Slow or patchy Wi-Fi? Let’s fix it
Answer a few questions and we’ll find why your Wi-Fi is slow or dropping — a badly-placed router, distance and walls, interference, an ageing router, or one specific device — and give you the exact fix. It all runs in your browser.
Last updated: · Written by The NetSorted team
The most common Wi-Fi problems — and fixes
- Bad router placement. Cupboards, floors and corners kill signal. Central, open and high is best.
- Distance and walls. Far rooms need a mesh system, extender or powerline — one router can’t cover everything.
- Wrong band. Use 5GHz up close for speed, 2.4GHz further away for range.
- Interference. Crowded networks and 2.4GHz gadgets slow things down; change channel and prefer 5GHz.
- An old router. A 5+ year-old or basic router can’t deliver fast modern Wi-Fi — ask your provider or upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fix slow Wi-Fi?
Start by moving your router somewhere central, open and high up — it’s the biggest free win. Then use 5GHz close to the router and 2.4GHz further away, cut interference, and if distance and walls still win, add a mesh system for whole-home coverage.
Why is my Wi-Fi slow in some rooms but not others?
That’s a coverage problem. Wi-Fi weakens quickly with distance and through walls and floors. Reposition the router first; if a room is far away or behind thick walls, a mesh node or extender in that area is the fix.
Is it my Wi-Fi or my broadband that’s slow?
Plug a device into the router with a cable and test it. If wired is fast, your line is fine and the problem is Wi-Fi. If wired is also slow, it’s your broadband line — not Wi-Fi.