How to Improve Your Wi-Fi Signal at Home

Start with a baseline

Before you change anything, measure. Run the speed test in the room where Wi-Fi is weak and write down the download, upload and ping. After each change, test again in the same spot, so you can see what actually helped.

1. Move the router

Placement is the cheapest and most effective fix.

• Put it in a central spot, not in a corner of the house.
• Raise it. A shelf or a high table works better than the floor.
• Keep it in the open. Cupboards, TV cabinets and spots behind furniture weaken the signal.
• Keep it away from thick walls, large metal objects, fish tanks and mirrors, which absorb or reflect the signal.
• Keep it away from microwave ovens and cordless phone bases.

2. Use the right band

• 2.4 GHz reaches farther and passes through walls better, but it is slower and more crowded.
• 5 GHz is faster and less crowded, but its range is shorter.
• 6 GHz (on newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 equipment) can be the fastest, with the shortest range.

Use 5 GHz or 6 GHz for devices that are near the router, and 2.4 GHz for distant devices that need only a little speed. Many routers merge the bands under one name, and you can usually split them in the settings.

3. Choose a less crowded channel

If you live in a flat or a dense area, your neighbors' networks share the same channels. On 2.4 GHz, channels 1, 6 and 11 do not overlap, so one of those is usually the best choice. On 5 GHz there are more channels, so crowding is less of a problem. Many routers can pick the best channel automatically, so try the automatic setting first.

4. Update the router

Check the router's settings or app for firmware updates. Updates fix bugs, improve stability and sometimes add features. Do this before you buy anything.

5. Reduce what shares the connection

Disconnect devices you do not use, pause large downloads and cloud backups, and move smart-home devices to a separate guest network if your router supports one.

6. Add coverage the right way

• Mesh system: several units that work together as one network. It is the best choice for larger or multi-story homes, especially if the units connect to each other by Ethernet cable.
• Wi-Fi extender: a single unit that repeats the signal. It is cheaper, but a basic extender that uses one radio for both sides can cut the speed of the extended connection roughly in half, and it adds delay.
• Access point connected by cable: a good option if you can run Ethernet to another room.
• Powerline adapters: use your electrical wiring. Results depend heavily on your wiring.

7. Use a cable where you can

Anything that does not move, such as a desktop, a console or a TV, is better on Ethernet. It frees up Wi-Fi capacity for everything else, and it is faster and steadier. See Wi-Fi vs Ethernet.

8. Consider a newer router

If your router is more than five or six years old, or if it was supplied with an older plan, a newer model can handle more devices and faster speeds. Check that it matches the speeds you pay for.

What to expect

Better placement and the right band often help noticeably. Even the best Wi-Fi cannot be as steady as a cable, and speeds will always drop with distance. If you improve the signal and the speeds are still well below your plan, test on a cable and read are you getting the speed you pay for?.