How to Improve Wi-Fi Speed: 12 Proven Tips

Slow Wi-Fi is one of the most frustrating things about modern life. You're paying for fast broadband, but your actual wireless speeds tell a different story. The good news? Most Wi-Fi problems are fixable without spending a penny — and the ones that do cost money are worth every pound.

Before you pick up the phone to shout at your ISP, work through these 12 tips. We've ordered them from free and easy to more advanced, so you can start seeing improvements in minutes.

Free Fixes (Do These First)

1. Move Your Router to a Better Position

This is the single biggest free improvement you can make. Your router broadcasts Wi-Fi signals in all directions like a sphere — if it's tucked in a corner behind the TV, half that signal is going into the wall and out of your house.

The ideal position is:

• Central in your home — not at one end
• Elevated — on a shelf or table, not on the floor
• In the open — not inside a cupboard, behind a sofa, or crammed on a shelf with books
• Away from thick walls — brick and concrete walls are particularly bad at blocking signals

If your router is near your front door (where the phone line enters), consider running an Ethernet cable to a more central location and placing the router there.

2. Keep Your Router Away from Interference

Several household devices operate on the same 2.4GHz frequency as your Wi-Fi and can cause significant interference:

• Microwave ovens — the biggest culprit, can kill your Wi-Fi while heating food
• Cordless phones (DECT phones) — older models especially
• Baby monitors — many use 2.4GHz
• Bluetooth devices — speakers, headphones, smart home hubs
• Other routers — your neighbours' networks can interfere too

Keep your router at least 1-2 metres from these devices. Also avoid placing it near large metal objects, fish tanks (water absorbs Wi-Fi signals), and mirrors.

3. Switch to the 5GHz Band

Most modern routers broadcast on two frequencies: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 5GHz band is almost always faster because it has more channels and less interference from neighbouring networks and household devices.

Check your router settings — many create two separate network names (e.g., "MyNetwork" and "MyNetwork_5G"). Connect your main devices to the 5GHz network. If your router uses a single SSID, it should automatically steer devices to the best band, but this doesn't always work well.

4. Change Your Wi-Fi Channel

If you live in a flat or terraced house, your neighbours' routers are probably broadcasting on the same Wi-Fi channel as yours. This creates congestion — like everyone trying to use the same lane on a motorway.

On the 2.4GHz band, channels 1, 6, and 11 are the only ones that don't overlap. Log into your router's admin panel and try switching between these three to find the least congested option. On 5GHz, there are many more channels available, so congestion is rarely an issue.

Many modern routers have an "Auto" channel setting which handles this for you. If yours doesn't, tools like Wi-Fi Analyzer (Android) or Wireless Diagnostics (Mac) can show you which channels are most congested.

5. Reboot Your Router Regularly

It sounds too simple, but restarting your router clears its memory, resets connections, and can resolve a surprising number of speed issues. Routers are essentially small computers, and like any computer, they benefit from a regular restart.

How to do it properly: Turn off the router, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Wait 2-3 minutes for it to fully reconnect before testing your speed. Some routers let you schedule automatic restarts — a weekly reboot at 4am is a good habit.

6. Disconnect Unused Devices

Every device connected to your Wi-Fi takes a share of bandwidth, even when you're not actively using it. Phones syncing photos, tablets downloading updates, smart TVs checking for content — it all adds up.

Log into your router's admin panel to see how many devices are connected. You might be surprised — the average UK household now has over 10 connected devices. Remove any you don't recognise and disconnect devices you're not using. Also check that no neighbours are quietly using your network (change your password if you haven't recently).

7. Update Your Router Firmware

Router manufacturers regularly release firmware updates that improve performance, fix bugs, and patch security vulnerabilities. Many people never update their router and miss out on significant improvements.

Check your router's admin panel (usually accessed at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) for a firmware update option. ISP-provided routers like the BT Smart Hub, Sky Q Hub, or Virgin Media Hub usually update automatically, but it's worth checking.

Hardware Upgrades (Worth the Investment)

8. Use Ethernet for Critical Devices

Wi-Fi will never be as fast or reliable as a direct wired connection. If you have devices that need absolutely consistent speeds — a gaming PC, a work computer for video calls, or your smart TV for 4K streaming — plug them in with an Ethernet cable.

If running cables isn't practical, powerline adapters use your home's electrical wiring to create a wired-like connection. They're not quite as fast as Ethernet, but they're much more consistent than Wi-Fi and typically cost £30-60 for a pair.

9. Invest in a Mesh Wi-Fi System

If you have a larger home (or one with thick walls), a single router often can't cover every room effectively. A mesh Wi-Fi system uses multiple nodes placed around your home to create one seamless network with consistent coverage everywhere.

Unlike basic Wi-Fi extenders (which halve your speed), mesh systems are designed to work together intelligently. Popular options in the UK include:

• Google Nest Wifi Pro — excellent for most homes, Wi-Fi 6E
• TP-Link Deco — great value, wide range of models
• Netgear Orbi — premium performance, dedicated backhaul
• BT Whole Home — integrates well with BT broadband

10. Upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E Router

If your router is more than 3-4 years old, it's probably using older Wi-Fi standards that can't keep up with modern demands. Newer routers support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) or Wi-Fi 6E, which offer:

• Faster speeds — up to 9.6 Gbps theoretical maximum
• Better handling of multiple devices — OFDMA technology serves many devices simultaneously
• Reduced latency — important for gaming and video calls
• Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6GHz band — even less interference, more bandwidth

Note: Your devices also need to support Wi-Fi 6/6E to benefit. Most phones, laptops, and tablets from 2021 onwards support Wi-Fi 6; 6E support is becoming standard in 2024-2026 devices.

11. Set Up Quality of Service (QoS)

QoS is a router feature that lets you prioritise certain devices or applications. If someone in your house is downloading a massive game update while you're on a work video call, QoS ensures your call gets priority bandwidth.

Check your router's settings for a QoS section. You can typically prioritise by device (your work laptop gets priority) or by application type (video calls get priority over downloads).

12. Secure Your Network Properly

An unsecured or poorly secured Wi-Fi network means anyone nearby can connect and use your bandwidth. Make sure you're using WPA3 encryption (or WPA2 as a minimum — never WEP or open networks).

Use a strong, unique password for your Wi-Fi. Avoid simple passwords like "password123" or your address. Also change the default admin password for your router itself — this is a common security oversight.

Still Slow? Check Your Broadband Package

If you've tried everything above and your speeds still aren't where you want them, the problem might be your actual broadband connection rather than your Wi-Fi. Run a speed test with your device plugged directly into the router via Ethernet. If that speed is also slow, your broadband line itself is the bottleneck.

Read our guide on how to improve your broadband speed for tips on upgrading your connection, switching providers, and getting the most from your ISP.