How to increase Wi-Fi speed on a laptop?

Probably everyone has noticed from time to time that when checking the speed of Wi-Fi, it is lower than stated by the provider. In most cases, the problem lies in the router or the computer itself. Do not immediately call the technical support hotline. The problem can be solved on your own.

Why Wi-Fi speed on a laptop may decrease

Wi-Fi is undoubtedly a convenient invention. The room is not cluttered with a huge number of wires. In addition, the laptop becomes mobile. It can be moved anywhere (within the signal), the Internet connection will not be lost.

However, connecting via cable is more reliable, although less convenient. When the wire is connected directly to the PC, it immediately communicates with the provider’s equipment. And the Wi-Fi connection occurs through a router, now it controls the speed (connects additional devices, etc.). Because of this, the Internet starts to work slower.

How much the speed will drop depends on the power of the router. The higher it is, the faster the device processes the received information.

Note! The more powerful the device, the more expensive it is. There is undoubtedly a difference between a router that costs 1 thousand rubles and one that costs 5 thousand rubles. Otherwise, no one would buy expensive equipment, which means there would be no point in selling it.

There is another reason. When a large number of users within the Internet distribution radius connect to one channel, the speed decreases significantly or connection breaks are observed.

Some laptops do not have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter or it is broken. In this case, users connect external devices via a USB port. Because of this, the signal weakens.

The reason may also be in the computer itself, if the channel is overloaded with open programs. For example, updates. Or the PC “caught” a virus.

How to increase Wi-Fi speed on a laptop

First of all, you need to make sure what is the reason for the poor connection:

• Connect the cable directly.
• Go to the website http://www.speedtest.net.
• Perform a speed test.

When everything is fine with a direct connection, the speed is close to the declared one, then the problem is in the router. When the Internet continues to work poorly, the laptop itself may be the cause. There are several ways to resolve the issue and increase speed.

1. Driver update. This will help if the speed constantly fluctuates or the signal disappears. You can download drivers for the Wi-Fi adapter on the official website of the PC manufacturer. After installing the firmware, the computer must be restarted.
2. Changing the transmission channel. You need to download a utility that will display all devices within the connection radius, their frequencies, bandwidth and current load. After viewing this information, you can select the most free channel and connect to it. Step by step instructions: Download DNS Jumper; unzip the file and run as administrator; click on the “Fast DNS” tab; Put a tick next to the inscription “without sorting”; click on “Run DNS server test”; when the program finds the fastest channel, click on “Apply DNS server”.
3. Upgrading the Wi-Fi adapter. If the problem is with the external Wi-Fi adapter, it is easy to solve. All you need to do is connect the device to your laptop via a USB cable or purchase a special signal amplifier.
4. Setting a strong password. When the Internet is not working well due to other devices connecting to your network, you just need to set a Wi-Fi password or change it to a more complex one. So that strangers cannot use it.
5. Removing interference. Various electrical appliances and household appliances can interfere with the operation of the Wi-Fi router. Therefore, it is better to clear the operating radius of the laptop and router of electronics. If this cannot be done, all that remains is to move the laptop to another place. Brick walls, mirrors, glass, etc. also interfere with signal transmission.
6. DIY signal amplifier. You can make it yourself from two aluminum cans or baking foil. Detailed instructions with videos are available on the Internet. However, homemade devices have disadvantages: the performance quality is worse, and the appearance is unaesthetic. Therefore, it is better not to waste money and buy a more powerful router or signal amplifier at a computer store.
7. Shorten the distance. The manufacturer indicates in the instructions for the router its range of action. However, it does not always correspond to the stated characteristics. Therefore, it is better to place the router as close to the PC as possible.
8. Reset. If you are sure that the reason for the poor connection is the router, you need to reset its settings and install the equipment again. Note! To do this, it is better to invite a specialist or call the provider’s technical support service. The operator will help you set everything up step by step.
9. Interfering programs.To prevent updates from running on their own, you need to set them to manual mode or to download at a certain time (for example, at night, when you won’t use your laptop). You can also go to the program manager and see which applications are heavily overloading the channel. If they are not needed, they can be disabled.
10. Removing antiviruses. The special program Doctor Web Curelt will help you cope with them. It will quickly scan for viruses and perform cleaning.

Attention! If you still haven’t identified the reason for the low Wi-Fi speed, you need to try all of the above methods. After each method, you need to test the laptop and check for changes.