How to Speed Up a Slow Internet Connection

Switch to a different browser. Some users stick with Internet Explorer, which, while not a bad browser, uses up a lot of resources. As websites become more sophisticated, the amount of processing needed to load them increases, meaning it's often better to use a browser that allows customization to block ads and unnecessary elements.

• Firefox offers numerous extensions to block elements like JavaScript, ads, Flash, and more until you enable them. One key add-on is Adblock Plus, which nearly eliminates ads from your browsing experience and boosts loading speed significantly. You might also want to try Fasterfox Lite, an extension that provides advanced speed options for Firefox.
• Though it came later, Google Chrome uses very little memory and works well with websites heavy in JavaScript and Flash. You may also want to explore the FastestChrome add-on.
• Opera features compression technology (Opera Turbo) specifically designed for slow connections. It has proven highly effective in many cases.

Remove unwanted add-ons, extensions, and plugins. While many add-ons and extensions can help improve your browsing experience, others slow down page loading times (especially those unnecessary elements like themes, skins, and small tools you've grown tired of). Try disabling all non-essential add-ons and plugins to achieve better browsing and loading speeds.

• To disable add-ons in Firefox, go to Tools > Add-ons and disable both unwanted add-ons and plugins. Restart Firefox for the changes to take effect.
• To disable add-ons in Google Chrome, go to Customize > Tools > Extensions and disable unwanted plugins. Restart Chrome for the changes to take effect.
• To disable add-ons in Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Manage Add-ons and disable the unwanted plugins. Restart the browser for the changes to take effect.

Close unused browser tabs. Even if you're not actively viewing them, many pages refresh their content every few minutes or seconds to keep you updated (news websites, Facebook, and Twitter are prime examples of this). Close tabs you're not using to prevent them from hogging your bandwidth.

Allow the use of (some) cookies and cache files. This means part of your browsing history or even personal information will be tracked and/or stored. While some of this may seem invasive, much of it is harmless and can actually help speed up page loads. If you're concerned about privacy, you can block all cookies by default and add trusted sites to the 'Exceptions' list. Additionally, avoid setting your browser to clear cache automatically upon closing. Remember, cookie and cache settings vary between browsers. To change these settings:

• In Firefox, go to Tools > Options > Privacy.
• In Internet Explorer, go to Tools (possibly represented by a gear icon) > Internet Options > Browsing History and ensure that the option Delete browsing history on exit is not selected. For more controlled deletion, go to Delete... and select Preserve favorite website data.
• In Chrome, go to Tools (possibly represented by a wrench icon) > Settings, scroll down and click Show Advanced Settings > Privacy > Content Settings.

Switch your wireless device to a different channel. If you live close enough to your neighbors to see their wireless networks, chances are your device is being crowded because it’s broadcasting on the same channel as theirs. To check, download, install, and run a program like inSSIDer to scan the local wireless networks and their corresponding channels.

• Find your wireless network in the list (usually at the top) and check which channel it’s broadcasting on. Compare it to the channels in use by other networks. Ideally, it should be the only one on that channel (as shown in the example below), but in reality, this may not be possible (in busy areas, it might be unfeasible). Look for channels 1 to 11 that are either unused or have few networks on them and take note of the over-crowded channels (in the example below, channel 6 is overloaded).
• If needed, change your wireless channel. Connect to your modem/router's IP address (refer to your user manual, check on the device itself, or search online for the IP), locate the channel setting (this will vary depending on your device), and select an alternative channel from the drop-down list.

Reset your wireless router or move it to a different room that better suits its central position. Ideally, the direct line of sight between your computer and the router should be unobstructed.

Avoid interference from other wireless devices. For instance, cordless phones can disrupt your wireless connection. If both devices share a phone jack, keep them at least half a meter apart to minimize disruption.

Use Ethernet cables. Wireless networks offer convenience and freedom, but they come with signal interference, especially when transmitting through walls, reducing overall performance. Opt for Ethernet cables as your primary connection and reserve wireless for essential moments.

Upgrade your devices. Older modems and routers may not be powerful enough to keep up with the potential speed of your internet plan.

Determine the speed that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) should be delivering. This is crucial because a slow connection might be an issue on their end, not yours. The exact speed will be listed on your bill. If you don't have the bill, you can visit the provider's website or contact them directly to confirm the speed details.

Run an online speed test. The result should be close to the speed promised by your ISP. If the result is lower, try using a different computer to test. If both machines show slow results, contact your internet service provider. If the issue is only with your network, check your computer.

Upgrade to a better internet package. If you've stuck with the same speed for many years, your current plan may no longer be sufficient for today's increasingly complex websites. If you've been loyal to one provider for a long time, ask for a discount when upgrading as a reward for your continued business. Otherwise, compare other plans, as many providers offer incentives to switch.

Eliminate unnecessary programs. Your internet connection requires memory to achieve the optimal speed of your plan. If your computer is bogged down by programs you don't need, the network speed will slow down. Close any programs you aren't actively using.

Scan for viruses and spyware. Both viruses and spyware occupy memory, contributing to slower network speeds. Perform a thorough scan of your system, or scan individual drives even while running or with automatic scanning enabled. Regular scanning will help detect newly emerging threats (please refer below for free virus and spyware scanning programs if needed).

Make sure you're not running two firewalls. These can interfere with each other, leading to security issues and also degrading your web browsing performance. Specifically, if you’re using Windows but have downloaded or purchased a separate firewall, double-check to ensure that you’re not running Windows Firewall at the same time (this is enabled by default). Go to Search > Windows Firewall and, if necessary, click Change Settings to disable it.

Check available storage space. If your hard drive is nearly full, move infrequently used files to an external drive, burn them to CDs or DVDs, or delete them. Your computer uses free space on the hard drive as virtual memory. So, a full hard drive will slow down both your computer and your network connection.

Run a disk defragmentation program, ideally every two weeks. This will improve overall performance and also benefit your internet connection.

Consider upgrading your computer. Older computers might not have the power to handle many modern internet tasks. Even something simple like upgrading your RAM (Random Access Memory) could make a big difference. However, if your computer is more than five years old, it might be time to consider purchasing a newer machine OR switching to a different operating system. Reverting to an older Windows version, like XP, or experimenting with different Linux distributions can often breathe new life into old computers. You can even install an operating system directly on the browser if web browsing is your main focus (e.g., xPud, browserLinux, Slitaz, etc.)!

Tắt máy tính mỗi tối. Để máy tính ở chế độ tạm nghỉ mà không tắt hay bật hẳn mỗi ngày hay tương tự sẽ giới hạn bộ nhớ và nhanh chóng làm chậm tốc độ Internet.

• Cập nhật chương trình quét virus và phần mềm gián điệp. Những định nghĩa lỗi thời sẽ không có tác dụng và nội dung mới có thể được thêm vào gần như hàng ngày. Hãy luôn cập nhật trước khi quét cũng như những lúc tải một chương trình mới.
• Kể cả khi chương trình quét virus đồng thời cũng có tính năng quét phần mềm gián điệp, bạn vẫn nên sử dụng một chương trình quét phần mềm gián điệp riêng.
• Gọi chuyên gia máy tính.
• Kiểm tra hóa đơn nhà cung cấp dịch vụ mạng và xác định liệu đó là KB (kilobyte) hay Kb (kilobit). Sự khác biệt của chúng nằm ở chỗ 1 Kb tương đương với 1024 byte còn 1 KB tương đương với 8192 bit.
• Nếu tắt chức năng hiển thị hình ảnh trên Google Chrome, bạn sẽ có thể tiết kiệm nhiều dữ liệu và thời gian.

• Đừng cố tải bất kỳ chương trình "gia tăng tốc độ" nào cho kết nối của bạn. Hầu hết sẽ không có tác dụng gì và nếu có, thì thậm chí có thể sẽ khiến kết nối mạng trở nên chậm hơn. Phần mềm quản lý bộ nhớ cũng vậy.
• Cẩn trọng với những chương trình có vẻ như là chương trình diệt phần mềm gián điệp hay những chương trình khác được quảng cáo là sẽ giúp cải thiện hiệu suất hoạt động của máy. Nhiều trong số chúng sẽ chẳng có tác dụng gì và còn có thể chứa phần mềm gián điệp hay ảnh hưởng tiêu cực đến hiệu suất. Hãy luôn tìm hiểu trước khi tải chương trình nào đó. Kiểm tra đánh giá (không phải chứng thực) từ những người dùng khác trên website có tiếng.
• Nếu máy tính bị nhiễm phần mềm gián điệp, thay đổi trình duyệt sẽ không giải quyết được vấn đề của bạn.
• Đừng cùng lúc chạy nhiều chương trình quét virus. Chúng sẽ chỉ ảnh hưởng lẫn nhau và khiến virus ẩn mình trót lọt.
• Bạn nên tiến hành kiểm tra băng thông trực tuyến trong vài ngày liên tiếp tại những thời điểm khác nhau bởi băng thông của họ (hay của bạn) có thể bị tắc nghẽn. Hãy tìm tốc độ kết nối "trung bình" và hành động cho phù hợp.
• Cẩn thận khi tắt các chương trình. Một số chương trình là cần thiết để chạy những chương trình khác. Nếu không chắc, hãy tìm tên trên công cụ tìm kiếm để biết được đó là gì hay có được lời khuyên từ các chuyên gia.