Internet speed is slow what to do. Why the Internet speed has dropped and what to do about it

Modern technologies make it possible to develop speeds up to one gigabyte for household users. But a slow connection does not allow you to fully enjoy all the benefits of the information age.

The Internet can slow down for many reasons, ranging from viruses to line problems. With proper skill, the user himself can cope with most problems. But first you need to find them.

Viruses

There are a number of prerequisites that allow you to determine the presence of virus software:

If you find any of the above during work, you need to check your computer for viruses. If you have an antivirus program, consider an alternative. Since the installed software module does not cope with the task.

Before scanning, you need to update the virus databases to the latest version. If you are interested in what programs can help in this situation, then the best curing utility is Cureit, developed by the dr.Web laboratory. It performs a deep scan and can eliminate the most dangerous viruses.

After the treatment is completed, the best solution is to change the anti-virus utility. One of the best free apps is Avast. It has a minimal load on the system and provides decent protection. As an alternative, consider Kaspersky Internet Security.

You also need to check the firewall and configure it to work with programs that have an Internet connection. Not only that, it is important to avoid questionable sites. They are the most likely to contain malware.

Video: Internet slows down? Changing DNS settings

Operating system

Sometimes the reason that the Internet is very slow is the operating system itself. For example, such a situation is possible when the system disk is full and the OS cannot quickly access the desired entry. It is enough to delete part of the data from the system disk to get rid of this defect.

The best option would be to delete old restore points and temporary files. Be sure to empty your trash. Remember, the storage space for data sent there is reserved on the system hard drive.

Additionally, you need to take care of cleaning the registry. For this, it is better to use CCleaner. It will carefully erase obsolete entries without harming the operating system.

If, after carrying out preventive maintenance, the download speed remains the same, perhaps the reason lies in the poor-quality assembly of the OS. Unlicensed versions of Windows often cannot work properly with the network.

For example, the computer does not receive an IP, ping disappears, or unstable drivers were installed at the very beginning. In this case, the only way out is to reinstall.

Antiviruses and firewalls

In some cases, difficulties arise due to the antivirus. This is due to the fact that the program checks the information when loading web pages. If the verification algorithm is too complicated, and the information packets are large, the download will take a long time.

Turn off the firewall for a while to test this hypothesis. If the flow of data reception has increased, then the matter is in the antivirus. The best option would be to change the setting of the security utility by lowering the security level. Or you can find an alternative program that will use less system resources.

Misconfigured wireless equipment

Most users prefer wireless routers to connect devices to the network. Incorrect settings can lead to unauthorized access and slow down when downloading through a router.

Therefore, you need to set data encryption and related settings. It does not hurt to change the access password to a more complex one. In combination, it is best to use numbers and letters.

Router Limitations

To set limits, connect all devices to the network. Then go to the settings and turn on the MAC address filter. In the appropriate fields, write down the data of the connected gadgets. Make a couple of test visits to the Internet.

If nothing has changed, connect the computer directly to the cable. If changes are detected, we can conclude that the reason is in the router itself: its characteristics are not enough to ensure comfortable surfing on the network.

  1. go to the official website of the manufacturer;
  2. download the updated firmware;
  3. install.

Some operators are creating unique firmware for the routers they sell. Try installing it too. Also keep in mind that on most products only the ability to connect to a network designed for 100 Mbit / s (Ethernet 100 Mbit / s) is written. This does not mean that the device will work at the same speed.

When choosing a router, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:

  • static IP;
  • Dynamic IP;
  • PPtP;
  • L2TP;
  • PPPoE.

They indicate the real data transfer between WAN and LAN. These indicators are published on the pages of manufacturers or independent test laboratories. The last attempt to increase the speed of the router is to switch the device to bridge mode.

Video: speed up the Internet

Internet slows down after reinstalling Windows

Check if your laptop meets the system requirements of the new version of the installed OS. Test the network on other browsers. Make sure you are using the latest version of the search engine. If it's not, do an update.

Do not write off the incorrect operation of the drivers installed in automatic mode. Go to the motherboard manufacturer's website and download the appropriate software. Then make a replacement.

Important! Sometimes, in order to achieve good network performance on a new OS, you need to increase the amount of RAM or make more radical modifications to the PC.

Network card malfunctions

A network card failure is hard to spot. The device can be normally detected by the system, respond to the connected cable, but this does not indicate its serviceability.

The best option would be to connect another PC and test the Internet on it. If everything is in order, reinstall the drivers on the first computer. Ideally, you need to install another network card and try to download data from some site.

Some cards have a Full Duplex feature. It is located in the Speed&Duplex or Connection Type sections. Set the download to within 10 Mbps. If the device is faulty, this will help stabilize the channel for a while until a replacement is made.

Cable defect in the apartment

With a broken cable, the system usually indicates that there is no network as such. Without specialized equipment, the break point can only be found manually. After detecting damage, it is necessary to twist the copper wires and insulate them.

Attention! If you decide to replace the cable yourself, consider not only the number of pairs, but also the presence of twisted pairs.

Otherwise, after replacement, the speed will be extremely low. It is logical to assume that you are interested in how to make the laid cable work stably?

There are a few simple rules to follow when laying wires in an apartment:

  • lay the cable in such a way as to exclude all possible influences on it - it is best to do this on top;
  • use a drill to create holes in the walls; interior doors should not break the wire;
  • use special protective plinths to protect the wire;
  • avoid twisting.

These simple precautions will ensure long and stable cable operation.

Problems on the line

After all the above methods for increasing the speed have been tried, it remains to test the speed of data exchange with the provider. To check the line, you need to run the Ping.exe file. It is usually located in the System 32 folder. To save time, use the search bar.

Replace 10.8.0.1 with your gateway. The data packet size is 1500 bytes. Run ping. If everything is in order, then a picture like the one above will appear. If you receive the inscription "Request timed out" - contact technical support.

To restore the speed of downloading files, you will have to find the problem by exclusion. In most cases, the knowledge of an advanced user and the desire to receive information from the network at high speed are sufficient to troubleshoot a malfunction. In particularly difficult situations, you will have to contact technical support.

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What is the reason and what to do

Below we list common causes that lead to Internet slowdowns and how to fix them.

First of all check:

  • whether the torrent client is enabled on this computer or any other computer on your local network;
  • whether OS updates or other software updates are being downloaded on any of the computers in the local network.

1. Malicious software on the computer.

This is especially true for malicious browser extensions. If, in addition to a decrease in the speed of loading web pages, you also notice the appearance of advertising banners in the browser, then most likely the computer is infected with malware.

View the list of installed extensions in each browser. If detected, remove the following malicious extensions:

  • iWebbar
  • 2. Traces of malware activity after its removal

    Even if your computer is clean after an anti-virus scan, follow these steps:

    3. Viruses on another computer in the local network

    Run a virus scan on other computers on the network. A network attack may be coming from a nearby computer, as a result of which the network and the Internet may be slow and unstable. To check computers on the network for viruses, the same programs that are indicated in paragraph 1 are suitable.

    4. Failure on the router or access point.

    • Check that your router or access point settings are correct.
    • Reboot the router to eliminate the possibility of failure or freezing.
    • Make a router (modem, access point). , specifying the correct settings of your Internet provider.
    • Try updating the firmware of your router or access point. Perform by analogy with.

    Updating the firmware rarely helps with this problem. If earlier the Internet worked fine on this firmware, then most likely it's not about it. However, sometimes nevertheless, the router fails, which can only be cured by flashing it.

    5. Network adapter problem

    • network adapter. Sometimes the network adapter can work on a non-native driver, but is unstable and at a low speed.
    • Try connecting with a different network adapter, if possible.
    • Try replacing the network adapter if possible.

    6. Hacking a Wi-Fi network

    The Internet may also be slow if third parties have accessed your Wi-Fi network and are using your channel.

    Check if someone else has connected to your network:

    If you find an unknown device on the network, change the WiFi network security key using a new one. Disable remote login to the web interface of the router and access point.

    In the "old" times (in the early 2000s), the low speed of dial-up modems was enough for most people. Now high-speed Internet has become a necessity. But often even on an unlimited tariff and a broadband connection, the speed suddenly drops. How to find the reason?

    Browser and its settings

    If the Internet began to work slowly, then first of all, you need to figure out which specific programs “slow down” it. In the minds of many people, the Internet is firmly associated with the browser - the program with which websites are viewed. But the mail program, ICQ and Skype also go online. They also transmit and receive packets of information from their servers and other nodes.

    Check their work and if the speed dropped only when working in the browser, then the reason is in it. The easiest way to solve the problem is to install another browser or update an already installed one.

    Meticulous people can be offered to understand the settings of the old browser. They can crash for a variety of reasons. You need to look at the "Connection Settings" tab. Here is one of the common mistakes in setting up: there is a checkmark next to “Internet access through a proxy server” and the browser sends all its traffic through an additional server, which affects the speed of loading sites. Try disabling the proxy server and check your internet speed.

    Another reason is plugins that limit the speed of the browser. Rate limiting options are found in some types of plugins, such as download managers, or the plugin may simply be "buggy". Try disabling all plugins in the browser, restart it and check the speed.

    Automatic system or software updates

    If automatic updating is set in the operating system settings, then it can be updated at any time at will. The operating system sometimes loads a ton of information, which is not always needed. During such a download, both the Internet connection and the general operation of the computer slow down. To avoid such freezes, it is convenient to install all updates manually. This video shows the process of disabling updates in windows 7:

    The following video talks about two ways to disable updates in windows 8:

    Many programs like to update automatically: Adobe, Google Chrome, Photoshop. During the download, the bandwidth of the channel is always reduced - after all, part of the channel is occupied by updates. You can disable the automatic update function in the program settings.

    Virus infection

    If you do not have an adequate antivirus program, then with a high probability you can say that the Internet is slow due to the active activity of viruses. Malicious programs, having settled on the hard drive, begin to download considerable amounts of information, as well as send spam from the computer. To fight viruses, you need a licensed anti-virus program. Unlike other programs, it requires daily updates. Otherwise, the antivirus will be of no use.

    When the browser opens pages for a long time, it is useful to carry out a deep scan not only of the system C: drive, but also of all other drives. The free CureIt utility from Dr.Web (freedrweb.com/cureit/) and the free anti-virus program AVZ (z-oleg.com/secur/avz/download.php) do a good job of checking.

    Problem with router, switch or cable

    The problem may be on the side of the hardware through which your computer is connected. Often, due to a power surge in the network, a switch or router can freeze. Try rebooting them by turning the power off and on.

    It is a little more difficult to check the cable - it often happens that the cable is damaged due to mechanical impact on it, but such damage cannot be determined by eye. For example, they often stepped on the leg of a chair or crushed the cable with a door.

    To check, it is best to “ring” the cable with a special device - a signal will be passed through the cable and damage will be determined. This service can be obtained from computer repair companies or from the support of the provider.

    Interference from the side

    If the Internet speed is low only at certain times of the day, or under certain weather conditions - thunderstorms, snow, fog, then most likely the provider's equipment is to blame. It may not be installed correctly, it may flood with water, or it may simply not be able to handle the load during the evening hours. There are two ways out - contact the provider and wait for the problem to be fixed, or change the provider.

    If you use a Wi-Fi router to connect, then the reason for the low speed may be interference from a radio or microwave oven - Wi-Fi networks are quite sensitive to such interference. Try switching to a wired connection.

    ISP Restrictions

    What to do if you have checked all the above options, but still the speed is lower than stated in the tariff? One of the frequent reasons is the "secrets" of the provider. Some fares have speed limits under certain conditions.

    For example, if during the month the user managed to download a certain amount of data. When concluding a contract, the provider must say this, but ... Sometimes the user himself forgets about these restrictions. To “treat” such a case, you need to change the tariff. Or maybe a provider.

    Why are torrents downloading slowly?

    It happens that the Internet works fine, but the downloaded torrent does not download, or it does it at a very low speed. Downloading from a torrent resource is not like downloading from a server. On torrent sites, files are downloaded from the computers of other people registered in the system. If the torrent is slow to download, it means that it is being distributed slowly from other computers.

    What determines the distribution speed? Mainly on the number of seeds. Seeds are all those users who have the file you need on their computer and who distribute it in the torrent system. The fewer people there are, the slower the file will load. And vice versa, when a video, audio, book is very popular and is distributed to a large number of people at once, then downloading them will turn out to be “flying”. If you need to download something rare and large in volume, then it is better to leave this procedure overnight.

    Internet speed over Wi-Fi is a topic that has always been discussed, and will be discussed on various forums, in comments, etc. Very often people ask questions like: "why is Wi-Fi speed lower than cable", " why the speed through the router is less”, “how to increase the speed of the Internet via Wi-Fi”, etc. Why does this happen at all, where do these questions come from. I'll explain now.

    There is internet, which is connected to the computer directly. The provider promises a speed of, for example, 100 Mbps. When checking, the speed may be a little lower, but something like that. We buy a router, install it, and of course we check the speed, because we read somewhere that the router cuts speed. We check from the router via cable, it seems to be normal, the speed has not dropped much. We check when connecting via Wi-Fi and see that the speed is two or even more times lower than when connected via cable. For example, on Wi-Fi, out of 100 Mbps provided by the provider, there are 50 Mbps, 40, or even less left. It is clear that this does not suit us, and we begin to look for a solution. And in search of a solution, we go to pages like this one.

    If you want to see specific tips on the topic of increasing Wi-Fi speed, then I will write about this a little later, in a separate article. But, I want to say right away that the tips that I will write about, and which can already be found on the Internet, as a rule, do not give any results in terms of increasing speed. Although, it depends on individual cases. And in this article, I just want to tell you why it happens that when you connect through a router, the Internet speed is less than, for example, via cable.

    Why does a Wi-Fi router cut speed?

    Each router cuts the speed. Some less, some more. As a rule, it depends on the price of the router itself. The more expensive it is, the more powerful it is, and the more powerful it is, it means that there will be less speed cut. I'm talking specifically about connecting via Wi-Fi. If the cable speed through the router is less, then, as a rule, this is not critical. But over a wireless network, speed losses are decent.

    Many are still interested in the numbers that are indicated on the box with the router, or in the specifications. You can see speed information there. For example: up to 150 Mbps, or 300 Mbps. And here again there are questions: "why does my router support 300 Mbps, and I have a speed of 50 Mbps?". So, the manufacturer indicates the maximum speed , which under normal conditions can never be obtained. The speed will always be much lower. And from those 300 Mbps that are written on the router, we often get speeds several times lower. But how much the speed will be less, already depends on the power of the router (mostly), and on a number of other factors, which I will now talk about.

    Also, do not forget that in addition to the router, we also have a Wi-Fi receiver in our laptop, tablet, smartphone, or. Which also supports different standards, and the speed at which it works may be lower than that which the router can issue. Speed ​​is always determined by the slowest device on the network. For example: the router gives out theoretical 300 Mbps. But the adapter that receives the signal can operate at a maximum speed of 150 Mbps. And we are already getting a limit of 150 Mbps, since on the network, this device is the slowest. Well, I will go deeper into these nuances, I just wanted to explain why the speed suffers so much when connected via a Wi-Fi network.

    What determines the speed of a Wi-Fi network, and how to get the maximum speed?

    As promised, I will write in more detail about ways to increase speed in a separate instruction. And now, I will list the main reasons that affect the speed of a Wi-Fi network:

    • WiFi router. Network standards (802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac), which it supports, what technologies it uses, and the power of the hardware itself. As a rule, the more expensive the router, the higher the speed of the wireless network.
    • Router software, and Wi-Fi receiver on your computer. Very often, with updating the firmware of the router, or adapter drivers on the computer, the speed becomes faster.
    • Interference. Interference can be both from other, neighboring Wi-Fi networks (mostly), and from household appliances.
    • The power of the Wi-Fi network. It is not news that near the router, where the signal is maximum, the speed will be higher than in another room, where the network signal is no longer so stable.
    • The number of devices connected to your network. If one device is connected to your router, then it will receive all the speed that the router can give out. If we connect another device and start downloading something on it, then the speed will already be divided by 2, and so on. In addition, all connected devices create a load on the hardware of the router, which leads to a drop in speed.
    • The type of internet connection your ISP is using. The fact is that if your provider uses the Dynamic IP or Static IP connection type, then the router will cut the speed less than when connecting PPPoE, L2TP and PPTP.
    • Router settings. Correctly setting up network protection, choosing the network operation mode and channel width, as well as changing the channel, can slightly increase the speed.

    How to organize a Wi-Fi network so that the loss of speed is minimal?

    Regarding the ISP: if you have not yet connected the Internet, and if possible, then select a provider that uses Dynamic IP or Static IP connection technology. So it will be easier for the router, and setting up such a connection is much easier.

    Router selection: if you want minimal loss of speed, you will have to spend money on a router. I advise you to buy a router that can work at a frequency 5GHz(GHz), and support for . The 5GHz frequency is now practically free, which means that there will not be much interference there. After all, basically, so far, all Wi-Fi networks operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. And the new standard 802.11ac, even compared to the most popular at the moment 802.11n, allows you to transmit information at a speed of as much as 6.77 Gbps. This is of course in theory, with special equipment.

    Devices that you will connect to the network: as I wrote above, the speed also depends on network clients. It is desirable that your devices are new, with support for the modern standard 802.11ac, or at least 802.11n. If this is a computer, then update the driver for your Wi-Fi adapter. I wrote about it in .

    Check the speed of the Internet, share the results in the comments, and tell us if your router cuts the speed a lot. Good luck!

    The article discusses the reasons due to which there may be problems with the speed of Internet access, not through the fault of the provider.

    Slow internet speed due to browser issues.

    For the correct operation of the Internet, the User's Browser must meet the following requirements:

    Adobe Flash Player version 11 or higher must be installed.

    JavaScript support must be enabled.

    Disable access functions through intermediate (proxy) servers, including compression (Turbo mode).

    How does a torrent client or online game affect speed?

    When torrent programs download something, almost the entire communication channel will be occupied by this process. The same is true if you have any online games installed on your PC, when they start they usually check for updates and if any are found, they start downloading them, which also loads the channel and can slow down the speed.

    Solution. Turn off the torrent client, make sure no one is playing online or downloading any software updates. After that, you can check your internet speed.

    There may be several reasons - freezing or failure of the router itself, in this case, restarting the router will help.

    The second reason for slowing down when connecting through a router is fair in 90% of cases. Today, there are routers in almost every apartment, and they all operate at the same frequencies and channels, interfering with each other.

    The fact is that in the settings of the router, when setting up a wi-fi network, in addition to the name of the network itself and the password for it, the frequency and channel number on which radio communication will be carried out are also set. Due to the limitation of channel options, there are only 13 of them, the channel numbers of your neighbors' routers may coincide with yours and, while working, will interfere with each other, which affects the data transfer rate.

    To better understand the situation, I will give an example from life. When you communicate with someone in the same room, you hear and understand each other perfectly, and now imagine 10 more people are added to the room, who start talking about their own things at the same time, interfering with your communication. Analogy: one room - one frequency!

    That is why in the evenings and on weekends, there is so often a decrease in speed when connecting via Wi-Fi. Most of your neighbors, including equipment, overload the radio, creating a kind of "rush hour".

    Solution. If your router supports the 5 GHz frequency, use it, it is less loaded, in addition, it is recommended to change the channel number, set any other one different from the one already used from 1 to 13. If this does not help, it is recommended to connect directly via cable, without a router.

    Low internet speed due to the laptop itself.

    A heavy load on the computer's CPU can also affect the speed of Internet access. Check the CPU load, press the Ctrl, Alt and Del keys at the same time and open the task manager, if the processor is loaded at 90% or more, it makes sense to close some of the programs that load the processor, with the exception of the antivirus of course.

    Another reason for the slowdown is overheating of a computer or laptop due to improper operation, when the laptop is lying on a blanket and the air flow to the ventilation inlets is closed. Or, as a result of long-term operation, the insides of the laptop itself are clogged with dust, because of this, the ventilation and cooling device does not cope with its task.

    Solution. If you have been using a laptop for several years and have never cleaned it, it's time to do it or take your laptop to a service for cleaning.

    The impact of viruses on the speed of the Internet.

    If your PC has caught a virus, it can also affect its performance in general and Internet speed in particular.

    A very large number of people still use various pirated builds of Windows and, in addition, they install a bunch of different broken programs downloaded from torrent sites, and then they are surprised by the constant interruptions in the PC and the presence of viruses.

    Solution. Always use licensed software, primarily Windows itself and the antivirus itself, this will reduce the risk of infection. Second, check your PC regularly for viruses.

    Congestion of the content source itself - a resource, a site.

    It happens that the reason for the low speed does not lie on the side of the provider and the problem is not even in your equipment or its settings, but the resource itself is so overloaded that it is unable to provide a large number of users, for example, high-quality video and automatically downgrades it.

    Solution. Check the ability to play high quality video on another resource.