5 Easy Ways to Boost Internet Speed When Sharing Your Network

Sometimes, your internet speed decides your mood, especially if you are working from home or streaming your favorite show. A poor internet connection can be frustrating and even disruptive. And if you’re sharing your Wi-Fi with family, friends, or roommates, chances are your speed takes a hit more often than you’d like. But the solution isn’t as complicated as it seems. You don’t have to learn geek speak. Just a few smart moves can transform your laggy connection. Here are five simple yet effective ways to boost your internet speed while sharing your network.

1. Prioritize Devices Using Quality of Service (QoS)

Most modern routers come with a feature called Quality of Service, which helps you choose which devices or apps have faster internet speeds. For instance, you can prioritize your video call or streaming over somebody else downloading a big file or playing online games. This way, you get a higher internet speed while other users also use the internet from the same network. Also, if you’re having guests over, you might run into the common question of how to share a Wi-Fi password on iPhone. Simply choose your network in the Wi-Fi settings and then click the share button. It's that simple.

How to use Quality of Service:

1. Log in to your router’s settings
2. Locate the section labeled "QoS Settings" or "Traffic Management"
3. Select which devices or apps to prioritize

When you are hosting guests, prioritize your devices and apps. This way, your work will run smoothly and not be interrupted.

2. Use a Dual-Band or Tri-Band Router

Different Wi-Fi routers work differently, so if you're still using an older, single-band router, it might slow things down. Dual-band or tri-band routers, which use two or more signals (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), provide more flexibility and reduce congestion.

• 2.4 GHz: Slower but covers a larger area, great for general browsing
• 5 GHz: Faster, ideal for streaming and gaming, but with a shorter range
• Tri-band routers include an extra 5 GHz band to handle even more traffic efficiently

You can separate devices across different bands, like putting heavy-use ones like smart TVs or gaming consoles, basically the ones that use a lot of internet, on the 5 GHz signal so they work faster.

3. Limit Background Activities and Unused Devices

Many apps and devices use the internet in the background without you realizing it, like when a computer updates itself or when files are saved to the cloud. These minor adjustments largely impact your Wi-Fi, especially if multiple people or devices are connected.

So, what can you do in such situations?

• Turn off cloud apps like Google Drive or Dropbox when you are not using them
• Disable autoplay on videos across social platforms
• Close unused browser tabs and disconnect idle devices, like tablets or smart speakers

4. Place Your Router in a Central Location

Wifi signals weaken with distance and can be blocked by walls, furniture, or appliances like microwaves. So, it's better to avoid keeping your router in a corner or behind clutter, as this may drastically reduce its performance.

So, consider doing the following things:

• Place the router in the center of your home and keep it elevated on a shelf or table
• Keep routers away from metal objects, thick walls, and electronic interference
• For large homes, consider using Wi-Fi extenders or mesh Wi-Fi systems to improve coverage across every room

5. Secure Your Network and Manage Access

A strong Wi-Fi password shields your connection from unauthorized users or those you don't want to share the network with. If your password is weak, it’s easier for someone to figure it out and gain access, which can slow down your network and allow others to use your internet without your knowledge. You can keep your internet safe and fast with a strong password and enabling security settings like WPA2 or WPA3, reliable methods for locking your network.

Featured Image by Freepik.