When you sign up for Internet service, you expect it to be speedy, not slow and sluggish. But sometimes, you might find that your stream has to buffer, your downloads take forever, or your Internet connection fizzles out. What gives?

Truth be told, there could be several reasons why your Internet is slow – but there are also plenty of ways to fix slow Internet. Let’s take a closer look.

 

Common Causes of Slow Internet

It’s normal for Internet speed to fluctuate a little bit. But truly slow Internet, characterized by lag or latency, inability to download files or stream media, and other issues, could be due to a few different root causes.

It’s Your ISP

For example, your ISP or Internet service provider might be the culprit. Your ISP is responsible for making sure server load and network traffic are properly regulated and steady throughout the day to prevent latency. If your ISP doesn’t do a good job with this, though, you and others on the same network might experience slow download speeds and other effects more often than not.

You Have Too Many Connected Devices

This particular cause of slow Internet is more common if your home uses a WiFi router. If too many wireless devices connect to the same router at the same time, all those devices might collectively congest or clog the network up, preventing anyone from enjoying fast Internet.

Your Device is Too Far from the Router

Alternatively, your wireless device might simply be too far from the wireless router to receive good signal strength. Newer, more powerful WiFi routers can circumvent this issue to some extent, but device distance is always a determining factor for WiFi Internet speed.

Your Connected Device is Outdated

Your wireless device itself might be responsible for slow Internet, especially if it is outdated. Older devices, or those that haven’t downloaded and installed recent software updates, may not be able to receive WiFi signals as capably as newer, more up-to-date ones.

You’ve Gone Over Your Data Cap

Most ISPs impose “data caps” on users[MM1] . In essence, a data cap limits how much high-speed data you have access to from your ISP for a given month or billing cycle. If you reach or go over your data cap, you might experience "speed throttling,” meaning your ISP might only let you surf the web or download things at slower speeds.

Other providers, like Shentel, don’t throttle your speed if you go over your data cap/data allowance. Still, it’s a good idea to keep track of your monthly data usage to avoid fees (which is why Shentel sends you text and email alerts when you’re getting close!).

Does VPN Slow Down Internet?

VPNs or virtual private networks are popular tools to protect user privacy. Sometimes, though, using a VPN may slow down your Internet speeds as a side effect. That's because a VPN directs your Internet data and web browser queries through secondary addresses, effectively causing a search or download to take more time to complete.

This is a necessary trade-off for increased privacy. However, there are certainly some VPN providers that are better at this than others. If your current VPN causes your Internet speed to slow to a crawl, switching to a new provider might be just the ticket.

What if You Can’t Tell What the Problem Is?

Troubleshooting slow Internet can be tough if you don’t know where to start. We recommend doing a speed test from your Internet modem or optical network terminal (ONT). A quick speed test from one of these devices can help you identify potential problems, and many network apps or ISP websites let you perform these speed tests with a few clicks or taps.

For example, say that you do a speed test of your Internet modem. When you perform the test, the speed is fine coming to the modem from the network – it only gets slow when bringing the Internet from the modem to different devices. In that case, you can recognize that the issue is with your smartphone, computer, or some other connected device instead of your ISP.

 

How to Fix Slow Internet

If slow Internet is the rule rather than the exception in your home, don’t give up quite yet. Instead, try these slow Internet solutions – you might find one of them is just what you need to get your Internet running smoothly and speedily once again.

Reboot Your Modem/Router/Device

Depending on what the problem is, rebooting the slow device might do the trick!

For instance, if all the devices in your home are slow, odds are the issue is with your modem or router. Restart those devices by unplugging them, waiting for 30 seconds, then re-plugging them in. Certain ISPs also allow you to reboot your modem or router from your network app.

Why does it work? Rebooting your modem, in particular, clears data caches, which can potentially cause slow Internet speeds. It also refreshes your modem’s network connection.

Alternatively, if your smartphone is the only sluggish device, restart your phone and see if it solves the issue. Restarting your computer or phone can also re-connect them to your home network, clear caches, or lead to other helpful boosts. It’s a good idea to try rebooting devices before moving on to other slow Internet fixes!

Connect via Ethernet Cable

WiFi connections are convenient, but they are almost universally slower than wired connections [MM2] to Internet routers. If your PC or laptop needs fast Internet speeds, your best bet is to physically connect them to your home’s router via an ethernet cable.

An ethernet cable will provide you with faster speeds on the connected device, plus better Internet consistency. It’s a stellar choice for gamers, remote workers, and anyone who wants to prioritize speed over everything else.

Update Your Devices

If a software patch doesn’t solve your slow Internet issues, your device might simply lack the hardware to provide the speedy, smooth Internet you expect. Older devices don’t have the advanced hardware found in modern devices, especially when it comes to tablets and smartphones.

Upgrading to a new phone or other device could be all that’s necessary to fix slow Internet. With better RAM and an advanced CPU, a new device may let you stream, download, game, and enjoy other activities at faster speeds than ever.

Monitor Your Data Consumption

Data caps are common across the ISP industry, so it’s important to get in the habit of monitoring your data consumption. That way, you can avoid hitting your provider’s cap. You can do this by accessing your phone or computer’s settings app and then examining your network or data usage page.

If you monitor your data consumption carefully, you’ll be less likely to experience the side effects of data overages. For instance, if you’re aware of how much data you have left in the month, you might not accidentally use it up streaming a show while off your home’s WiFi network, then have to settle for slow Internet for the rest of the month.

Call for a New Router

Internet routers themselves can occasionally develop hardware or software problems that can slow the Internet throughout your house. If you've tried to fix slow Internet with your devices to no effect, it may be worthwhile calling your ISP and asking for a technician to take a look at the router. In some cases, a new router solves things promptly without further tinkering needed.

Switch to a New ISP

If all else fails, you could be forced to switch to a new ISP, especially if you’ve tried the troubleshooting and solutions mentioned above. If you get a new router, for example, but find that your Internet speeds are still slow around prime time in the evening, your ISP simply might not be a good fit for your location or your needs.

On the other hand, you may want to switch to a new Internet service provider anyway if you constantly hit your data cap and exceed your monthly allowance. Swapping to a provider with an unlimited plan could cost less money in the long run and give you the freedom to download and stream as much as you want without limits.

 

Conclusion

In the end, fixing slow Internet is a matter of troubleshooting, trying the tips above, and potentially switching to a better service provider in your area. If you’re still struggling with slow Internet, even after giving these fixes a shot, it might be a good idea to swap to Shentel.

That's because we offer reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet for folks just like you. Check out our plans today!