Slow internet is one of the most frustrating modern inconveniences. Whether you are trying to stream a movie, attend a video conference, or just browse the web, a weak Wi-Fi signal can bring everything to a halt. Fortunately, you don’t always need to buy a new expensive router or upgrade your plan to fix the problem. Here are several practical ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal and improve your home network performance.
Understanding Wi-Fi Signal Strength
Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand what affects your Wi-Fi signal. Physical obstacles like walls, floors, and furniture can significantly weaken signals. Electronic interference from microwaves, baby monitors, and other wireless devices also plays a role. Additionally, the distance from your router, the number of connected devices, and even the age of your equipment all impact your network’s performance.
Optimize Router Placement
The most impactful change you can make is relocating your router. According to networking experts, your router should be placed in a central, open, and elevated location.
- Centralize it: Place your router in the most central location of your home. If it is tucked away in a corner office or the basement, devices on the other side of the house will struggle to connect.
- Elevate it: Routers tend to broadcast signals slightly downward. Placing your router on a shelf or mounting it high on a wall is better than leaving it on the floor.
- Avoid Obstacles: Keep your router away from walls, corners, and enclosed spaces like cabinets or closets. These barriers absorb and deflect wireless signals. Walls, heavy furniture, and metal appliances (like fridges and stoves) are Wi-Fi killers. Water is also dense and absorbs signals, so avoid placing the router next to fish tanks or aquariums. Avoid the kitchen at all costs. Microwaves operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency as many routers and can cause significant interference. Similarly, keep your router away from large metal objects and thick concrete walls.
Adjust Router Antennas
If your router has external antennas, proper positioning matters. Most home routers use vertically polarized antennas, so maintaining their original vertical orientation is critical for optimal signal strength. For routers with multiple antennas, try positioning them at different angles—some vertical, some horizontal—to create better coverage across multiple floors. If your router has removable antennas, you might be able to replace them with “high-gain” antennas that direct the signal more effectively.
Update Firmware and Settings
Router manufacturers regularly release firmware updates that improve performance, fix security vulnerabilities, and enhance stability. Log into your router’s admin panel (usually by typing an IP address like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 into your browser) and check for updates in the “System” or “Administration” section. Many modern routers and mesh systems update automatically, but it is always worth double-checking the accompanying mobile app to ensure you are running the latest version.
While you’re in the settings, optimize your Wi-Fi channels. Routers can operate on different channels within the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. If your neighbors’ networks are on the same channel, interference increases. If you live in an apartment complex or a dense neighborhood, your neighbors’ Wi-Fi signals might be interfering with yours. You can use free apps like Wi-Fi Analyzer (Android) or NetSpot (Windows/Mac) to see which channels are most crowded in your area. Use your router’s auto-channel selection feature or manually select a less congested channel. For 2.4GHz, channels 1, 6, and 11 are the only ones that don’t overlap, making them the best choices.
Reduce Interference and Change the Frequency Band
Electronic devices can significantly disrupt Wi-Fi signals. Keep your router away from cordless phones, baby monitors, Bluetooth speakers, and other wireless devices. Most modern routers are “dual-band,” meaning they broadcast two different signals: 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
- 2.4GHz: This frequency travels through walls better and has a longer range, but it is slower and more prone to interference from other household devices (like microwaves and baby monitors).
- 5GHz: This frequency offers much faster speeds and less interference, but it has a shorter range and struggles to penetrate solid objects.
For the 2.4 GHz band, channels 1, 6, and 11 are typically the best choices as they don’t overlap with each other. A good strategy is to connect stationary devices close to the router (like a Smart TV or console) to the 5GHz band for speed. Connect mobile devices or those in far-off rooms to the 2.4GHz band for better stability.
Upgrade Your Equipment
If your router is more than five years old, it’s likely time for an upgrade. The latest Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 standards offer significantly better performance, especially when multiple devices are connected simultaneously. These newer standards handle network traffic more intelligently and provide faster speeds at greater distances.
Sometimes, the hardware simply can’t keep up with modern demands.
- Get a Better Antenna: If your router has removable antennas, you might be able to replace them with “high-gain” antennas that direct the signal more effectively.
- Use a Range Extender: These are plug-in devices that capture your Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcast it. They are affordable and easy to set up, making them ideal for adding coverage to a single problem area, but they can cut your bandwidth speed in half since they must receive and retransmit signals on the same channel.
- Mesh Wi-Fi Systems: For larger homes, this is the gold standard. Instead of one single router, a mesh system uses multiple “nodes” placed around the house to create a single, seamless, high-speed network. Unlike extenders, mesh systems handle traffic more intelligently, balance bandwidth between devices, and maintain consistent network names as you move around. Leading options in 2026 include the TP-Link Deco BE63, Netgear Orbi 770 Series, and Asus ZenWiFi systems, many of which now support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard.
Consider your devices as well. An old laptop with an outdated Wi-Fi adapter won’t benefit from a new router. You can replace internal Wi-Fi cards or use USB Wi-Fi adapters to modernize older devices.
Utilize Quality of Service (QoS) Settings
QoS is a feature found in many router settings that allows you to prioritize certain types of traffic. If your video call keeps dropping because someone else is downloading a large file or streaming 4K video, QoS can help. You can configure the router to give priority to “Video Calls” or “Gaming” over “File Downloads.” This ensures that bandwidth-heavy background tasks don’t ruin your real-time activities.
Consider a Wired Backhaul
For the absolute best performance, consider using Ethernet cables to connect devices that don’t move, like gaming consoles, desktop computers, and smart TVs. This frees up wireless bandwidth for mobile devices and eliminates interference issues entirely. You can also use wired backhaul connections between mesh nodes or access points. This creates a more stable and faster network backbone, with wireless connectivity only for the final connection to your devices.
Additional Quick Fixes
- Restart your router regularly. A simple reboot can clear temporary glitches and refresh connections. Many routers allow you to schedule automatic restarts during off-hours.
- Limit bandwidth-hogging applications. Use your router’s Quality of Service (QoS) settings to prioritize important traffic like video calls over background downloads.
- Secure your network. An unsecured network allows neighbors to piggyback on your connection, slowing your speeds. Use WPA3 security (or at least WPA2) with a strong password.
- Reduce the number of connected devices. Every device on your network consumes bandwidth. Disconnect devices you’re not actively using.
