How to Troubleshoot Slow Internet

Step 1: Run a Baseline Speed Test

Before troubleshooting anything, you need to know what speeds you are actually getting compared to what you are paying for. Open a speed test tool such as Ookla Speedtest, Fast.com by Netflix, or your ISP's built-in speed test tool. For the most accurate results, connect your computer directly to your modem or router using an Ethernet cable rather than relying on Wi-Fi, which introduces its own set of variables.

Run the test at least three times at different points during the day: once in the morning, once during the afternoon, and once during prime evening hours between 7 PM and 10 PM. Record the download speed, upload speed, and latency for each test. This gives you a clear picture of whether your slow speeds are constant or only occur during peak congestion times. If your speeds are consistently at or above 80% of your plan's advertised speed on a wired connection, the issue is likely with your Wi-Fi setup rather than your ISP's service.

Step 2: Restart Your Modem and Router

Power cycling your modem and router resolves a surprising number of internet speed issues. Unplug both devices from power, wait 30 seconds, then plug the modem back in first. Wait for all the indicator lights to stabilize, which usually takes 1 to 2 minutes, before plugging your router back in. This process clears temporary memory issues, resets network connections, and forces your equipment to re-establish a fresh connection with your ISP's network.

If you have a combination modem-router unit (also called a gateway), simply unplug it for 30 seconds and then reconnect it. After the restart, wait 3 to 5 minutes for the connection to fully stabilize before running another speed test. Many ISPs recommend restarting your equipment at least once a month as preventive maintenance, since modems and routers can develop memory leaks and connection table overflows over time that gradually degrade performance.

Step 3: Check Your Wi-Fi Network

Wi-Fi is the most common bottleneck in home internet performance. Walls, floors, appliances, and distance from the router all reduce wireless signal strength. If your router is tucked in a closet, sitting on the floor, or located at one far end of your home, repositioning it to a central, elevated location can dramatically improve coverage throughout the house.

Check which Wi-Fi frequency band your devices are using. Most modern routers broadcast on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The 2.4 GHz band has better range but slower maximum speeds and is more prone to interference from microwaves, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, and neighboring networks. The 5 GHz band offers faster speeds but shorter range. For devices close to the router, connect them to the 5 GHz band. For devices farther away, the 2.4 GHz band may provide a more stable connection.

Wi-Fi channel congestion is another frequent culprit, especially in apartments and dense neighborhoods. Use a free Wi-Fi analyzer app on your phone to see which channels are most crowded. Then log into your router's admin panel and manually switch to a less congested channel. On the 2.4 GHz band, channels 1, 6, and 11 are the non-overlapping channels you should choose from. On the 5 GHz band, there are more channels available, so finding an uncrowded one is usually easier.

Step 4: Identify Device and Software Issues

Sometimes the slow internet culprit is not your connection at all but rather the device you are using. Run speed tests on multiple devices to compare results. If one computer shows significantly slower speeds than your phone or another laptop, the problem may be specific to that device. Common device-side causes include outdated network drivers, malware consuming bandwidth in the background, or an aging Wi-Fi adapter that does not support modern standards.

Check your Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac to see if any applications are consuming large amounts of bandwidth. Cloud backup services, system updates downloading in the background, and streaming apps running on other devices in the household can all saturate your connection. A single 4K streaming session uses approximately 25 Mbps, and a large system update downloading on another device can temporarily use your entire available bandwidth.

Make sure your browser is not overloaded with extensions, as some browser add-ons intercept and slow down all web traffic. Try loading the same website in a clean browser with no extensions to see if performance improves. Additionally, clearing your browser cache and DNS cache can resolve sluggish page loading that mimics slow internet but is actually a local caching issue.

Step 5: Check for Network Congestion and ISP Issues

If your speeds consistently drop during evening hours but are fine during the day, you are likely experiencing network congestion. This occurs when many subscribers in your area use the internet simultaneously, and it is especially common with cable internet, which uses shared neighborhood bandwidth. DSL and fiber connections are less susceptible to this type of congestion because they provide dedicated lines to each subscriber.

Check your ISP's service status page or social media accounts for any reported outages or maintenance in your area. Many providers offer real-time outage maps that show whether the issue is widespread. If there is no reported outage but you suspect an ISP-side issue, ask your neighbors whether they are experiencing similar slowdowns. Shared problems strongly suggest the issue is on the provider's end rather than in your home network.

Some ISPs implement traffic shaping or throttling that can reduce speeds for certain types of traffic such as video streaming or file downloads during peak hours. While this practice is less common following net neutrality discussions, it does still occur with some providers. Using a VPN can help you determine whether throttling is affecting your connection: if your speeds improve when connected through a VPN, it suggests your ISP is slowing specific types of traffic.

Step 6: Evaluate Your Equipment

Outdated equipment is one of the most overlooked causes of slow internet. If your modem is more than 3 to 4 years old, it may not support the speeds your plan offers. Cable modem standards matter significantly: a DOCSIS 3.0 modem supports speeds up to approximately 600 Mbps, while a DOCSIS 3.1 modem supports multi-gigabit speeds. If you are paying for a gigabit cable plan but using an old DOCSIS 3.0 modem, your hardware is the bottleneck.

Similarly, older routers using Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) or Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standards may not deliver the throughput that newer Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E routers can provide. If you have a large home, consider a mesh Wi-Fi system that uses multiple access points to provide consistent coverage throughout every room. Mesh systems from brands like eero, Google Nest, and TP-Link Deco typically cost between $150 and $300 and can eliminate dead zones that a single router cannot cover.

If you rent your modem from your ISP, you may be using older hardware that the provider has not proactively upgraded. Purchasing your own DOCSIS 3.1 modem and a separate Wi-Fi 6 router typically costs $150 to $250 total and saves you $10 to $15 per month in rental fees, paying for itself within a year while often delivering better performance than ISP-provided equipment.

Recommended Troubleshooting Tools

Several free tools can help you diagnose internet problems more precisely. Ookla Speedtest and Fast.com are the standard speed testing options. For more detailed analysis, try PingPlotter or WinMTR, which trace the path your data takes from your device to a destination server and show exactly where delays or packet loss occur along the route. This information is invaluable when reporting issues to your ISP because it helps technicians identify whether the problem is in your home network, your ISP's local infrastructure, or a broader internet routing issue.

For Wi-Fi diagnostics, NetSpot (available for Mac and Windows) and WiFi Analyzer (for Android) show signal strength maps and channel utilization in your area. DNS Benchmark by GRC tests whether your current DNS resolver is slowing down your browsing experience and suggests faster alternatives. Switching from your ISP's default DNS to providers like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) can reduce page load times by 10 to 30 milliseconds per request, which adds up noticeably across an entire browsing session.

When to Contact Your Internet Provider

Contact your ISP when your wired speed test results consistently show speeds below 70% of your subscribed plan. Before calling, document at least 5 to 10 speed tests taken at different times over 2 to 3 days, noting the date, time, connection method, and results for each. This data gives the support representative concrete evidence and makes it harder for them to dismiss the issue as a one-time fluctuation.

When you call, ask the representative to run a line test from their end. They can check signal levels at your modem and determine whether the issue is with the line to your home, the equipment, or congestion in your neighborhood node. If the remote diagnostic does not resolve the problem, request a technician visit. Most ISPs offer free technician visits when the issue is on their side of the network, though they may charge $50 to $100 if the problem is determined to be inside your home wiring.

If your provider cannot resolve persistent performance issues after multiple attempts, you have the right to file a complaint with the FCC. You can also check whether alternative providers serve your address at our ZIP code lookup tool. Even in areas with limited competition, documenting FCC complaints creates a record that can encourage providers to prioritize infrastructure improvements in your area.