While the future of fast internet speeds is approaching, it’s still not quite there yet. Many people still find it difficult to download content off the internet due to slow download speeds. If so, knowing how to increase internet speed can be a real lifesaver. Find the perfect solution to speed up your internet and don’t worry, it’s absolutely free.
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When downloading content, the file sizes tend to be in KB or MB with 1 MB being equal to 1024 KB (kilobytes). To determine your file’s download speed, divide your file size by your MBps. For example, if your internet speed is at 2 MBps, then downloading a 60 MB file should take roughly 30 seconds. With all the talk about Mbps, you might be left wondering, “what internet speed do I need?” I’ll give you a short answer to this one. Good internet speed is typically at 25 Mbps or above. If you want really fast internet speeds though, try going for 100+ Mbps. These will get you great speeds that support multiple devices at once. You probably already know that WiFi speed can vary between different service providers and packages based on what you’re paying for. While you shouldn’t expect the crazy numbers advertised by your ISP is attainable (they’re normally only theoretical potential speeds), sometimes it can feel like you’re not getting your money’s worth. You’ll end up with the question, “why is my internet so slow?” In that case, it’s best to understand a bit about your internet before knowing how to boost the WiFi signal.
How to Check my bandwidth?
Bandwidth is another thing that determines how fast your internet is. It refers to the maximum data transfer rate of a given connection or network and it also refers to how much data you can send over a certain network in a set amount of time. What most people don’t know is, you can easily determine your upload speed with a single click. Simply launch your preferred browser and head to Google. Once you’re there, type in “upload speed test” and it will give you the top results. Choose from the many options available to determine your upload speed. The most popular ones, by far, are www.testmy.net, www.speedtest.net, www.fast.com, and www.speedcheck.org. These services allow you to test your upload speed with just the click of a button, which means you don’t have to do anything at all to get your result. When you download files all the time, your download speed becomes increasingly a priority. Everyone wants to be able to download large files in an instant, but it really depends on your download speed. Like the upload speed test, the process for finding out your download speed is simple. All you need to do is Google “download speed test” to arrive at the best options. The most popular online speed tests offer both upload and download tests. So, to test your download speed, you can also use www.testmy.net, www.speedtest.net, www.fast.com, and www.speedcheck.org. A notable addition, though, is www.speedtest.telstra.com. Using these sites, you can arrive at your download speed with just one click. It is important to check your bandwidth against what your internet provider is giving you. After all, you’re paying good money for a fixed bandwidth speed. You deserve to get the most out of your payments. If your provider is cheating you with lower speeds, then you should complain. A good way to determine whether you are getting the right bandwidth is to do an online speed test. Using one of the online speed tests listed above, measure your upload and download speed. It is a good idea to use multiple online speed tests to get a more accurate picture. Write down the results and then compare them with what you are paying for with your internet provider.
How to check my streaming speed?
Everyone knows it’s better to stream content in 4k Ultra HD. Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to do so. Your internet speed plays a huge role in what resolution you can ultimately stream in. To check for your streaming speed, it is the same as your download speed. Outdated router firmware is one of the main reasons why upload speeds get bogged down. Companies update their firmware on the regular and, eventually, they stop supporting older versions. To give your upload speed a good boost, make sure your router firmware is completely up-to-date. You can even set aside a day in your calendar to update your router firmware every year. This way, you don’t get left behind. Generally, you’ll know if you have a good internet if you do not experience any lags or buffers when you stream any movies or videos. While there are plenty of internet and wifi testers, not all of them are as accurate and as precise they claimed. So, here are some of the reliable ones to help you determine if your internet speed is up-to-standard or what you’ve promised from your provider. Fast.com SpeedSmart Apps like Netflix recommend a download speed of at least 25 Mbps to stream in 4K Ultra HD. On the other hand, you need 5 Mbps for Full HD and 3 Mbps for Standard Definition (SD). It’s best if you can go into the settings of your operating system or your apps to limit their downloads running in the background. Sometimes applications can eat up your bandwidth while downloading updates — that goes for both desktop and mobile. Similarly, make sure to close apps that you’re not currently using. Open apps can eat up your precious bandwidth so make sure to close them when you’re not using them.
2. Remove All External Interference
Believe it or not, sometimes other electronic devices will interfere with your WiFi signal. You might have phones, iPad, or speakers near your modem space. These can tend to have electromagnetic signals that may interfere with your signal. Thus, make sure to clear your modem area of other devices to make sure they won’t cause any trouble.
3. Restart Your Modem
One method for how to increase your download speed is to restart your modem. Turn it off for one minute and then turn it back on again. It’s a pretty quick and easy fix and should do the trick.
4. Scoot Over to be Closer to Your Router
Distance actually plays a role in internet speed. WiFi networks may sometimes give slow internet speed if the connection to your router is poor. It’s a good idea to establish a better connection by physically moving your device closer to the router.
5. Configure to Comply The Specific Chrome Settings
Some people want to know how to increase download speed in Chrome specifically. There are actually some quick and easy steps you can take to do this.
6. Specific Steam Downloads
While not everyone’s a gamer, many of you might be gamers that want to know how to increase download speed on Steam. So, here are a few tips steps you can take to increase your download speed. Lastly, make sure you have the latest version of Google Chrome in the “About Google Chrome” section on the menu. This is just to make sure that bug fixes and performance enhancements are up to date. Go to the Steam settings page by right-clicking the Steam icon in the system tray. Click on “Downloads + Cloud.” From here, there are two settings you’ll want to check: (1) approximate speed of your internet connection; and (2) download region. In the first setting, make sure it’s set to the approximate speed your internet connection has. Secondly, play around with the download region. It’s best if you can select a location closest to you. However, it will still depend on the internet connection between you and the server location.
7. Use A Wired Connection
If you’re wondering how to increase internet speed for faster downloads, then this option should be a no-brainer. Most people opt for WiFi nowadays as technology becomes increasingly wireless. However, while WiFi may be convenient and fast, having a wired connection will most certainly give you faster speeds.
8. Use Only One Device at a Time
As with having many children means many competing for a mother’s love, so does having many devices connected to your router. Jokes aside, it’s true that multiple devices can congest your bandwidth and limit your download speeds. Thus, increasing download speed on one device may mean asking your siblings to disconnect for a bit. Alternatively, you could download at a time when nobody’s using the internet (at night perhaps.)
1. Update Router Firmware
2. Keep Your Drivers Up-to-Date
You might think your scanner and printer have nothing to do with your upload speed. Well, you’d be wrong. Scanner and printer drivers also require updates from time to time. If you never update these drivers, updates can pile up and majorly slow down your upload speed. To make things easier, schedule driver updates on the same day as your router firmware update.
3. Utilize Third-party Software to Amplify Upload Speed
There is certain third-party software that can amplify your upload speed. For instance, Zonal OCR software lets your scanner upload files much quicker. To find the best software that suits your needs, you will need to do plenty of research and read up on product reviews. Don’t go with the first one you see. Gather all the information you can before deciding.
4. Explore New Technologies
Technology is a fast-moving industry, with new versions of hardware being introduced every year. With such a fast-paced rate, it can be easy to get left behind. That router you bought five years ago? There’s a good chance it’s already obsolete. If you find that your upload speeds are suffering, try to update old hardware with new ones. It may cost you money, but isn’t it worth it just to get that upload speed you’ve been longing for?
5. Keep your Browser Clean
Alright, we don’t mean you have to vacuum your PC. When we say deep cleaning, we’re referring to your files, cookies, and any potential malware that has gone unnoticed. Delete old files and documents that you no longer need. Get rid of cookies. Scan your computer for any malware and remove them at once. If your house needs a spring cleaning, so does your computer. Next time, before you start wondering how to increase your internet speed, clean your browser first. Then, figure out the rest later.
Best WiFi Booster Applications
Open Internet Download Manager (if you don’t have it, install it through their website first) On the top part of the IDM window, locate and click on “Options” Find and click on the “Connection” tab located on the right side of the window Under “Connection Type/Speed,” click the drop-down menu and choose the “High speed” option On the right side of “Default max. conn. number,” choose 16, 24, and 32 Click “OK” to save your configuration settings
A word of caution, you should only perform the fifth step if your computer, router, and connection type offer high performance. If you do them using low-performance models, you could end up getting blacklisted from download sites. After configuring your settings, it’s time to disable the speed limiter on the Internet Download Manager. To do that, click “Downloads” on the upper-left side of the IDM window, select “Speed Limiter” and then “Turn off.” You can update your router manually through the hardware manufacturer’s website where you can download the latest driver. Make sure it’s compatible with the exact model number of your network adapter, though. Acrylic WiFi Home analyzes the WiFi signals around you to give you the best channel to use. With this tool, you can select a lesser-used channel and increase your internet speed significantly. Acrylic WiFi Home has a free version and is compatible with Windows. Another thing you can do is make use of certain apps and software. Internet Booster & Optimizer, for one, allows you to browse at a faster rate. Faster Internet 2X makes its service blatant in its name alone, while Internet Speed Booster does what it says it should. Acrylic WiFi Home is best for Windows laptops and computers to increase internet speed. By using this software, you can select a lesser-used channel for your router to connect to. This way, you have to share the connection with fewer people, allowing your internet speed to quicken. Here’s how you can check who is connected to your WiFi: To check the list of connected devices using your router’s web interface, take your IP address and enter it into the web browser’s address bar. After entering your IP address on the address bar, you should be able to see your router’s web interface. Now, you’ll need to do some searching. As not all router web interfaces look the same, the exact location varies from router to router. You’re going to want to look for something like “connected devices,” “attached devices,” or “DHCP clients.” If you can’t find it on the homepage, you might find it under the WiFi Configuration page or status page. Here’s a general location of where you can find the list based on the best wireless router brands you can get out there: D-Link Netgear Comcast Xfinity Beyond producing a list of connected devices, though, GlassWire Pro also alerts you when a new device connects to your WiFi network. This way, you can immediately take action without wasting precious internet speed and time. Furthermore, GlassWire Pro gives you a summary of your bandwidth usage, including which applications are using the most bandwidth. GlassWire Pro does not come free, though. While its basic version is free to use, its device monitoring feature is only available on the paid version, which costs $49 per PC. If you don’t know what your IP address is, there are two easy ways for you to find out. You can either check it in the Control Panel or by entering “ipconfig” on the Command Prompt window. First of all, the placement of your router matters. Don’t place your router near appliances, which emit electromagnetic waves. Additionally, keep your router away from metal, wood, glass, plastic, cardboard, and foam materials. These can disrupt the WiFi signal. It’s equally important to update your router’s firmware regularly and use a stronger antenna on your router to get a better signal. These tips should help you boost your WiFi signal. But, they can only do so much for you. A more surefire way to increase your WiFi signal is to use the options below. Net Master Wi-Fi Analyzer Wi-Fi Doctor – Detect and Boost Connection Stabilizer and Booster Network Booster – WiFi Manager D-Link DAP 1650 WiFi Range Extender Check Latest Price Netgear Nighthawk x4 WiFi Range Extender Check Latest Price Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream Wifi Range Extender Check Latest Price Another way to secure your WiFi is to enable network encryption. On your router’s configuration page, go to the wireless security settings. Here, you can choose which encryption method you’d like to use. Opt for WPA2 as it provides the best encryption. Alternatively, if you have an older router, WPA2 may not be available. In that case, use WEP instead. You will be asked to enter a passphrase to secure the encryption, so make sure to choose one that people won’t easily guess.
