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Even if your Internet speed is stable, it's essential to fine-tune and optimize certain settings to maintain and enhance the connection speed. Additionally, keep your Mac updated to the latest version, as these updates integrate fixes related to network connections.
An important thing to remember is that your Internet speed will never exceed the maximum speed provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). So, if you've paid for a 2 Mbps Internet connection, don't expect that connection to reach 20 Mbps.
Explore Ways to Boost Internet Speed on Mac
Check your Internet connection speed
Before delving into ways to increase Internet speed on Mac, the first step is to check the Internet speed you are currently using. There are various methods to do this, with the simplest being to use websites that test Internet speed, and one such site is SpeedTest.net.
SpeedTest.net assesses your Internet speed in terms of uplink and downlink, providing useful statistics for you to compare with the average speed of your Internet Service Provider.
Alternatively, another method to check the connection speed provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is to inspect the settings on your modem or router (router), as it often displays the actual connected transmission speed, indicating the maximum speed you can achieve on the DSL line. For example, 6 Mbps, 20 Mbps, or even more.
You can also open Network Utility (located in the Applications => Utilities folder), then perform a network ping. Some websites like speedtest.net also perform ping measurements - the time it takes for the network to access a specific server, such as google.co.uk.
Normal ping times are only about a few tens of milliseconds. If you detect ping times in the hundreds of thousands, this is a warning sign that your Mac or network connection has an issue.
1. Use Wired Connection Instead of Wifi
Not just you, but many other users are unaware that using an Ethernet cable is much faster than using Wifi.
Explaining why Wifi rarely achieves connection speeds like wired networks could be as simple as signal loss, network interference causing connection speed reduction, not to mention the proliferation of Wifi access points configured to use the same radio frequency, which undoubtedly significantly reduces available bandwidth.
The simplest solution to speed up the internet on your Mac is to use a wired connection, and you'll notice a substantial increase in internet speed.
2. Relocate Wifi Router
If your purpose for using Wifi is simply for convenience and connecting on devices like iPhone, iPad, ensure you've placed the router in the optimal position without obstructions. Move the router to a location where you frequently connect via Wifi or a central spot in your home, and ensure the antennas are directed appropriately to boost internet speed on Mac.
Another thing to note is that Wifi signals can be significantly obstructed when passing through thick walls, so it's best to place the router in a room or move it closer to where you use Wifi for a faster connection speed.
Another tip is to replace your router (in case it's too old) with the latest router models, such as routers compatible with the Wifi 802.11n standard, supporting faster connection speeds and longer physical distances.
Also, try changing the wireless channel your router is broadcasting on, as most users use the default channel (usually channel 6), which can lead to interference issues.
3. Opt for the fastest Internet service provider
While this advice may seem obvious, if you want to experience fast internet connection speeds, undoubtedly you'll need to choose suitable broadband packages from your Internet service provider. Depending on your location, consider packages offering 20 Mbps, 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or higher - speeds that allow you to download a movie in just a few minutes.
Check with your Internet service provider to see if you qualify for an upgrade or if you can switch your current plan to a faster one. If not, consider switching to another Internet service provider's plan if they have promotions or discounts.
4. Check the network configurations of your Router and Mac
Your router or modem acts as the gateway connecting your Mac to the outside world. So, if the connection is sluggish, try checking the network configurations of your Router and Mac to see if there are any settings configured incorrectly.
You can access the Router's network configurations directly on your Mac by entering the router's IP address (such as 192.168.2.1, which is the default address) in the browser's address bar and view the options displayed on the screen.
You will be prompted to enter the Admin password before making any configuration changes. Most routers have log files that record actions; these logs can provide clues in case of any technical issues, and you can check the connection speed with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Additionally, you should also check the network configurations on your Mac, as some settings may be misconfigured or altered.
Follow the steps below to check network configurations on your Mac:
Step 2: Click on the Advanced button at the bottom right corner of the Network window to open advanced options, providing you with more information about network settings.
Step 3: Check each tab at the top corner (as shown below), including TCP/IP, DNS, WINS, 802.1X, Proxies, and Hardware.
The Hardware section is usually configured automatically, so choose optimal settings for your network. The values you will see include:
Speed: 100baseTX
Duplex: full-duplex, flow-control
MTU: Standard (1500)
For instance, if the Duplex settings are altered, you can revert these settings to the standard configuration. Only set values as non-standard for a specific reason. Otherwise, keep these values unchanged.
5. Activate Wireless Security Feature
Enable Wifi connection security or change the wifi password to ensure that no one else can use your internet connection. Without a new wifi password, your neighbors might freeload and use your Wifi, leading to a slow internet connection.
Typically, security settings in the wireless router configuration include Open, Shared, WEP, WPA, and WPA2. Choose one of these options, such as WPA2-PSK, for enhanced security, and set a suitable password that no one can easily guess. Additionally, explore and consider other security options for the best protection, supporting both your router and devices.
6. Reduce Time Capsule Backup Frequency
Time Machine can back up to Time Capsule via Wifi, and by default, it backs up every hour. When backing up in this manner, Time Machine consumes a significant amount of Wifi bandwidth, leaving less bandwidth for your use, connection, and internet access.
While this issue might not be substantial unless the backups are very large, you should adjust the Time Machine backup frequency to speed up the internet on your Mac and address network-related issues.
To do this, you don't necessarily need to open Time Machine to customize settings. Just open Terminal from the Applications => Utilities folder and enter the following commands, pressing Enter. Note that the backup time in this command is measured in seconds, so if the backup time is 1 hour (default), the equivalent value in the command is 3,600 seconds:
defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto
StartInterval -int
For example, the command below sets Time Machine to back up every 2 hours:
defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto
StartInterval -int <7200>
If you don't want to get your hands dirty with manual commands in Terminal, you can use a third-party application called TimeMachineScheduler as an alternative.
Download TimeMachineScheduler to your computer and install it here: Download TimeMachineScheduler
7. Close unnecessary apps and tabs on your browser
Your Internet speed can lag if you have dozens of tabs open in your browser or apps that require an Internet connection. If you're running multiple apps and websites like Safari, Mail, Skype, Reeder, Facebook, Twitter, etc., these apps and websites demand an Internet connection for syncing and updates.
Even iCloud and some other apps may 'steal' your bandwidth for syncing. So, only open apps when you genuinely feel they are necessary.
8. Optimize, clean, and reset Safari browser
Most Mac users opt for Safari as it's one of the best browsers and comes pre-installed on Mac. However, like other browsers, over time Safari accumulates cookies, browsing history, bookmarks, etc. This can cause Safari to slow down. Here are some ways to speed up the Safari browser for a faster web browsing experience:
Step 1: In the Safari menu, open Preferences, then go to the Privacy tab and click the Manage Website Data... button =>Remove All.
Step 2: Clear browsing history: Safari Menu =>Clear History to clean up your browsing traces and data.
Step 3: Disable Safari extensions: Safari Menu =>Preferences => Extensions tab, disable each extension individually or disable all.
Disable Safari extensions (Safari -> Preferences -> Extensions tab) either individually or all at once.
Step 4: Delete the com.apple.Safari.plist file in the ~Library/Preferences folder. Deleting this file may result in the loss of some settings as they will be recreated when you open the browser next time.
9. Switch to using a different browser
Safari is considered one of the fastest web browsers today as it is optimized for Mac. However, Mac users can choose and use other popular browsers such as Firefox or Chrome and test if the browsing speed is faster than Safari.
10. Optimize internet speed on Mac with third-party apps
Some third-party specialized apps can optimize and speed up the Internet connection on your Mac. These apps are often capable of cleaning browser cache, page history, and freeing up hard drive and memory space to enhance the Internet speed on your Mac.
One of the best system cleanup apps is CleanMyMac 3 by MacPaw, which works seamlessly with both El Capitan and macOS Sierra.
Download CleanMyMac 3 to your computer and install it here: Download CleanMyMac 3
Here, Mytour has provided and guided you through 10 ways to speed up the Internet on your Mac. From now on, if you feel your Internet connection is slow, you can apply these methods to boost your Internet speed. Wish you success!
