Suppose you are in an important meeting and suddenly you lose the connection, or you are streaming a game and the ping is quite high; it’s frustrating. We all face these types of issues in our daily lives. There are numerous network errors like these, which can be frustrating. Therefore, if you are curious to know how to boost internet speed on Netgear router, then this article will be beneficial to you. Moreover, it will give you actionable solutions that you can implement at your end.
In this blog, you will learn the reasons why the internet is sluggish and discover 10 different tips to boost your Netgear slow wifi speed.
Why is the Netgear router wifi speed slow?
Before you proceed further, let’s first discuss why the internet is slow. Reasons can be: the device is at a distance from the router, outdated firmware, multiple device connections, incompatible frequency band, etc. Additionally, let’s consider generalized solutions. By following these tips, you can troubleshoot and even improve Netgear slow wifi speed.
How to boost internet speed on Netgear router?
Boosting your router’s network is helpful whether you are browsing, gaming, binge-watching something, or connected to loved ones. Therefore, there are many ways to boost the network and to increase the speed. Also, it is recommended that you follow the steps if you really want to get things done smoothly without disruption.
First, check the signal strength of your Netgear router network by using an appropriate tester; however, the Nighthawk App by Netgear is recommended. Once you identify that the connection is slow, then let’s figure it out. Subsequently, follow the tips below.
10 Simple Tips: “How to boost internet speed on Netgear router?”
In this section, you will go through the 10 tips “how to boost internet speed”; be assured, if you don’t want a tech visit, you will get the boosted network by opting for these tips.
1. Rebooting The Netgear Router
Restarting your router is the very first step you can take to boost your internet speed. If the router is facing any error / temporary glitch, this could be the reason for a laggy connection. By doing so, the router sets up a fresh connection with the ISP server, and if there are any temporary bugs, they will be fixed automatically.
To reboot the router, unplug it and wait for 1-2 minutes so that cached data gets erased. Next, plug it in, and this is how to boost your internet speed.
Note: By rebooting, all the connected devices get a good internet connection, except for one device, which is connected to the same network. The next step is to check for any background tasks going on that device, and then end them.
2. Cable Management
First, check that the cables are connected properly, and reconnect the cables if you find any loose connections. Check for damaged and torn cables; if you find any, then replace these cables immediately.
Additionally, did you know the length of cable can sometimes be an issue? This may seem like something some of you may have wondered, but yes, it’s a fact. An Ethernet cable transfers data packets more quickly than a wireless connection. By shortening the length of the Ethernet cable, you will get a boost in speed instead of using a long Ethernet cable.
The build quality of the Ethernet cable also affects the speed of the internet. Therefore, to tackle it, you can use a higher-quality brand cable. That’s how to boost internet speed on pc /mobile, too.
3. Distancing Between Router & Devices
In the context of “How To Boost Internet Speed,” The Netgear router acts as the main transmitter at your place to connect you to the internet. However, what if you are out of its coverage range? Routers can emit the signal only up to a particular range. The area of network range varies as per models; however, the standard wifi router range can vary between 150 and 300 feet.
Thus, whenever you face slow internet, also check that your device is in the range of the router. If you want a good, stable connection, always operate devices near the router.
Note: Try to minimize the distance between the device and the router.
4. Browser Cookies and Caching
Clearing the cached data of the browser results in a boosted internet speed. Heavily cached data in the browser leads to not loading, slow loading, or partial loading. The cache of the browser is responsible for storing copies of website files to speed up future visits.
Heavily cached data could be one of the reasons for the slow internet issue. Thus, to boost the internet speed, you have to clear the cache and cookies of the browser.
Note: Use an updated version of the browser. However, if you need any help with another browser, contact us!
5. Prevent Bandwidth Hogging
The bandwidth hogging comes up when any of the connected devices is using excessive network resources. This can cause network congestion and result in Netgear router slow wifi speed and poor internet speed on the connected devices.
Common causes of Neatgear router bandwidth hogging are:
- Large downloads & uploads.
- Too many devices are connected.
- HD - Streaming.
- Heavy program running in the background.
- Heavy program running in the background.
- Malware affected the software.
Bandwidth hogging is one of the main factors for the Netgear router slow wifi speed. The main points to tackle with ” How to Boost Internet Speed” are:
- Download and upload the large-size files when other devices are not accessing the heavy internet, or you’re not doing any priority task on any other device.
- The router prioritizes bandwidth based on each device’s usage when multiple devices are connected. Therefore, to get a fast internet speed, you can reduce the number of devices connected to the Netgear router.
- End the background running tasks that are using excessive network resources by using the task manager. On mobile, simply clear the background running apps.
- Scan the connected devices with an antivirus. If it detects malware on your device, it will communicate with the attacker’s server and gain access to your device illegitimately.
As a result, managing the bandwidth hogging helps you to get rid of the Netgear slow wifi speed issues.
6. Choose the Right Frequency Band
Netgear routers come up with dual frequency bands; most of the models support the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. The 2.4 GHz band provides high bandwidth and low frequency, and the 5 GHz band provides higher frequency and lower bandwidth. Meaning, the 2.4 GHz frequency band has a greater coverage range and low internet speed, while 5 GHz has greater signal strength and provides faster internet, but coverage range is less.
So, in case you are dealing with an important task on your pc, just change the frequency band. This is how to boost internet speed on pc.
7. Firmware Update
Firmware is like the operating system of the Neatgear router; the firmware file is a set of instructions for the router that let it know how to work. It is crucial to update the firmware file so as to improve the overall network performance. You must update the latest version of firmware from the administrative dashboard of the Netgear router.
However, if you need human assistance to update firmware, reach out to us!
8. Use Netgear Wi-Fi Extender
If your place has “dead zones” where the network of the router is unreachable or minimal, you can go with extenders to improve the internet coverage. An extender is a solution to eliminate these dead spots and also acts as a network booster.
Extenders are connected to the main node (router) and repeat the signal to extend the range. If you can’t move closer to the router, a Wi-Fi extender is the best choice to boost the internet.
9. Remove Physical Obstruction
Removing the physical obstructions that are near the Netgear router helps boost the internet speed. The router emits the radio waves. Common household objects, metal items, and electronic devices can obstruct the radio waves emitted by the router.
Thick walls and metal objects act as a hurdle to the router’s wifi, and devices like a microwave, Bluetooth devices can cause interference. All these factors affect the speed of the internet. To boost the speed, always position your router in the most central and open area of your place.
10. Resetting The Netgear Router
If you are done with the above steps and still are not getting a good internet speed, you can reset the router. By resetting to factory settings, temporary bugs will be fixed automatically.
To reset the Netgear router, first, locate the reset button, which is usually at the back of the router. Next, get the thin pin and press it for 30 seconds and release it. Now, check for the LED status, and reconfigure your router from scratch. That’s how to boost your internet speed.
Wrap Up
In essence, sluggish internet connections can be frustrating, and learning how to boost internet speed on Netgear router can help you tackle this. By taking the appropriate steps mentioned above, whether it is rebooting the router, clearing the cache, changing the cable, or updating the firmware, you can boost the internet speed.