Slow Wi-Fi feels like a broken router, but the router is often fine and the problem is placement, interference, or a slow internet plan. Before changing settings, find out whether the internet itself is slow or only the Wi-Fi is slow, the fix is completely different.
The fix, in order
Test with a wired connection. Plug a computer directly into the router with an Ethernet cable and run a speed test with the internet speed test. If wired speeds are good but Wi-Fi is slow, the problem is the Wi-Fi. If wired speeds are slow too, the problem is the plan, the line, or the modem.
Restart the router and modem. Unplug both for 60 seconds, plug the modem back in first, wait for its lights to settle, then plug the router back in. This clears temporary glitches and stale sessions.
Move the router. Put it in a central, open spot, up high, away from thick walls, metal, mirrors, and microwaves. Every wall between the router and your device costs speed, and a router in a cabinet is slower than one in the open.
Use the right band. The 5 GHz band is much faster at close range, while 2.4 GHz reaches further but is slower and more crowded. Use 5 GHz in the same room as the router and 2.4 GHz further away.
Change the Wi-Fi channel. Neighboring networks on the same channel slow each other down. In the admin page, set the 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11, whichever is least crowded, and let the 5 GHz band pick automatically if that option exists. The Wi-Fi channel planner can help you find the least crowded channel.
Update the firmware and check the plan. Old firmware can throttle speeds, and an old router may not keep up with a fast plan. Also check what speed your plan actually promises, a 100 Mbps plan will never deliver 500 Mbps, no matter how good the router is.
Do not buy a new router before testing wired speeds. If the wired connection is slow, a new router will not help, and the money is better spent on the line or the plan.
If it still happens
If wired speeds are good, the router is in the open, channels are clear, and Wi-Fi is still slow on every device, the router's wireless radio may be failing or simply too old for the number of devices in the home. A mesh system or a newer router is the practical fix. If wired speeds are slow too, contact your provider through its official support channel about the line and the plan.
Common questions
Why is my Wi-Fi slow in one room but fast in another? Distance and walls. Wi-Fi weakens with every wall and floor it crosses, and the 5 GHz band fades fastest. Moving the router, or adding a mesh node or access point, is the fix.
Does the number of connected devices slow Wi-Fi down? Yes, especially on older routers. Every connected device takes a share of the router's attention, and smart home gadgets stay connected all day. Disconnect what you do not use.
Why is Wi-Fi slower than my plan promises? Plan speeds are measured over a wired connection, in ideal conditions. Wi-Fi always delivers less, because of distance, walls, interference, and the limits of the band. A wired test shows what the plan actually delivers.