaken your signal, even if your broadband connection is performing as expected.
Why is my internet slower in the evening?
Evenings are when most households are online streaming, gaming, browsing and making video calls.
If several people are using the internet at the same time, or your local network is particularly busy, you may notice slower speeds.
Does restarting your router really make a difference?
It can. Restarting your router clears temporary issues and refreshes the connection between your home and your broadband provider.
It only takes a minute, which is why it's always one of the first things worth trying.
How often should I restart my router?
There's no need to restart it every day, but giving it a reboot every month or so can help keep things running smoothly.
If your internet suddenly starts playing up, it's always worth trying before moving on to more involved troubleshooting.
Why is my internet slow in one room?
If your internet works well in some parts of the house but not others, your Wi-Fi signal probably isn't reaching that room effectively.
Walls, floors and the position of your router can all affect wireless coverage.
Can too many devices slow down the internet?
Yes. Every phone, laptop, smart TV, games console and smart home device shares the same broadband connection.
If several are downloading, streaming or syncing files at once, your connection can start to feel slower.
How do I know if I need a new router?
If your router is several years old, struggles to provide reliable Wi-Fi or can't keep up with the speeds included in your broadband package, it could be worth upgrading.
Newer routers are built to handle more connected devices and support the latest Wi-Fi standards.
What's the difference between slow Wi-Fi and slow broadband?
You can have excellent broadband but poor Wi-Fi coverage, or the other way around. Knowing which one is causing the problem makes it much easier to fix.
When should I contact my broadband provider?
If you've restarted your router, tested your speeds, ruled out Wi-Fi issues and worked through the other checks in this guide, it's time to get in touch.
Your provider can investigate faults on your line, check for network issues and help you decide whether your current broadband package still meets your needs.
