Are you wondering how to make your internet faster? As technology continues to expand, you’ll likely add more devices to your internet network over time. Multiple users and devices on your Wi-Fi network can slow down internet speeds and significantly impact overall performance. 

We have several steps we recommend you take to enhance your family’s connected lifestyle to optimize internet speed.

9 ways to optimize internet speed at home

1. Turn modem and router off and on again
2. Identify your data cap
3. Examine your router
4. Use an Ethernet cable
5. Install virus protection
6. Utilize an ad blocker
7. Clear unnecessary connections
8. Replace your equipment
9. Upgrade to faster internet

Before you begin troubleshooting, we recommend testing the speed of your internet connection. An internet speed test will confirm whether your connection is working up to the ultra fast speeds your ISP (Internet Service Provider) promised. 

Windstream’s Internet Speed Test is easy and quick to complete.

How to make internet faster

Is your family constantly using the internet for school, work, and recreational activities at the same time? Many families are currently facing this challenge and are looking for ways to optimize home internet speeds. If multiple users and devices are causing home internet slowdowns, here are some tips on how to make your internet faster.

1. Turn modem and router off and on again

Learning how to make Wi-Fi faster is a process. Sometimes the gap between a slow connection and a faster internet connection simply lies in turning your Wi-Fi modem and router off and on again.

A modem is used to transfer signals from your home network to the wider internet. A Wi-Fi router, also called a wireless router, connects you to local networks or to the internet. It’s best to use a separate modem and router especially since most modem’s can be used for years at a time.

To restart your modem and router unplug them both and wait about 30 seconds. This gives your devices and ISP  time to register that the modem and router are down. After 30 seconds plug the devices back in and follow through with the steps to get back online. This may seem like a minor step, but turning your modem and router off and on again can often fix connection problems.

2. Identify your data cap

Maxing out the data allowed in your plan is a sure way to slow down your internet connection.

While Windstream features internet plans without data caps, most internet providers impose data caps in their plans. If you happen to have an internet plan that does, you’ll need to closely monitor data usage month-to-month in order to avoid slowdowns. There are several ways to make your data cap work for you including:

• Lowering video quality on streaming applications such as Netflix and Hulu
• Tracking your usage to identify inconsistencies that repeatedly drain data
• Checking if your ISP can provide additional data for the month

Living below your data means can be done, but it will take discipline and call for compromises to be made.

3. Examine your router

There are several steps you can take to help speed up your internet connection. This could be as simple as moving your router or adjusting the antenna’s.

If your router is in a remote corner in your basement, move it to a more prominent area. We suggest placing it in the middle of the house or the part of the house you hangout in the most. This will allow the signal from the Wi-Fi router to reach you thus giving you a strong internet connection. 

Many routers have internal antennas, but if yours has external antennas you can adjust them to make your internet faster. Router antennas are usually omnidirectional meaning they send and receive signals from every angle. For example, angling your antennas vertically sends Wi-Fi signals horizontally and vice versa.

These small steps can make a world of difference, especially if you’re needing to extend Wi-Fi connection to multiple devices throughout your home.

4. Use an Ethernet cable

Cabled internet connections like ethernet have proven to be reliable time and time again. Although Wi-Fi is more convenient, ethernet is best for getting signals directly to your devices when and where you need them. 

We recommend avoiding over-the-air transmissions and relying on ethernet connection for your most important devices. This can include gaming consoles, desktops, laptops, and televisions. Hooking these high-bandwidth devices up to a cabled connection will easily give you the fast internet you’re looking for.

5. Install virus protection

Similar to how getting infected with a virus can slow you down, a virus can put a serious drag on your internet connection. 

If you haven’t already, we recommend that you download an antivirus and malware program to protect your network and personal information. This is a general rule of thumb, regardless of whether internet speed is a problem or not. Once you find a good software program, set it to regularly scan your computer for viruses and malware. If a virus or malware is ever detected you can take your device to a computer technician for repair. 

6. Utilize an ad blocker

Ads on the internet are not uncommon. Most websites you visit daily feature flashy ads, photos, videos, GIFs, and even social media posts. You never know what will pop up.

While you may not mind the advertisements, your internet connection suffers because of them. Ad media tends to slow connection down, that’s why it’s often times easier to block them using an ad-blocking program that will keep the pop-up data heavy ads at bay.

7. Clear unnecessary connections

If you’re experiencing slower load times, disconnect all devices you aren’t currently using to maximize available bandwidth. This will leave less devices competing for a connection.

Also consider staggering internet usage among family members, and minimize streaming on unnecessary devices during school and/or work hours. Programs such as Zoom, Netflix, and online gaming platforms tend to use high bandwidth. Try to alternate work and leisure to avoid slowdowns and to speed up your internet for free.

8. Replace your equipment

There’s nothing worse than out of date equipment. Your router and modem work hand in hand to deliver a strong internet connection, and if even one of them isn’t up to the job it can cause huge problems. 

We recommend replacing your equipment every few years to ensure it’s operating to its highest potential. 

If you own your router and modem it will be much easier to replace your equipment whenever you please. On the other hand, if you rent your modem and router from your ISP, you can request new equipment when needed.

9. Upgrade to faster internet

If you’ve followed our guide on how to make internet faster, but haven’t had much success, it may be time to upgrade your internet plan to increase speed and better accommodate multiple devices.

While this step may not be the easiest, it can be the most practical and save you money and time in the long run. Switching to a new internet provider gives you the chance to re-evaluate what’s important to you as it relates to your internet connectivity. For example, if you originally signed up for your internet plan with a two person household that’s now grown to four people, you’ll need a plan that can easily accommodate multiple devices.

Whether you’re in the market for faster internet or just curious, Kinetic by Windstream may be the solution for you. Pick the optimal plan for your family’s surfing and streaming needs to speed up your home internet with Windstream. 

Kinetic by Windstream Internet Plans

Kinetic by Windstream’s Fiber-backed GIG internet makes optimizing home internet speeds easier than ever before. With super-fast speeds up to 1 GIG, more reliability, and no data caps, you’ll have more than enough bandwidth to power every device in your household.

	Kinetic 200 Internet	Kinetic 500 Internet	Kinetic GIG
Speed	200 Mbps	400 Mbps	1 GIG (1,000 Mbps)
Fiber	N/A	Yes	Yes
Optimal devices	1-2 devices	1-2 devices	2+ devices
Best used for	Competitive gaming in HD	Streaming in HD on multiple devices	Ultra-connected homes with multiple users
Data cap	N/A	N/A	N/A

With all of these options available we understand it can be challenging to determine what internet package is best for you, but don’t worry. We’ll help you make the best decision to ensure your home internet speeds fit the unique needs of your family.

Finding the right internet plan has never been easier. Shop the best in home internet plans at a great price, no matter what speed you choose.