Trick or Tweak: simple broadband tricks that make your WiFi faster

It’s close to midnight. Something evil’s lurking in the dark. Under the moonlight. You see a sight that almost stops your heart… your WiFi speed.

If your broadband has been moving at the pace of a sluggish zombie (not the 28 Years Later ones – they’re speedy), it might not be supernatural forces at work. So, don’t call Ghostbusters (or service and repairs) just yet, because the most likely answer is that it’s just a few easily tackled gremlins in your setup.

Here are some simple tricks and tweaks that can banish buffering and bring your WiFi back from the dead.

If websites are taking centuries to load, it might be because your browser is hoarding ancient data like Annie Wilkes, um, “hoarded” Paul Sheldon in Misery. But unlike Paul, it’s far easier to escape from this particular situation.

Clearing your cache every so often gives your browser a fresh start and forces it to load the newest version of a website, instead of clinging to outdated ones. Much like Annie clings to the character of Misery Chastain. 

It’s so simple to clear your cache, and it might just make a big difference. In Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox, go to Settings, then Privacy, then Clear browsing data. Misery be gone.

Don’t worry, we’ve given you plenty of advice on where you should position our Hub. By now, you know that the bottom line is that our Hub needs a little space to do its job.

But festivities like Halloween do bring out decorations and, therefore, extra household clutter. You might consider moving the Hub out of the way for a carved pumpkin or an anatomically correct plastic skeleton. Just because the seasons are a-changing, the same rules apply. Let the air (and the WiFi signal) flow freely.

Think of it like a werewolf – it does some of its best work out in the open.

Nobody likes uninvited guests. Like the friend of a friend’s cousin who’s visiting for the weekend, and “would be an issue if he came to dinner, too?” Or the ghost that constantly hides your keys when you’re late for work. Your WiFi’s the same.

You might not realise just how many uninvited guests are helping themselves to your connection. Think: old phones, dusty tablets or that unplugged smart speaker you’ve been meaning to throw out since you spilt a drink on it in the summer.

Too many connected devices can drain your speed like digital vampires.

Do a quick headcount in your network settings and disconnect anything that doesn’t belong. If you spot something you don’t recognise, it could be an unused device clinging to your WiFi like that ghost clings to your keys. Time to cut the cord.

When you walk into a haunted house, you see crackling TVs, radios on the fritz, a record player where the needle is stuck and, obviously, a child’s doll that can only laugh in the creepiest way possible. What we’re saying: sometimes, old devices are the problem.

Old laptops and phones can only handle older WiFi standards, which means they’ll never get the full speeds our Hub can reach.

Your WiFi signal might be fine. If you can, retire the older kit that’s seen one too many Halloweens (both the festival and the film franchise). Or at least make sure it’s not doing the heavy lifting for your streaming or gaming.

Unlike vampires or nightclub bouncers, your WiFi typically does most of its busy work during the day. But it seems a bit of a waste that while you sleep at night, your bandwidth can also get some shuteye.

Big game updates, phone backups and software downloads can suck up all your bandwidth while you’re trying to stream that new horror series. So, maybe it’s time to do as the vampires do and let your WiFi fly at night.

Schedule downloads and updates for the witching hour (overnight) when nobody’s online. That way, your WiFi stays free for what really matters – surviving the next jump scare, which is easier said than done…

Like monsters, ghosts or a horror franchise on its 12th sequel, some things just don’t die. The same is true of apps. They just lurk in the background, secretly using your WiFi while you’re doing other things.

Cloud backups, streaming apps left open, automatic video previews – all of them nibble at your bandwidth like a zombie at a human buffet. So, it’s a good idea to check what’s running on your devices and close anything you’re not using.

On computers, that means seeing which programs start automatically and just banishing the unnecessary ones. Less background noise equals a faster, cleaner connection.

You know that endorphin thrill you get from watching a scary movie? Your heart rate goes up, your breath quickens and you may even get some goosebumps. The opposite feeling is true when you click “ok” on a software update notification.

But while you might feel nothing (and, frankly, a little bit bored), doing the update is a shot in the arm to your devices. Updates don’t just fix bugs. They make your devices faster and better at connecting. It’s a dose of adrenaline against sluggish speeds.

Usually, the updates also protect you from the latest malware and viruses, so do a full update sweep every few weeks to stop your gadgets from joining the undead.

Before you light the candles and start blaming your broadband, check your actual speed. A quick speed test tells you how fast your connection really is.

If it’s close to what you’re paying for but your video’s still buffering, the problem’s likely with your device or setup. If it’s way off, it might be time to check your plan or see if something’s interfering. You might also benefit from our WiFi Pods.

We’ve got speeds for every household, even haunted ones. Take a look at our superfast fibre broadband deals.