Have your entire household working, playing, streaming, and binge-watching news at once? Lags might be coming from your end if you're experiencing them. Try these simple router methods to go back online before you call your ISP.
Maintaining a solid internet connection is more crucial than ever with the rise of smart home gadgets, online gaming platforms, and video streaming services. There's a strong possibility the issue is on your end and not with your internet service provider if you're experiencing latency when playing League of Legends or it takes long to download music (ISP). prior to calling your cable company to schedule a service call.
Try a Specific Device or Website
Start with the obvious question: Does the issue only affect one of your devices or does it affect them all? Check to check if another person's laptop or tablet can connect to the internet if your PC is having issues. You can safely isolate the issue to a single computer if it only affects that one device.
Try another website if the one you're on won't load. If you are able to access other websites without any issues, the issue is probably with the website you are attempting to access, therefore you will need to wait until they resolve it. To check if there is a known service outage, try entering the website's address into downforeveryoneorjustme.com or downdetector.com
If there is no reported outage, a cache problem with your browser may be the cause. To check whether it resolves the connection issue, you might want to try accessing the website from a different browser or in a private browsing window. also, delete the cookies and cache in your browser.
Check the Wi-Fi Configuration
In the bottom-right corner of Windows and the top-right corner of macOS, look for the Wi-Fi signal icon. Make that you are connected to the correct SSID with the right password by clicking the symbol. If not, you could be automatically connecting to the wrong network. Windows users may choose to Forget when they right-click a network or adjust the connection priority. Open System Preferences > Network > Advanced on a Mac, select any undesirable networks under the Auto-Join column, and then uncheck them.
Windows can assist you in problem diagnosis if you are connected to the proper network but are still experiencing issues. To launch the Windows Network Diagnostic program, right-click the network icon in your system tray and choose to Troubleshoot issues. Resetting the adaptor might occasionally fix frequent problems.
To verify sure the adapter is utilizing the right gateway address and other settings, you can also check your network adapter settings in the Control Panel's Network and Sharing Center.
Check Your Data Plan
Run a speed test on a website like Speedtest.net if your internet is operational but operating more slowly than you would like. Your computer's real speed will be indicated by a value in megabits per second. After then, check your bill on the website of your ISP.
You are receiving the speeds you paid for if the number on your bill matches the result of your speed test. You'll need to upgrade to something faster if that feels too slow. You should continue investigating if your speed test results are much slower than the speed you are paying for.
Virus checking
Malicious software on your computer may occasionally interfere with your internet connection. Scan your computer for malware, spyware, and viruses since they may all significantly slow down your system's performance and your ability to browse the web. There are several free and paid programs available in addition to Windows Defender, which is a built-in security program that can work effectively.
Override your DNS server
A Domain Name System (DNS) server is used by your computer to find up the IP address of a website when you enter its URL into your browser. These servers can occasionally have issues, making it challenging to access websites with their amiable domain names (like PCMag.com). It's comparable to having a functional phone but no contact list-you can call people, but you don't know their phone numbers.
You can try getting around your DNS server by entering an IP address into your browser, such as 216.58.197.78 (one of Google's IP addresses). If the website loads correctly, changing your DNS server or maybe flushing your DNS cache will be required to resolve your issues.
How to Interpret Blinking Lights
Examine your modem and router if you are unable to connect to the internet at all. A few LED status indications should be present on both; if none of them are lighted, the modem or router is likely disconnected or switched off. If you have both a modem and a router, detach the power cords from each device, then reconnect them both after a few seconds.
If there is a power switch, make sure it is in the On position. Plug in your router (if necessary) as soon as its lights come up and wait for it to start up as well. After connecting them in, if the lights are still out, you may have a bad router, a bad power strip, or a failed power adapter.
You should pay more attention to what the lights are saying to you if some of them are on and some of them aren't, or if they flash often. A new modem may be required, for instance, if your modem's lights are flickering rather than solid, indicating that it is unable to establish an internet connection (or a call to your ISP).
You might need to click the Wi-Fi button on the side of your router or re-enable Wi-Fi from its setup menu if the network light on your router is on but the Wi-Fi lights aren't. To determine what these lights are telling you, consult the manual for your modem and/or router.
How Many People Use the Internet?
Even if everything appears to be functioning OK, your bandwidth may be completely used by a PC software or another household member. Click the Network column to sort by network utilization in Windows' Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. On a Mac, launch Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, enter "Activity Monitor," and then select the Network tab.
You may only need to wait until a process is complete or quit it if an app is consuming a lot of bandwidth, such as when you're downloading a large file, to restore your internet speed. If you don't notice any clear offenders, check to see if anybody else is downloading a sizable file on their computer and ask them to stop. Don't let someone utilizing a gaming streaming service consume all the network bandwidth.
Improve Your Signal
There are several issues that might cause your Wi-Fi connection to lag. Try using an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to the router. If it fixes the issue, your Wi-Fi signal is insufficient enough to slow down your internet speed. How many bars are present on the Wi-Fi icon on your computer?
If you have a few bars, you might need to buy a Wi-Fi extension or relocate your router to a more central area of your home. (If you currently have a Wi-Fi extender, it could just be subpar; a mesh system will likely function better.)
If there are several Wi-Fi networks in your building but you still get full bars, it may be too crowded. Changing the channel or switching to the 5GHz frequency may help.
Refresh Your Firmware
Your modem, router, and other network devices are all controlled by firmware, which is low-level embedded software. The majority of suppliers offer downloaded firmware upgrades that can improve speed, introduce new features, and fix performance problems. To be sure you're installing the right firmware version, look for the firmware update tool in the System section of your router's settings and carefully follow the instructions. Avoid downloading firmware from unofficial websites.
Clean Up Your Settings
If restarting your router doesn't solve the issue, it's conceivable that a particular configuration is to blame. Try resetting your router to the settings it had when it was new. On the rear panel of the majority of routers, there is a little reset button that has to be pressed and held down for a few seconds until the LED lights start blinking. After it has been reset, you may log in to the online interface and start over. Just be careful not to activate the setting that first created the issue.
Purchase a new, faster router
If you have numerous PCs, cellphones, and other devices competing for bandwidth, you may want to think about switching from an outdated 802.11b or 802.11g router to a newer, more powerful one. You may pick between two radio bands when using a dual-band router, and you can set one aside for clients that demand a lot of bandwidth, such as streaming video devices and gaming consoles.
Additionally, more recent routers use cutting-edge technologies to offer quick throughput and improved Wi-Fi range. 802.11ax sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi 6 and its improved variant Wi-Fi 6E is the most recent router standard.
Get to the point
If debugging your modem and router is unsuccessful, the issue might originate farther down the supply chain. Examine the connection to your house. This is often found on the side of your home, and it could or might not be enclosed. Check to see whether a storm or a squirrel's chewings haven't loosened the main cable.
Make sure all connections are secure and the connectors are correctly crimped if you observe a cable splitter. Replace the splitter if it appears questionable (i.e., rusted or dusty). If you don't need to divide the signal, try getting rid of it entirely because inexpensive splitters can also reduce signal strength.
Dial up your ISP as a last resort
It's time to call your service provider if you've exhausted all other options and are still having trouble with your internet connection. A new connection at the pole leading into your home, new machinery, a stronger modem, or an amplifier may be necessary to fix a potential issue on their end.
It's conceivable that your ISP is simply unable to manage the increased user traffic if you're encountering slowdowns at particular times of the day (for example, after-school hours), in which case you could wish to locate a new service provider.
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