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Troubleshooting

How to Get Faster Internet Without Paying More

Before you call your ISP and upgrade, try these free fixes — most people get a significant speed boost without spending anything.

Updated 2026

  1. 1

    Move the router to a better spot

    The single biggest free upgrade: move the router to a central, elevated, open location. Off the floor, away from walls and microwaves. This alone can double WiFi speed in some rooms.

  2. 2

    Switch to the 5GHz band

    If your router is dual-band, connect to the 5GHz network. It's much faster than 2.4GHz for devices within range.

  3. 3

    Restart the router weekly

    Routers slow down over time as they accumulate stale connections. A weekly restart keeps them running at full speed.

  4. 4

    Change the WiFi channel

    Neighbours on the same channel slow everyone down. Log into your router admin panel and switch to a less congested channel — use a WiFi analyser app to find the quietest one.

  5. 5

    Use Ethernet for the devices that matter

    A cable from the router to your gaming console, PC or smart TV costs £5–10 and gives you full line speed with zero interference.

  6. 6

    Close background apps and pause downloads

    Cloud backups, OS updates and streaming all eat bandwidth. Pause them when you need speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does restarting the router really help?
Yes — routers are small computers that accumulate memory leaks and stale routing tables. A restart clears all of this and often gives an immediate speed improvement.
When should I actually upgrade my plan?
When wired speed tests consistently show less than your plan's advertised speed (after rebooting the router), or when the household genuinely needs more than the plan provides even with a direct connection.