It is infuriating to watch an ongoing download advance very slowly. No one wants slow download speeds from their internet connection. Every one of us has been there and seen the download progress bar inch slowly.
It can take a really long time for the download to end, run the installation or extraction, and for you to get the work done, finally. You deserve better internet and that’s why this article exists to tell you how to increase download speed for your systems.
Why Do I Need An Internet Connection That Is Faster Than My Current Network?
There are several reasons why it is recommended to have a fast internet connection for your computer.
- Faster Downloading and Page loading – When your internet connection is fast, you will be able to see visible signs of this. The files you download will get into your computer very fast the websites will also load quickly. This saves a lot of time for you.
- Lower Latency – This factor is very important if you are a gamer, who enjoys online multiplayer games. You should know that the lower the latency or ping (ms), the smoother your gameplay is. Fast internet comes with very little latency meaning that you will not face any network-related issues unless the network is down.
- Smoother buffering – If you are a fan of streaming content online or even a live streamer who broadcasts to an audience, you should face no issues. This is because the fast network speed can support a high bitrate value and also allows watching content without having to wait for the media to load for a long time.
- Quicker upload time – Quicker download speed comes with an additional benefit, which is quicker upload speed. This will be of great help to you when you need to upload your work to an online cloud storage unit or any other website like YouTube or Facebook. The upload speed determines the rate at which your file gets uploaded onto the target platform.
- Enables online multi-tasking – For a slower network, you will not be able to do much on a browser or an application that requires online access. With a significantly faster network, you will be able to work on several parts of the online computer elements at the same time. For example, you could watch Netflix while trying to download some files without having to work with a slow connection. This also includes using the network on one or more devices, which may influence the network’s bandwidth.
Factors That Make The Network Slow
- Geographical location – When the network is in a location where there aren’t many connections around, you could be experiencing a slower internet speed. This factor is to be taken into count only when you are using a hotspot or tethering from a source that gets its network from a cellular service provider. If you have a fibernet or a broadband connection, these geographical issues should be dealt with by the service provider.
- Slower network plan – When you first set up a connection in your home or office, the service provider asks you what plan you wish to choose. These plans will vary in internet speed, usage limit, and price. As the price increases, you will have a faster internet connection and even more data to use.
- Distance between the device and the router, if wireless – Signal strength is essential for a wireless connection. If you are far from the modem, you will have to move yourself or the modem to a convenient location. Make sure there are no interferences between the device and the router itself.
- The number of connected devices – When more than a certain number of devices are connected to a network, the users will be able to notice a drop in the internet speed. The network speed will also gradually fall with the increase in the number of devices connected to it. As a safety catch, some routers allow only limited devices to be connected to the hotspot they create.
- Service operator issues – The problem could be from the side of the internet service provider. They could be facing server outages, which is the most common issue that can be from the operator’s side. As users, we cannot do anything about it but sit and wait it out, until the issue is addressed.
Check Your Internet Connection
Before we get into boosting the network speed, it is important to make note of how fast your network is. For smartphone or tablet users, you can download any speed test applications onto your device and check how fast they are. If you are working with a computer, you just have to open a browser and search for the term ‘speed test’.
Google has a speed measuring tool and you can use it to check how fast your internet is. The Speed testing website by Ookla is also a good option.
Ideas For How To Increase Download Speed On PC
These are what you can do to boost the internet connection for your devices.
- Restart Your Computer
- Try Using A Wired Connection
- Change The Location Of Your Router
- Upgrade Your Cable
- Reduce The Length Of The Ethernet Cable
- Ask Your Service Provider To Perform A Line Test
- Check For Interferences To The Network
- Update The Router Firmware
- Limit The Downloads To One
- Upgrade Your Internet Plan
- Set The Right Configurations
- Disable Or Enable The VPN Depending On Some Factors
- Delete The Browser Cache Memory
- Disconnect The Other Devices
- Kill All Idle Processes
- Use A Different Modem Or Router
- Scan Your PC For Viruses
How To Increase Internet Download Speed For Your Network Connection?
Restart Your Computer
Restarting your PC can make a lot of unseen changes to your computer. You can get updates installed and it’ll benefit your computer if a network driver software update has been downloaded. If there are some unsaved network configurations, they will be set to default.
As for some temporary files, they will be deleted. This is a simple workaround that we suggest as the first step to fixing any device-related issues. This is chapter 1 in the book for fixing technical issues. If this doesn’t help, let’s move on to the next one.
Try Using A Wired Connection
It can also help you get a faster network if you use an ethernet cable. This provides a direct connection from the router to the computer, thereby eliminating all the interferences that can get in between the connection of the router and the device.
A network becomes slow only when there are solid interferences like walls or intangible waves that can affect the wireless internet connection. This is where the ethernet cable comes in.
The ethernet slot can be found on the backside of the network router and on the device, it is at the side. You have to push the pin into the slot gently until you hear a gentle click. This click is an indication that the cable is in position.
You can get a good quality ethernet at a hardware store or online and you can also ask your network operator for it.
Change The Location Of Your Router
Let us assume that your router is in the living room and you wish to connect to it, in a room that is a few feet from the router. You will get a comparatively lower speed in the room than in the living room, thanks to all the physical barriers in between.
To solve this problem, you will have to relocate the router to a spot where there are no disturbances and where there should be minimal obstructions between the device and your room.
This also has to be a spot where there is no risk of damage to the router hardware. If the hardware has slots for attaching the router to the wall, you can.
Upgrade Your Cable
There can be damage to the ethernet cable or the cable would have been old. You will need to get a new cable and use it to try connecting the device and the modem. There are no variants of ethernet cables, except for the length.
Reduce The Length Of The Ethernet Cable
Talking of the cable length, it is important that you have a short cable. When the cable is long, there are chances for it to get folded. These folds can damage the wiring inside when the bent, crooked wire goes unnoticed.
It has also been noticed for unknown reasons that a longer wire slows down the network. Using a shorter cable does not increase your speed but makes the existing connection better.
Ask Your Service Provider To Perform A Line Test
When you suspect an issue with a factor that does not live within your walls, you will have to seek help from the internet service provider. Request a line check from the service provider. They will take a look at the cable that brings internet to your house.
There are several reasons why the internet cable can get damaged when it is placed under the ground or extended from an electric pole. Only a trained professional will be able to help you with this. Even if you are able to recognize a damaged wire, do not involve in the process of trying to work with wires. There is a risk of getting shocked.
Check For Interferences To The Network
The internet connection can be disturbed by a variety of factors. Radio signals, distance from the device, Bluetooth connectivity, and microwaves can get in the way of your network connection.
You may not only experience a slow connection but also difficulties while connecting to the network. When these factors influence the network, the network bandwidth becomes lower, and thereby, you get a slower network.
Update The Router Firmware
The router firmware is an important part of your network. This is the configurational element that controls the router’s hardware and its functioning. When this firmware is not on the latest version, there are a lot of chances that the network becomes slower and the network security drops down considerably. If you do not know how to, here is what you can do to update the firmware for your network router.
There are two easy ways and one complicated method to update the network driver firmware –
The router manufacturer’s website will have updates that are downloadable in the form of installation packages.
The router interface that can be accessed through an IP address can also be used to update the firmware, after navigating to the right page. This specific location cannot be definitely stated as these interfaces can differ from each internet service provider and router manufacturer.
If you are interested in updating the router software manually, this is what you have to do.
- Bring up the Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) window. On a Windows 10-based computer, there are three ways to open this window – Run tool (Windows key + R), Power User/Quick Link menu (Windows key + X), or the search bar on the taskbar.
- Find the Network Adapters section and expand it by clicking on it. You will see all the network adapters on your computer.
- Locate the one that hosts the connection from the router and right-click on it.
- From the context menu, choose the Update driver option. This will open an Update Wizard for updating the chosen network driver.
- Choose the Automatically search for updated driver software option. Your system will start a scan of itself and the internet, looking for a version of the driver software that is newer than the existing one.
- If one is found, it will be downloaded to your computer. To install it, the user just has to restart their computer.
Run a speed test once the system reboots.
Limit The Downloads To One
If your network plan is a minimal one, you will not be able to run more than a very small number of downloads at the same time. Even then, only small files will be downloaded; bigger files can take the time or even get paused because of the slow network.
If you are not considering upgrading to a faster network plan, you will have to start your downloads in batches of one download at a time. This way you will get the work done faster and not have to spend on a network.
Upgrade Your Internet Plan
An expensive option to get a faster network is to pay the network operator a larger amount, after telling them that you wish to amp your internet game up. Before you choose the plan, take a look at the brochure or the website containing details about the plan you are about to choose.
Once the operator informs you about the plan’s upgrade, check the network speed. Your download and upload speed should be higher than before. This is a fail-safe plan to improve the network speed if you are willing to spend some more on your internet connection.
Set The Right Configurations
Having the right configurations on your computer’s network is something you will have to look into as a user. The configurations that are the most compatible with your system will always provide the best output.
The network settings can be accessed through the firmware interface of the internet connection. It is not recommended to keep the default configurations for the network as they may not be suitable for your system and usage.
To explain it further, some configurations may support the fast download of files while there could be another set of configurations that are suitable for streaming media on a client and another one unique for streaming media on platform client applications.
The network provider executive or the network company’s website should be able to analyze your system and set the best possible configurations for your system. If there is a professional who can look into it, feel free to.
You can also try to look for the right settings. If you are stuck somewhere, you can reset the network and start over with this operation.
Disable Or Enable The VPN Depending On Some Factors
A Virtual Proxy Network tool, better known as a VPN application, is generally used to change the IP address of the network so that the user can access parts of the internet that cannot easily be accessed in their location.
When this feature is enabled, you will notice that your digital location is changed to another place. What this means is that your network is now connected to another network server.
This action can either slow your network down or boost it, without having any way of knowing it for you. You will have to switch the VPN on, check the network and see if it is faster than or as fast as before. This may not make any significant changes but it is worth a try to use this technique.
Delete The Browser Cache Memory
Every time you visit a website through a browser on your computer, the browser saves some information. This information is known as cache memory. It contains data including the pages you have accessed, searches you have made on the website, and many more.
This saved information takes up some space on your computer, which can be deleted whenever you want it. When you delete it, you will no longer be able to see what links were used earlier or what searches have been made. This is the most visual sign you will be able to see when the browser is cleared of its cache.
The main reason for a user to clear the cache memory is to fix issues with the browser. It can help with the faster loading of websites. Now, it may be about to help you get a faster internet connection than before. We made a list of some popular browsers and added the instructions to delete their cache memory. You can find them below.
Google Chrome
- Open the Chrome settings through the drop-down menu on the top-right corner of the window.
- Go into the Privacy and Security (chrome://settings/privacy) tab on the left panel.
- Select the Clear Browsing data option.
- Uncheck all the options except the Cookies and other site data options.
- Click on the Clear data option to delete the cookies and cached data.
Mozilla Firefox
- Go into the browser Settings that are available in the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner of the window.
- Click on the Privacy & Security option on the left.
- Locate the Cookies and site data section and click on the Clear Data button.
- In the confirmation window, make sure that all the options are checked and press the Clear Data button.
Opera Browser
- Click on the hamburger menu on the upper-right part of the screen.
- Scroll down to the Privacy & Security section in this menu.
- Select the Clear Data button and confirm this in the dialog box that appears.
Safari
- Press the Ctrl +, keys on your keyboard to open the Preferences window.
- Move to the Privacy tab.
- On top of the page, select Remove all website data.
- Now, press the Remove Now button.
Internet Explorer
- Launch the Internet Explorer browser.
- Press the Alt + X keys to open the Explorer tools window.
- Choose Internet Options and in the window that appears, go into the Privacy tab.
- Under the Location section, select the Clear sites button.
Microsoft Edge
- Open the Microsoft Edge website.
- Enter the following in the address bar – edge://settings/privacy.
- Find the Clear Browsing Data section.
- Select the Choose what to clear option.
- Check the Cached images and files option in the dialog box. The other options may or may not be checked, depending on what you want to delete.
- Click on the Clear Data button.
Disconnect The Other Devices
Too many devices connected to one network can cause a lot of traffic on the network, causing a loss in bandwidth and thereby, a slower network connection.
The best way to get rid of this problem is to disconnect all the other devices except the one which actually needs the internet connection. For instance, it can be your work device.
This problem is highly likely to appear when you have a lot of people over. There are some ways to remove devices from your network, without actually having to ask them to disconnect them.
Change the wireless network password
When the security password for the wi-fi network is changed, it will instantly disconnect from the devices that are using it. This can be done through the network interface, under the security settings.
Turn on the Guest Network feature
When a guest network is enabled, a new network profile is created with customizable configurations and a separate password for access. Your network will now have a subsidiary with a different set of settings configurations.
It is best when the bandwidth is kept limited, preferably 2.4 GHz. Under this setting, your primary network will be given priority and you’ll not experience a slower network.
Blacklist the Device’s MAC address
If you are familiar with the concept of MAC address filtering, you should know how to block a device from connecting to your network. MAC address is a unique identifier for a device that can be connected to a wireless network.
This option is available in the network firmware interface. Once you find the device’s MAC address, you just have to add them to the list of blocked MAC addresses.
Disconnect them manually
If you have access to the device that is connected to your network, you can manually turn the Wi-FI off. The option to do this can be found in the notification tray and in the connectivity settings of your mobile device. If you are using a computer, there are settings and options for turning off the wireless network connection.
Kill All Idle Processes
If an application or a process that uses the network is active and running on your system. There are chances that it uses your network to download updates or extra elements, connect with a cloud storage unit or even load some content that we aren’t aware of. It helps to end such a process and save bandwidth so that you can put it to better use.
For ending processes on your computer, you can use the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) or the Activity Monitor (Cmd + Alt + Esc) to check the network usage and end the necessary processes.
If you are using a mobile, every mobile interface has a page to display all the active applications that could be possible using the internet and slowing it down.
Use A Different Modem Or Router
Since this is about your network, you can try changing the modem hardware. This is a working suggestion as there are different types of modems, that can send through certain limits of network speeds.
If your router is not suitable to support a faster network, you will have to upgrade it. When this is your case, you will not get fast internet even if you have a faster internet plan.
You can check the container that had the modem in it, for specifications. This information can be used as a reference for you to get a newer modem. Make sure that the modem suits your type of network connection, be it a cable, fibernet, DSL, or dial-up connection.
Scan Your PC For Viruses
It is a common fact that computer viruses can get into your computer and cause a ruckus by corrupting files and compromising your digital privacy. Another symptom of a detected malware presence is that it can slow down your computer and the internet connection speed. The only way to get rid of a computer virus, before it does some serious damage, is to find it and delete it from the computer.
You will find antivirus software very helpful in this situation. If you do not have a third-party antivirus subscription, you can always use the Windows Security feature to check for threats and eliminate them.
Note: The regular scans run by Windows Security and the antivirus software may not detect disguised threats. You will have to run a full-system scan for this.
These are the tricks you can use to increase the download speed of your network connection. If you are still stuck with the same, slow network speed, consult with your service provider or their customer support. They will offer you a solution and take the matter into their hands, professionally. Happy Browsing!