Slow internet can come from the modem, router, Wi-Fi signal, device settings, browser, or the service coming into your home. Start with the quick reset, then move through the checks that separate a bad Wi-Fi link from a wider internet problem. By the end, you will know whether to fix the device, tune the router, or call your provider.
Restart Your Modem and Router First
A full network restart clears temporary connection problems and should be your first move.
- 1.Unplug the router power cord.
- 2.Unplug the modem power cord, and remove the backup battery if the modem lights stay on.
- 3.Wait at least 30 seconds.
- 4.Reinsert the battery if you removed one, then plug the modem back in and wait for its lights to stop blinking.
- 5.Plug the router back in, wait a few minutes, and try the connection again.
Make Sure Your Device Is on the Right Wi-Fi
On Windows, select the Network, Sound, or Battery icon on the right side of the taskbar. Turn Wi-Fi on and confirm your home network shows Connected.
If Windows joined the wrong network, select a recognized Wi-Fi network and connect to it. Then open Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode and make sure Airplane mode is off.
On iPhone or iPad, make sure the router is on and in range, then join another available band, such as 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz. On Android or Pixel, open Settings > Network & internet > Internet and reconnect to the correct network. That is the Pixel and stock Android wording; Google notes settings can vary by phone, so check your device maker’s support site if a menu name looks different here or in the Android steps below.
Try Ethernet to Separate Wi-Fi From Internet Service
Connect a computer, game console, or USB Ethernet adapter directly to the modem, gateway, or a router LAN port, then test the connection again. This separates a local Wi-Fi problem from a service problem coming into the home.
If Ethernet works well but Wi-Fi stays slow, focus on router firmware, Wi-Fi bands, and router settings. If Ethernet is slow too, restart the modem and router again, then contact your internet provider when the connection still falls below your plan.
If Your Phone Is the Only Slow Device
This applies when your computer, TV, or another phone works normally but one iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or Pixel keeps crawling.
On iPhone or iPad, turn off Low Data Mode when it is limiting performance. For Wi-Fi, open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the Info button next to the network, and turn Low Data Mode off.
For cellular on iPhone, open Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options and turn Low Data Mode off. On 5G, open Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode and choose a non-Low Data Mode option.
On Pixel, open Settings > Device health & support and run Wi-Fi diagnostics or Connectivity health. Pixel can also use Settings > Network & internet > Adaptive connectivity and turn on Auto-switch to mobile network when Wi-Fi has weak or no internet, though this can use more mobile data.
If one Android phone became slow after a recent app install, use Safe Mode to test Wi-Fi. When Wi-Fi works in Safe Mode, restart normally, uninstall recently downloaded apps one at a time, and retest after each removal.
Refresh the Wi-Fi Connection on Your Device
This fixes bad saved network details, stale leases, and device-side Wi-Fi settings that can make one device slower than the rest.
On Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
Select your Wi-Fi network.
Choose Forget.
Reconnect from the Wi-Fi list and enter the password again.
On Mac, restart the Mac.
If the Mac is still slow, renew the DHCP lease for the active Wi-Fi service in macOS network settings.
On Android or Pixel, open Settings > Network & internet > Internet.
Tap Saved networks, choose the saved network, and tap Forget.
Add the network again from Settings > Network & internet > Internet > Add network.
Enter the network details and save it.
On iPhone or iPad, use Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Network Settings only after other fixes fail, because it resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, VPN settings, and APN settings.
Fix Slow Browsing in Chrome Edge or Firefox
When speed tests look fine but websites feel sluggish, the browser is a likely cause. Check whether the slowdown hits one site or many, and load the same page in another browser before you start cleaning, because Chrome traces loading problems to device settings, security software, the network, and the website’s own server as well as to the browser. Cache, extensions, heavy tabs, energy-saving modes, and browser updates can all affect page loading.
In Chrome, enter Delete browsing data in the address bar and choose Delete browsing data, or open More > Extensions > Manage Extensions to turn off or remove extensions. You can also use More > More tools > Task Manager, sort by Memory, select a heavy task, and choose End Process.
In Edge, open Settings and more > History > Open history page > Delete browsing data, set Time range to All time, select Browsing history and Cached images and files, then choose Clear now. Edge can also turn off energy saver from Settings and more > Settings > System and performance > Performance.
In Firefox, open History > Clear recent history..., set When to Everything, select Cookies and site data and Temporary cached files and pages, then choose Clear. If the browser is still slow, open Help > Troubleshoot Mode... > Restart and click Open.
If browser cleanup does not help, update Chrome, Edge, or Firefox from its official settings or official download page, then reset or refresh the browser after the simpler browser fixes fail.
Update Software and Check for Security Problems
On Windows, open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Install available updates, then restart if Windows asks.
On Mac, open System Settings > General > Software Update and install available macOS updates. If the Mac has VPN, firewall, content-filtering, or security software installed, open that app or System Settings and disable, update, or remove it as appropriate.
On Android, open Settings > System > Software updates and follow the on-screen instructions, or check your device maker’s support site when that menu is named differently on your phone. To update apps, open Google Play Store > Profile icon > Manage apps & device > See details, then choose Update next to an app or Update all.
On Windows, open the Windows Security app from the Start menu and select Virus & threat protection > Quick scan. If you have the separate Microsoft Defender app that comes with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, start the same scan from its dashboard with Device details > Manage in Windows Security > Quick scan. For Android, open Google Play Store > Profile picture or Initial > Play Protect > Settings and turn Scan apps with Play Protect on.
Tune the Router Settings That Affect Speed
Open the router manufacturer’s app or configuration webpage.
Back up the current router settings.
Enable automatic firmware updates or install the latest firmware.
Set Wi-Fi security to WPA3 Personal, or use WPA2/WPA3 Transitional when older devices need compatibility.
Use a strong Wi-Fi password.
Use one Wi-Fi network name across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz unless your router maker tells you otherwise.
Enable all Wi-Fi bands supported by the router.
Set Radio mode to All.
Set Channel to Auto.
Use 20 MHz channel width on 2.4 GHz.
Set 5 GHz and 6 GHz channel width to Auto or all widths.
Keep WMM enabled.
Disable MAC address filtering, authentication, or access control.
Keep NAT enabled only on the single router providing NAT.
Do not use weak security modes such as WEP, TKIP, WPA Personal, or WPA/WPA2 mixed modes, and do not turn off WMM to chase speed.
Change one router setting at a time so the last change is easy to undo.
When Your ISP or Managed Network Is the Cause
The most common cause is a service-side or managed-network issue when multiple devices stay slow after a modem and router restart, especially when Ethernet is slow too.
If you use Xfinity, open the Xfinity app, select WiFi, choose Troubleshoot, and run the test. Xfinity customers who rent a compatible gateway can also tap Test your whole home network, which measures both the speed to the gateway and the connection strength to your devices.
To restart an Xfinity gateway from the app, open WiFi > Troubleshoot > Restart your Gateway. The restart can take up to 12 minutes.
If you use eero, open the eero app, tap Internet on the Home tab or the right arrow next to Fastest Upload on the Activity tab, then tap Run speed test. That test measures the gateway eero to the internet, not Wi-Fi speed between your phone and eero.
On Google Nest Wifi, Nest Wifi, or Google Wifi, check whether another device has been prioritized. A priority device can reserve 70% of bandwidth and slow other devices when the internet plan does not have enough bandwidth available.
For a work, school, apartment, hotel, or public network, settings may be locked or controlled by an administrator. Contact the network administrator after you restart your device, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and confirm the same slowdown happens across apps or devices.
For home service, contact your internet provider or router manufacturer after local tests fail and ask them to check outage status, provisioning, signal levels, modem health, and your account speed tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my internet slow on Wi-Fi but fine with Ethernet?
That points to the Wi-Fi side of the network. Restart the router, update router firmware, try another Wi-Fi band, and review router settings such as channel selection, channel width, enabled bands, and WMM.
Will resetting network settings delete my files?
No. On iPhone or iPad, Reset Network Settings resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, VPN settings, and APN settings. Use it after simpler fixes fail.
Can one browser make the internet feel slow?
Yes. If only Chrome, Edge, or Firefox feels slow, clear cached data, disable unnecessary extensions, close heavy tabs, update the browser, and use the browser’s reset or refresh option after those steps fail.
When should I call my internet provider?
Call after the modem and router restart, multiple devices are still slow, and a wired Ethernet test is slow too. Ask the provider to check outages, provisioning, signal levels, modem health, and your speed tier.