Slow internet speeds are frustrating, but it can also be hindering for businesses that depend on access to high speed internet to accomplish their goals. While any number of issues may be the culprit behind a speed slow down, there are several steps that can be taken to diagnose – and potentially even address – your issues.
Perform an Internet Speed Test
When experiencing long loading times for web pages, it’s important to make sure that it’s actually your connection that is the problem. Performing a speed test is a simple and fast way to test your connection to your internet service provider (ISP) and isolate a problem that you might be having. Try it for yourself!
Clear Your Browser’s Browsing Data
When you visit a website, your browser is doing a lot more behind the scenes than you’d think. A cached copy of every website you visit (and all of its content) is stored, speeding up the site’s loading time the next time you log on. While great in the short-term, these files eventually build up over time, slowing down your entire browser! Taking a moment to clear your browsing data kickstarts your browser, freeing up those files and making things run like new.
Restart Your Hardware
Rebooting hardware when things aren’t running well is an easy troubleshooting step that cab be a quick fix for a variety of problems. While rebooting your computer itself is always a good step, it’s important not to forget about the modem and router! A modem acts as the link between the internet and your network while the modem connects to your router to provide a wireless internet signal to all of your devices. Some modern modems have built-in routers, but simply unplugging the power to these devices, letting them sit for between 30 seconds and one minute, then plugging them back in refreshes the connections and works out kinks that can crop up over time.
Contact Your ISP
When all else fails, contacting your internet service provider is always a wise move. Even if you – in your infinite IT wisdom – overlooked a problem, customer service representatives can often perform remote support without ever scheduling an appointment or sending a repairman. As a last resort, it may be time to send out a professional to inspect your lines and connectors, ensuring that the hardware you may not see every day is still up to par.