October 9, 2015
No one wants to wait; especially on the internet to load. The internet speed you’re getting from your local internet service provider (ISP) is the biggest factor in how quickly you download and browse, but there are other factors that can help.
Here are 5 ways to speed up your internet browsing
- Disconnect inactive devices that are leaching bandwidth. Every connected device divides your bandwidth. If you’re trying to stream a video in one room and your tablet is downloading updates in another, then you’re going to see reduced speeds to both devices. Turn off, shut down, put to sleep, or place inactive devices on airplane mode, so they’re not sabotaging your browsing speeds.
- Reboot your device/modem/router. No matter how advanced your devices are; they’re still computers. Memory gets fragments, programs get flaky, and systems start stalling. Shut them down, let them sit, and restart them. It never ceases to amaze me how much faster my devices are after a restart.
- Change your browser. I don’t want to get into a turf war, but not all browsers browse at the same speed. A couple of years ago, I sped up my surfing by simply changing my internet browser. Seriously. There was a noticeable speed increase when I moved from Internet Explorer to Google Chrome.
- Schedule your heavy network usage during off peak times. Don’t run your system updates on a Sunday evening. There are times when your network neighbors are all online. Their streaming, downloading, and surfing are taxing your ISP’s network. Set your updates to run overnight, when the network traffic is lowest.
- Connect with an Ethernet cable. While wireless routers have come a long way in the last few years, there are still advantages to plugging in. Simply put, the network interface in your computer allows for faster browsing than most wireless routers. Wireless is more convenient, and is the only option for many devices, but you’ll generally see faster speeds from a good network connection.
There are more factors impacting your browsing than you may realize. While the speed package you’re getting from your ISP is probably the largest, it is certainly not the only influence.
If you have other suggestions, I would love to hear them. Just reply below.
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Read More:
Why do I have to keep rebooting my modem and router?
Your Router and Modem May Be Slowing You Down.
Why is my internet so slow? Do the math—the Megamath!