Why is my Internet slow at night? There are various reasons why this is happening to your connection.
This article will dig more into the issues and obstacles that slow down your internet connection at night and some fixes to solve your problem.
Keep reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
- Why Is My Internet So Slow At Night?
- How To Fix Slow Internet At Night?
- 1. Try 5 GHz WiFi/Switch Your Frequency Band
- 2. Switch Internet Activities To Off-Hours
- 3. Upgrade Your Internet Service
- 4. Disconnect Devices Not In Use
- 5. Reposition Your Equipment Location
- 6. Restart Your Router
- 7. Create a Password For Your Home Network
- 8. Invest in wifi Extenders
- 9. Run Software Updates Regularly
- 10. Clear Your Browser History
- 11. Use An Ethernet Connection
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Why Is My Internet So Slow At Night?
Slow internet speed at night may be caused by a variety of circumstances. Here are some of the possible causes of your internet connection problems at night:
1. Internet Rush Hour/Peak Hours
As millions of internet users spend more time working and studying from home, you can now experience peak hours at different times of the day. This is called “Internet rush hour”, one of the main causes of slow internet at night.
2. Congestion in the Network
Social media congestion
This is a common occurrence for all internet users. With so many people streaming, downloading, and playing online, internet speed is bound to be slowed due to congestion. As a result, a large number of users share the bandwidth causing slow internet at night.
3. Poor Weather Conditions
Poor weather conditions
You are more likely to experience problems with weather changes if you use a satellite connection instead of a cable connection. Weather variations induce signal interference on the receiving antenna, resulting in slower Internet rates.
4. Hardware Problems
Internet hardware is another major cause of slow internet speeds at night. If your equipment is old, it may not be able to meet your family’s bandwidth requirements when it is heavily used. As a result, you will all experience internet lag.
5. Slow VPN
Creation of a VPN app
A virtual private network (VPN) is software that secures connections between your device and servers while masking your IP address. Absolutely, when using a free VPN, the internet speed slows, becoming unbearable. In this case, consider upgrading to a paid service.
6. Router Location Change
Changing the router’s location
Router signals can be transmitted downwards more easily, so they should be placed high above the ground. Please remember that placing electronic and metal objects too close to the router can cause signal interference.
7. Router Hijacking
Slow internet speeds could be caused by someone stealing your internet subscription. Routers typically have a random password as the default and are printed on the router’s label.
8. Router Upgradation
Upgraded router
The use of devices will increase over time. When several devices are connected to the router, it can get overloaded. Speeds that exceed their capabilities. Purchase a new router.
9. Browser Extension
Although add-ons and extensions for browsers enhance the browsing experience, they can also slow down your browsing speed. Disable the extra extensions to experience faster performance.
How To Fix Slow Internet At Night?
After learning various reasons for slow internet at night, or having terrible service regularly, before you contact your mobile carrier’s technical help, try these easy measures first and see whether they’ll solve your slow internet difficulties.
1. Try 5 GHz WiFi/Switch Your Frequency Band
Switching frequencies from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz on a dual-band router can make a significant difference. When 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are compared, 5 GHz has a shorter range but a higher speed capacity.
2. Switch Internet Activities To Off-Hours
Simply changing your internet routine could result in you competing for bandwidth with fewer users.
To avoid internet congestion, try scheduling internet activities that require faster speeds before and after the internet rush hour.
3. Upgrade Your Internet Service
When all else fails, it may be time to pay attention to your lifestyle requirements. Consider upgrading your internet plan if your family requires more bandwidth.
Fiber internet is the most reliable connection type, with significantly less slowdown during peak hours due to increased bandwidth options and strong WiFi coverage.
4. Disconnect Devices Not In Use
Devices not in use
As more devices are added to your network, you risk exhausting your subscribed bandwidth and overloading your internet equipment. Importantly, to improve the Internet, devices that aren’t being used should be turned off.
5. Reposition Your Equipment Location
A router and modem require space to operate at their peak, much like a lamp does. Therefore, the best location for your router is in the middle of your house, on the highest available piece of furniture.
6. Restart Your Router
How to restart your router
Like the human body, electronics require regular servicing and downtime to function at their best. If your internet connection is running slowly, try restarting your router. Do this at least once a month, as recommended!
7. Create a Password For Your Home Network
Anyone in your neighborhood can access your Internet without a password, leaving you vulnerable to cyber attacks, malware, and bandwidth hogs. Protect the speeds you pay for instead.
8. Invest in wifi Extenders
Wifi Extenders
It is only sometimes your provider who is slowing your speeds. It could be your house layout. Additionally, when you connect to the Internet, Wi-Fi range extenders are useful for reducing latency and eliminating dead zones.
9. Run Software Updates Regularly
Another quick fix is to update your device’s software as soon as a new version becomes available. These updates typically include bug fixes and software changes that improve your device’s performance. This usually takes less than five minutes and is free.
10. Clear Your Browser History
Users frequently need to remember to clear their browsing history, causing your browser to consume more bandwidth than usual. A simple solution is clearing your browser history regularly, including cookies and cached websites. This applies to all devices that have a browser.
Clear Your Browser History
11. Use An Ethernet Connection
Lastly, connection problems are common with WiFi signals. Direct connection to the source decreases the risk of slow Internet. You’ll need an ethernet cable long enough to reach your device from the outlet to direct-link your computer.
FAQs
What Are Peak Internet Times?
These are hours that most people are always using the internet and are online, either watching a movie, studying, or gaming. Depending on the region, the hours are between 6 pm and 11 pm.
Do VPNs Slow Down Your Internet?
VPN will most definitely slow down your internet since the internet traffic goes through the VPN server, which is an added step within the network. Nevertheless, some premium VPNs are fast, and you won’t notice any lag in connectivity.
Why Do Internet Service Providers Throttle Speed?
Most internet service providers frequently use speed throttling. They use this action to control network traffic that could overload the system. If you exceed your data usage limit, you can also be trolling.
Conclusion
Slow internet at night shouldn’t stop you from watching, studying, or playing. Use updated software, a faster VPN, WI-FI extenders, Ethernet cables, and a raised router.
These methods will speed up your internet at night and make connecting and browsing easier.