How to improve your Wi-Fi signal at home: free fixes first, then paid ones

A fast broadband plan doesn't help much if Wi-Fi barely reaches the room where you work or play. Most coverage problems can be fixed with free tweaks; when they can't, paid solutions give very different results. This guide goes from free to expensive.

#Before you start: measure

1. Run a speed test next to the router — wired if you can — and in the problem room.
2. If speed is poor even next to the router, the problem may be your line or router: contact your provider.
3. If it's only poor far from the router, it's a coverage problem — read on.

#Free fixes

#1. Router placement

This matters most:

• Central in your home — not in a corner or by the front door just because that's where the line comes in.
• High up and in the open — not inside a cabinet or behind the TV.
• Away from thick walls, mirrors, fish tanks, appliances and large metal objects.
• If it has external antennas, try different orientations (for example, one vertical and one horizontal).

#2. 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz (and 6 GHz)

Use 5 GHz (or 6 GHz) in nearby rooms and 2.4 GHz when you're far away. Many routers merge the bands into one network and choose automatically; if that causes issues, you can split them under different names.

#3. Restart and update the router

• Restarting fixes temporary glitches.
• Log in to its admin page (the address is usually on the sticker) and check for firmware updates.

#4. Change the channel

In busy areas, channels get congested. Many routers choose automatically; if not, try a less crowded channel manually. Wi-Fi analyser apps show which channels nearby networks use.

#5. Check your devices

• Update your computer's Wi-Fi adapter drivers.
• Old devices can slow the network. Check connected devices in your router and remove anything you don't recognise (and change the password if there are intruders).

#Paid solutions

#Mesh system

Several nodes creating one network that covers your whole home, with automatic handoff between nodes.

• Ideal for: large homes, multiple floors or thick walls.
• Tip: connect nodes to each other by cable (wired backhaul) if you can — performance improves a lot.

#Repeater (extender)

Receives the router's signal and repeats it.

• Pro: cheap.
• Cons: usually reduces available speed and sometimes creates a separate network. Place it halfway, where it still gets a good signal — not in the dead zone.

#Powerline adapters

Carry the network over your electrical wiring and create an access point or Ethernet port in another room.

• Pro: go through walls.
• Cons: performance depends heavily on your wiring. Plug them straight into the wall, not into power strips.

#Ethernet cable

For a work computer, console or TV, a cable is still the fastest, most stable connection. See how to lower ping.

#A new router

If your router is old, one with a newer standard (Wi-Fi 6 or later) can handle many connected devices better. Check first whether your provider offers an upgrade.

#Decision table

#Securing your Wi-Fi

• Use WPA2 or WPA3 with a long password.
• Change the router's admin password if it's still the default.
• Create a guest network for visitors and smart home devices.

#The bottom line

Before buying anything, move the router somewhere central and high, use the right band and update its firmware. In a large or multi-storey home, a mesh system — ideally with wired nodes — is the most effective fix; for one distant spot, a cable or powerline. And for what matters most, such as work or online gaming, plug in a cable.