Why Is My WiFi So Bad At Home?

Today, it’s hard to imagine a world without WiFi. As great as WiFi is, it isn’t always as reliable as one would hope, especially considering how expensive it is. So, why is my WiFi so bad at home?

If you have a poor or unrelible WiFi connection at home, you should look online to see if there are any local Internet Service Provider outages. ISPs also throttle network speeds between 7 PM and 11 PM to address network congestion. Otherwise, you may need to buy a WiFi range extender or replace your router altogether.

If your performance is consistently unreliable, you may want to switch to a new ISP. Follow along as we explore what causes WiFi issues at home and highlight some easy fixes.

Why is My Internet So Slow?

1. Local Outage

If your WiFi is not working well right now, it may simply be due to a local outage. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) rely on special equipment and towers to provide WiFi to their customers. Like anything else that is manmade, this equipment can experience trouble, which can explain why your WiFi is so bad at home.

That’s especially true during heavy rain, snow, hail, and extreme temperature fluctuations. ISPs typically notify their customers when outages occur due to their own issues. However, this sometimes takes a while, and their customers are left wondering what’s wrong. Some people unknowingly disable notifications from their ISPs, so they don’t know what happened. If that applies to you, you can search for local WiFi outages online.

2. Overcrowded Network

When many people use the same WiFi network, the performance speed will suffer. This is a common problem for families and homes with several roommates who all use WiFi-connected devices. Things get even worse when people are using multiple Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously.

In the moment, you can remedy this problem by shutting off some of the devices that are using WiFi. This will help remedy some of the network congestion, and your WiFi speed should improve. However, you may need to upgrade to a better, faster plan to properly fix the issue.

3. Outdated Router

Your WiFi performance is only as good as your router. Unfortunately, WiFi routers are often inconsistent when it comes to their lifespans. ISPs typically recommend replacing your WiFi router every 3 to 5 years, but they can go bad sooner than that.

Some routers last up to 7 years, so it’s hard to tell when to replace it. However, many common WiFi problems relate to an outdated router, so replacing it should fix most issues. A consistently slow speed, weak signals, and overheating can indicate that your router is bad.

If your router is bad, your devices will frequently disconnect from WiFi. The good news is that WiFi routers get better every year, so your new router should provide noticeable improvements.

4. Provider Throttling

WiFi providers manipulate your Internet connection more than you may know. This is called throttling, and it involves temporarily slowing Internet speeds. ISPs do this during peak Internet usage times to compensate for the network congestion.

You’re more likely to notice this at night between 7 PM and 11 PM when most people are home from work. ISPs specifically throttle the speed for streaming and installations. If your WiFi is only bad during this time, it’s likely due to WiFi throttling.

5. Weak Range

Is your WiFi signal strong in some parts of your house and slow in others? If so, that’s likely due to the proximity of your computer to the WiFi router in your home. For example, you may notice a poor streaming performance on the TV that’s furthest from the router.

Conversely, a computer that’s near the router may run smoothly and quickly. The good news is that your router is probably fine, and the bad news is that you may need to purchase another gadget. For example, you can improve your WiFi range and performance with a range extender. Many ISPs sell WiFi range extenders for between $50 and $120, and they’re easy to install. Otherwise, you can buy a second router, which some people need in large homes.

6. Network Interference

WiFi isn’t perfect, and it’s vulnerable to interference from other devices and nearby WiFi networks. For example, you may experience network interference if you live in a large apartment building where everyone has their own WiFi network. In that case, you may need to switch your router to run on a channel that isn’t so crowded.

It also helps to keep your router away from shared walls to minimize the interference. You should also move your WiFi router away from powerful electronics, like microwaves. Microwaves and WiFi routers both use a 2.4 GHz frequency band, so interference is hard to avoid.

7. Too Many Tabs And Background Apps

Is your WiFi bad at home when you’re scrolling through your phone? If so, that may have more to do with how you’re using your phone than it does with your router itself. For example, you’ll likely experience Internet speed problems if you keep a lot of browser tabs open simultaneously.

This can also happen if you run too many apps in the background, as it can overwhelm your phone and network. It’s a good idea to close browser tabs as soon as you no longer need them. Close apps when you’re done with them to ensure the apps you need to use can run fast.

8. Outdated Devices

Updates often install manually on many devices, like phones and TVs, but that’s not always the case. For example, you may receive notifications telling you about updates, but then it’s up to you to install them. The longer you wait to install these updates, the worse your devices will perform.

That’s especially true for devices you use to browse the Internet and stream videos. Your WiFi may not be as bad as it seems in that case, especially if your router is relatively new. It’s worth updating WiFi-enabled devices to ensure the best performance possible.

9. ISP Infrastructure Problems 

Some ISPs are better for certain areas than others, and this can be frustrating. For example, you may move to a new area and get a new router from an ISP you’ve used for years. Suddenly, you may have slow speeds and performance issues you never experienced in your old home.

This is largely because ISPs have different infrastructure in different areas. For example, they may invest more heavily in areas where they have a large customer base. Because of that, you may be better off switching to one of their popular competitors in your new town.

It’s worth going online and seeing what locals have to say about their WiFi performance. This can reveal much more than speaking to a salesperson looking to earn a commission.

Summing It Up

Local Wi-Fi provider outages can explain why your WiFi is so bad at home. You can also experience issues during peak WiFi usage hours (7 PM-11 PM) when ISPs throttle the service. Otherwise, you may simply need to update your devices and replace your router to improve your WiFi performance.

Related Guides:

• Wired Connection Slower Than WiFi? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
• Roku TV Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi? (Possible Causes & Fixes)