Why Your Wi-Fi Is Slow And How To Fix It | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet (2024)

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From a website that just won’t load to a streaming television show that keeps buffering at all the best moments, noticeable gaps in a normally seamless internet experience are hard to ignore. If you’ve been having less-than-stellar experiences lately and are wondering how to fix slow internet, here are a few possible culpritsand solutions.

Find the "sweet spot" for your gateway device

If you're utilizing an advanced wireless 5G Gateway device like the one offered by T-Mobile Home Internet, the fix is often simple. Just place your gateway close to a window or high up on an upper floor or bookshelf facing the nearest T-Mobile cell tower. You can even use the T-Mobile Internet app to help find the ideal location for your device, check signal strength, monitor connected devices, update your network name/password, and more—so you can stay easily connected at home.

Adding a mesh coverage device can also boost your home’s connectivity. Instead of relying on a single gateway device, mesh coverage uses multiple access points to help bring internet to every corner of your home and even outdoors.

Reposition your router

If your internet service provider (ISP) utilizes a standard routerand there are areas in your home where slow Wi-Fi seems to be the norm, it might help to move your router around until you find an ideal spot. It can be tempting to hide wired, unsightly equipment like modems and routers behind a sofa or push them to the back of a bookshelf, but they really need to be in the clear to work their best, as certain barriers, like bookcases or metal, can make your signal weaker.


See if you’ve hit a data cap

Just like when yourcar runs out of gas, your home internet can burn through allotted data on some plans as well. If you suspect this might be the case, the best thing to do is to conduct a speed test. A speed test will tell you what your internet speeds are, and a quick look at your plan will tell you what they normally should be. If your speeds are as promised but you've outgrown your plan—it may be time to upgrade.

Use of VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) creates a secure connectionbetween your device and the internet by sending your data through servers located in faraway states and countries before sending it to its final destination. This masks your IP address and allows you to browse the internet anonymously. However, the problem with using a VPN for privacy is the fact that all those extra steps can seriously slow down your downloads. If you’re always using a VPN instead of reserving them for risky situations, such as public Wi-Fi, it’s possible you’re slowing things down for yourself. If you’re on your private Wi-Fi network, consider disabling your VPN for faster speeds.

Malware

Spyware, viruses, and other malware can seriously affect your speeds as well—especially on your home computer or laptop. Spyware is sometimes used on computers to monitor actions like keystrokes and internet use, which adds delays to everything from website loading times to how quickly you can type an email. For computers, viruses act just like they do in the human body: lines of code attempt to propagate themselves over and over, usually sending copies through email. Viruses can send hundreds of emails a minute, which leaves little room for your computer to do anything else, slowing down both computer functions and internet speeds. To combat spyware, run regular antispyware checks on your computer, and to prevent and monitor for viruses, install antivirus software and make sure it’s always up to date.

Outdated equipment

It's possible that your modem and router are simply outdated, especially if you've purchased your own and haven't updated in a long time. While modems need to be replaced less frequently than routers, modems should be replaced at least every four or five years. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi technology changes at a more rapid pace, and if you have connected devices that support Wi-Fi 6, for example, but don’t have a Wi-Fi 6 router, it might be time to consider investing in newer technology.

T-Mobile Home Internet utilizes a wireless 5G Gateway device in tandem with the next generation of Wi-Fi 6 technology to keep you connected at home. See if it's available in your area now and then find a plan that's right for you.

Sources used:
Why Your Wi-Fi Is Slow And How To Fix It | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet (2024)

FAQs

Why Your Wi-Fi Is Slow And How To Fix It | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet? ›

Your T-Mobile 5G Home Internet may be slow if the incoming internet signal isn't strong enough. You can see your gateway's signal strength using the meter on the gateway's LCD screen or within the T-Mobile Internet app. Good internet gateway placement is crucial with 5G internet services like T-Mobile's.

Why is my 5G home internet so slow? ›

If your router is placed too far from your devices, or if there are obstructions like walls, metal objects, or electronics between your router and your devices, the 5G signal will be weakened, reducing speed and reliability.

How can I make my 5G internet faster? ›

In 4G LTE and 5G networks, signal quality is measured as SINR. Increasing your SINR can have a dramatic impact on your connection speeds. The best way to improve SINR is to use a directional outdoor antenna, either connected to a signal booster or directly to an LTE or 5G hotspot.

Why is my T-Mobile 5G home internet so slow today? ›

Slow Internet: On your T-Mobile account, check that you haven't used all of your high-speed data bucket. Refer to Data speeds for more information. If you used 50 GB of data this bill cycle, you're subject to lower network prioritization during times of local congestion.

How to speed up T-Mobile home internet? ›

Tips to make your T-Mobile Internet faster
  1. Turn off equipment from other providers. Before you turn on your gateway and set up your network, turn off equipment from previous providers to avoid interference.
  2. Try multiple gateway locations. ...
  3. Place gateway away from other devices.

Why is my 5G Wi-Fi signal so weak? ›

A weak signal can happen for a number of reasons: Your router is too far away from devices. Physical interferences like thick walls, floors, or other appliances. Too many people or devices connected to one network.

How to fix slow Wi-Fi at home? ›

Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you when dealing with internet connection issues:
  1. Conduct a Speed Test. ...
  2. Test Your Network on a Different Device. ...
  3. Move Closer to your Router or Reposition It. ...
  4. Purchase a Wi-Fi Extender or Mesh Network. ...
  5. Reboot Your Modem and Router.

How fast should T-Mobile 5G home internet be? ›

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Home Internet Plus customers receive consistent speeds of at least 25 Mbps and see typical download speeds between 72 – 245 Mbps, which is great speed for streaming video, surfing the web, working from home and most types of online gaming.

How to get better signal on T-mobile home internet? ›

Improve your Wi-Fi signal strength

If your devices are not receiving adequate Wi-Fi coverage, move closer to the router or utilize Wi-Fi extenders and mesh routers to increase the T-Mobile gateway's range.

Why is my Wi-Fi so slow all of a sudden? ›

Why is my Wi-Fi so slow all of a sudden? Some common reasons are that you're too far away from the router, your bandwidth is low, there's an issue with the device you're using, you need to update your network drivers, or there are too many devices connected to the network and they're streaming or using lots of data.

How can I speed up my home internet? ›

9 ways to make your home internet faster
  1. Restart your modem and router. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Restart your devices. ...
  2. Get an ethernet cable—and plug it in. ...
  3. Move your modem. ...
  4. Get in the right band. ...
  5. Turn off your devices. ...
  6. Lock down your network. ...
  7. Get a Wi-Fi extender. ...
  8. Upgrade your equipment.

How can I increase my Mobile internet speed at home? ›

How to boost internet speed on your Android phone?
  1. Restart your phone. ...
  2. Check for updates. ...
  3. Disable background apps. ...
  4. Use a VPN. ...
  5. Connect to a different network. ...
  6. Avoid using your phone in areas with weak signal. ...
  7. Clear your cache and cookies. ...
  8. Reset your network settings.
Oct 27, 2023

How can I speed up my slow Mobile internet? ›

How to make your mobile data faster
  1. Restart your phone. ...
  2. Find the top mobile data–draining apps. ...
  3. Turn off inactive background apps and programs. ...
  4. Pause resource-draining apps the easy way. ...
  5. Install an ad blocker. ...
  6. Clear the cache on your mobile browser. ...
  7. Enter your browser's Reader Mode. ...
  8. Try to find a Wi-Fi connection.
Sep 13, 2022

How can I improve my 5G broadband signal? ›

Many people have slow and unreliable internet connections over 3G/4G/LTE and 5G networks. This is often due to poor signal strength and in the majority of cases, it can be improved. This is achieved by connecting external antennas to your broadband router/modem and pointing them towards your carriers cell tower.

Does weather affect 5G home internet? ›

5G uses radio waves to transmit data between access points and devices, similar to cell phone services, so the weather can affect 5G Home Internet by disrupting the pathways of the radio waves. Severe weather can cause power outages or damage infrastructure, disrupting service.

How to speed up Verizon 5G home internet? ›

Optimize the Verizon 5G Internet Gateway location
  1. Look up your nearby towers. ...
  2. Run speed tests with your Verizon Internet Gateway at the windows closest to each nearby tower (If you have multiple floors, perform this process on each floor).
  3. Place your Verizon Internet Gateway at the location with the fastest data speeds.
Jul 24, 2024

How can I increase my latency on 5G home internet? ›

Boosting Your 5G Home Internet Performance
  1. Centralize the Router Location: Placing your router in a central location within your home can significantly improve coverage. ...
  2. Elevate the Router: Positioning the router high on a shelf or mounted on a wall can enhance its signal range.
Mar 3, 2024

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