How to Fix Slow Wi-Fi on Your Smartphone

What’s more annoying than when you’re streaming videos, browsing the web, or downloading apps and everything is taking forever? Slow Wi-Fi can occur because of weak signals, network congestion, device settings, router issues, etc., but most problems can be fixed with some simple steps.

This guide will give you practical tips and quick solutions to improve Wi-Fi speed on Android and iOS devices. Hopefully, you can diagnose the problem and get back to a fast, reliable connection.

Table of Contents

First Things First: Easy Fixes

Before you start messing around with complicated stuff, try these quick fixes that usually can get your Wi-Fi back on track:

Reboot Your Router: Unplug your router, count to 30, and plug it back in. It’s like giving your network a quick rest to clear out any glitches (and you know how well restarting works on Windows PCs!).
Restart Your Phone: Just turn your phone off and back on. This can fix weird connection issues by resetting things on the backend.
Toggle Wi-Fi: Head to your phone’s Wi-Fi settings, switch it off for a few seconds, then turn it back on. It’s a little like hitting refresh on your connection.
Is It Just Wi-Fi? Switch to mobile data to see if things speed up. If they do, your Wi-Fi’s the problem. Try connecting another device to the same Wi-Fi to figure out if your phone is the issue or the network.

These are super simple but work a lot of the time because they handle basic network hiccups that, for some reason, still exist today.

Boosting Your Wi-Fi Signal

If your Wi-Fi signal is weak, your speeds are going to suffer. Here’s how to make sure your signal is as strong as possible:

Get Closer to the Router: The farther you are, the worse the signal. Move closer to your router and see if that helps.
Place Your Router Smartly: Try to place your router in the middle of your home, away from any walls or furniture, and maybe pop it up on a shelf so it’s a bit higher. Walls and floors can block signals like nobody’s business.
Try Extenders or Mesh Systems: Got a big house or multiple floors? Wi-Fi extenders or mesh networks can spread the signal everywhere you need it and are worth the extra cost.

Where you put your router matters a lot, especially for single routers, and obstructions can drain your performance.

Cutting Down on Interference

Other devices or networks can mess with your Wi-Fi, slowing things down to a crawl. Here’s what to do to relieve some of the congestion:

Keep Routers Away from Gadgets: Microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors can sometimes interfere since they use similar frequencies (like 2.4GHz). Move your router away from these devices if possible.
Switch Wi-Fi Channels: In busy or crowded areas like apartment complexes or condos/townhomes, nearby networks can conflict with yours. Use a Wi-Fi analyzer to pick a less crowded channel:
- Android: Download an app like Wi-Fi Analyzer from Google Play.
- iOS: If you’ve got an Apple router, try AirPort Utility (App Store). There are also lots of analyzer apps for iPhone and iPad.
Try Out 5GHz Band: Otherwise, log into your router’s settings through a browser or via the dedicated app. If your router has a 5GHz option, make sure it’s enabled. It’s faster and less crowded, though the signal doesn’t reach as far. Check your phone’s Wi-Fi settings to make sure it’s compatible (99% of smartphones in the last 5 years support 5GHz).

Switching channels or bands can really clear things up. If not, someone on your network could be eating up all the bandwidth.

Dealing with Network Overload

Too many devices hogging your Wi-Fi can slow it down to a crawl:

Cut Back on Heavy Usage: Streaming 4K videos, gaming, or downloading huge files consumes bandwidth, albeit for a short amount of time. With more folks using streaming services for TV, like YouTube TV, Hulu, etc., you may have to call your ISP and upgrade your Internet plan to handle the load.
Public Wi-Fi Sucks: Places like coffee shops or airports have crowded networks. If it’s too slow, switch to mobile data or find a less packed network.
Check Always-on Devices – Another new problem is having too many IoT devices connected to your network. These include cameras, networked TVs/DVD players, sensors, etc. Ring and Nest cameras can eat up hundreds of megabytes worth of monthly data per camera.

Managing who and what is using up the bandwidth on your network is key, especially during busy times or if the WiFi seems slow all the time.

Tweaking Your Phone

Sometimes your phone’s settings or apps are the problem. Here’s how to fix things for Android and iOS.

For Both Android and iOS

Shut Down Background Apps: Apps running in the background can suck up bandwidth. Swipe them away in your phone’s app switcher.
Update Everything: Outdated software can cause slowdowns. Check for updates:
- Android: Go to Settings > System > Software Update for system updates, and hit up Google Play for app updates.
- iOS: Check Settings > General > Software Update for iOS updates, and go to the App Store for app updates.
Clear Out Cache: Too much cached data can bog things down:
- Android: Head to Settings > Apps, pick an app, and tap Clear Cache.
- iOS: For Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. For other apps, you might need to delete and reinstall them.

Android-Specific Tips

Turn Off Battery Saver: Some battery-saving modes slow down Wi-Fi to save power. Disable it in Settings > Battery > Battery Saver.
Disable Data Saver: This can limit background data and mess with speeds. Turn it off in Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver.

iOS-Specific Tips

Forget and Reconnect: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the (i) next to your network, and tap Forget This Network. Reconnect with your password.
Reset Network Settings: In Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This wipes all Wi-Fi passwords and network settings, so you’ll need to set them up again.
Turn Off Networking & Wireless: Head to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and switch off Networking & Wireless. It might mess with some location features but can help Wi-Fi.

These tweaks fix software issues that can slow your Wi-Fi speeds.

Extra Steps If You’re Still Stuck

If your Wi-Fi’s still dragging along and you can’t figure out why, try these other possible fixes:

Check Your VPN: VPNs can slow things down because of encryption. Lots of VPN apps love to automatically turn themselves on when you turn on your phone, so make sure to turn it off by going into the app. iPhones also support VPNs natively, so go to Settings and toggle VPN to see if speeds improve.
Get a New Router: Old routers might not handle modern Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 6. A newer model could make a big difference.
Call Your ISP: If nothing works, your internet provider might be the issue. Give them a call to check for outages or plan bandwidth problems.
Run a Speed Test: Use an app like Speedtest by Ookla on Android or iOS to measure your Wi-Fi speed before and after fixes.
Check for Hardware Problems: It’s rare, but your phone’s Wi-Fi antenna could be faulty. Drop your SIM into another phone to test. If speeds are fine, take your phone to a pro.

How to Know It Worked

Grab a speed test app and check your Wi-Fi speed before and after trying these fixes. If your download and upload speeds jump up, you’re good to go. If not, go back through the steps, talk to your ISP, or reach out to Apple Support if your device is covered by Apple Care.

Wrapping Up

Nobody likes dealing with slow Wi-Fi, but you can do something about it! From quick reboots to tweaking your phone’s settings, these tips should get your Android or iOS device running smoothly again. If you’re still having trouble, it might be time to upgrade your router or chat with your ISP. Here’s a quick summary of all the fixes in an easy-to-view table:

Step	Action	Applies To
Restart Router	Unplug for 30 seconds and plug back in	All devices
Restart Smartphone	Power off and on	Android, iOS
Toggle Wi-Fi	Turn Wi-Fi off and on in settings	Android, iOS
Move Closer to Router	Reduce physical distance to router	All devices
Optimize Router Placement	Central, open location, elevated	All devices
Change Wi-Fi Channel	Use Wi-Fi analyzer to find least congested channel	Android, iOS
Close Background Apps	Free up bandwidth by closing unused apps	Android, iOS
Update Software	Check for OS and app updates	Android, iOS
Clear Cache	Clear app cache (Android) or Safari cache (iOS)	Android, iOS
Disable Battery Saver	Turn off modes that limit Wi-Fi performance	Android
Forget Network	Remove and reconnect to Wi-Fi network	iOS
Reset Network Settings	Erase network configurations and re-enter passwords	iOS
Disable VPN	Temporarily turn off VPN to test speeds	Android, iOS