Why is my internet so slow?

Internet congestion is the biggest culprit of the lot. Read on for tips and tricks.

Network congestion, outages and damaged equipment can all cause your Internet connection to slow down. We've narrowed down six reasons for slow Internet speeds and possible fixes later down in the guide.

6 reasons for slow Internet

1. Internet congestion

Most of the time, a slow connection is due to Internet congestion. The cables that make up the NBN have limited capacity, like lanes of traffic on a highway. The more connections you have at the same time – or cars on the highway – the slower everything moves.

During peak hours, when large numbers of people are online at once, your connection will slow down simply because other people are clogging the network with their uploads and downloads.

2. Distance to your modem

If you're on a Wi-Fi connection like most people, the further you are from your modem, the weaker your signal. Wi-Fi signals can become weak and patchy due to distance or blocking objects (like walls) between you and the modem. Weak signals mean slow or unreliable connections.

3. Old or damaged equipment

Outdated or damaged modems and cables may not support fast signals. Outdated software or network drivers can lead to compatibility issues between your device and your hardware.

4. Low bandwidth

Internet data flowing to and from your house works a bit like a water pipe. The more people using your connection at once, the slower it will be for everyone. If 50Mbps of data gets pumped into your house and there are three people streaming video, they have to share that allowance between them, meaning each one only gets a fraction of it. The more data-intensive each user's activity is, the worse the impact on your bandwidth.

5. Background applications

Background applications can act like another user and hog your bandwidth, slowing down your connection. Programs like Windows Update or game launchers may automatically download patches or updates without asking you, hurting your Internet speed.

6. Too many devices

Having too many devices with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth all looking for the same signal can cause interference and prevent that signal properly reaching any of them. It can be caused by devices in your own home or even your neighbour's house if they have Wi-Fi on the same channel as yours.

While there are plenty of potential causes for slow Internet, you don't have to sit there and accept it. There are a lot of ways make your Internet faster, which we'll cover in detail down below.

Answered

What if i'm on ADSL?

If you have an ADSL connection and are experiencing slow broadband, this might be due to the limits of your connection type. ADSL generally won't exceed 10 or 12Mbps no matter how good your hardware is. If you're already getting around that, these tips probably won't improve your connection.

How slow is my Internet?

To find out how fast your Internet connection is right now, you can run a speed test. This will give you an idea of your average download and upload speeds in Mbps.

The next step is to compare this to the average or expected speed for your specific connection. If you know what NBN speed tier you're on, you can compare it to the ACCC averages or your provider's typical evening speed for your plan (which should be published on its website or provided with your plan).

If you aren't sure what plan you're on, it should be listed on your most recent Internet bill or your online account with your provider.

Are you happy with your internet speed?

31% of Australians are extremely satisfied with their broadband speeds and 47% are somewhat satisfied, according to our consumer sentiment tracker (November 2024). Tasmanians had the highest number of people very satisfied with their internet speed (32%). Somewhat surprisingly, 33% of people in regional locations were extremely satisfied with their internet speeds compared to only 30% in metro areas.

What is a slow Internet speed?

Once you have your actual connection speed and your expected plan speed, compare the two. If your actual speed is significantly lower, try the steps in the next section to fix it.

This table gives a rough idea of what can be considered good or bad speeds for different NBN speed tiers.

NBN speed tierPoor speedsAverage speedsGood speeds
NBN25 Basic II0–15Mbps15–22Mbps22–25Mbps
NBN50 Standard0–30Mbps30–40Mbps40–50Mbps
NBN100 Fast0–60Mbps60–85Mbps85–100Mbps
NBN250 Superfast0–110Mbps110–150Mbps150–250Mbps
NBN1000 Ultrafast0–250Mbps250–500Mbps500–1,000Mbps

Finder survey: How often do Australians conduct an internet speed test?

Response
Never55.47%
Once a month31.51%
2-3 times a month9.34%
More than 4 times a month3.68%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023

How do I speed up my Internet connection?

Just as there are many causes for a slow connection, there are plenty of possible fixes. Here are six steps that might help:

1. Check your hardware

Run a speed test on several devices in the same room to see if all of them have the same issue. If only one of them is having problems, then the issue is likely with that device. See our device-specific fixes further down, though you could always try turning your modem on and off again as a hail mary. Quick resets help sometimes.

2. Consider if you need a new modem

DLink DVA2800If the Internet is slow on all your devices, the problem could be with your modem. First, look for any damaged cables or loose connections in need of replacement. Second, consider whether your modem might require an upgrade.

Older modems might not be capable of processing signals fast enough for modern connections. Similarly, not all NBN-capable modems support all speed tiers. For example, your modem might work just fine with an NBN 50 plan but struggle mightily with an NBN 100 or NBN 250 connection.

3. Try improving your Wi-Fi signal

These days, most people connect to their modem via Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi can be a pain to deal with, so here are a few ways to improve your signal:

  • Move your modem or device
    Wi-Fi signals weaken rapidly with distance. The further you are away from your modem, the weaker your signal is. Make sure you position your modem as close to your devices as possible. You also want to make sure you have the clearest line of sight possible. Walls, ceilings and doors will all weaken your Wi-Fi signal as it passes through them.
  • Reduce interference
    Wi-Fi signals weaken rapidly with distance. The further you are away from your modem, the weaker your signal is. Make sure you position your modem as close to your devices as possible. You also want to make sure you have the clearest line of sight possible. Walls, ceilings and doors will all weaken your Wi-Fi signal as it passes through them.
  • Change your Wi-Fi channel
    Wi-Fi signals weaken rapidly with distance. The further you are away from your modem, the weaker your signal is. Make sure you position your modem as close to your devices as possible. You also want to make sure you have the clearest line of sight possible. Walls, ceilings and doors will all weaken your Wi-Fi signal as it passes through them.

When all else fails, connecting your device with an ethernet cable will get around your Wi-Fi woes, since you'll be connected straight to the source of your connection rather than relying on Wi-Fi signals floating around. It'll also improve your connection's reliability.

4. Give device-specific fixes a go

When your connection is running slowly on a single device, try doing these:

program icon

Close background apps or programs

Game launchers, file torrents and system software updates can all download in the background without asking you. While they're downloading, though, they'll slow down your browsing. Closing any programs that are using your Internet connection can speed up your other online activity.

software icon

Check for viruses

Malware and viruses can slow your computer down to a crawl. Running a virus scan with even free software like Windows Defender or Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can identify and remove malware from your system.

software icon

Update your drivers

This sounds like the default advice you get on any official support forum, but it can still help. Drivers are the software responsible for making your hardware work properly. Newer network drivers will help your device cope better with Wi-Fi than outdated ones.

5. Contact your provider

Sometimes, the problem isn't at your end but your provider's. Contact your provider and let it know what your issue is. It could be a faulty line running into your house or an issue with the way the network is configured at its end.

Either way, it may be able to fix the issue, provide advice or at least identify the problem for you.

6. Change your DNS (if you're experienced!)

A Domain Name System (DNS) server effectively translates domain names like "finder.com.au" into IP addresses – numbers that your device can actually use. If your provider's default DNS server is struggling or has been hacked, it can drastically slow or break your connection.

  • It's recommended not to mess around with your DNS settings unless you're comfortable with technical settings or are desperate. In many cases, fiddling with your DNS won't improve much and some Internet providers may lock you to their DNS for a variety of reasons.

On Windows 10, you can change your DNS server by going to your network connections, selecting "Properties" for the one you're using, then double-clicking on "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)". Select the radial option reading "Use the following DNS server addresses".

You can enter any DNS server you want, but there are a couple reliable ones. Google's has a good reputation: enter 8.8.8.8 (primary) and 8.8.4.4 (secondary). Cloudflare also has a decent DNS server at 1.1.1.1 (primary) and 1.0.0.1 (secondary).

If you feel like you've done all you can, consider upgrading to a higher speed tier on the NBN. This should improve your average connection speed. Compare plans from different providers below to get the best one for your needs.

Compare NBN plans for a faster Internet connection

Want faster speeds? Look for plans with higher typical evening speeds than the result you got from your speed test.

1 - 8 of 271
Name Product AUFBB-INT Data allowance Typical download speed Price Hid Compare Box!
Dodo NBN100
NBN
Month-to-month
$68.90/mth for the first 12 months, then $88.90/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.1.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $99.90. Option to pay in monthly instalments. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$68.90
per month
$0 setup fees, $68.90 min. total cost
Price
$68.90 per month
$0 setup fees, $68.90 min. total cost
Swoop NBN Home Fast Finder Exclusive
NBN
Month-to-month
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: $69/mth for the first 6 months, then $94/mth. Use promo code FINDER25. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 30.11.24
Exclusive
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $130
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$69
per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Price
$69 per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Buddy Telco NBN Speedy
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: $75/mth for the first 6 months, then $85/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$75
per month
$0 setup fees, $75 min. total cost
Price
$75 per month
$0 setup fees, $75 min. total cost
TPG NBN50
NBN
Month-to-month
Get $10/mth off for 3 months starting from your second bill. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 10.12.24
Finder Award
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $114.95
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
Speed
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
$79.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Price
$79.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Superloop NBN Family
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: $69/mth for the first 12 months, then $89/mth. Use promo code BLACK-FRIDAY. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 8.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$69
per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Price
$69 per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Swoop NBN Home Fast Plus Finder Exclusive
NBN
Month-to-month
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: $79/mth for the first 6 months, then $104/mth. Use promo code FINDER25. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 30.11.24
Exclusive
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $130
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$79
per month
$0 setup fees, $79 min. total cost
Price
$79 per month
$0 setup fees, $79 min. total cost
Southern Phone NBN Fast
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: $65/mth for the first 12 months, then $89/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 10.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $156
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$65
per month
$0 setup fees, $65 min. total cost
Price
$65 per month
$0 setup fees, $65 min. total cost
iiNet NBN100 Liimitless
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: $79.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 10.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$79.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Price
$79.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
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Frequently asked questions about slow Internet


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Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney. See full bio

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    ChristopherFebruary 20, 2016

    Kind of useless, my ISP has acknowledged the congestion and just said that there are no plans of an upgrade. They’re just leaving it as is, only problem is. the congestion isn’t just peak hours of the night its from about 8am-2am through the week, and pretty much all hours of the weekend. I’m on the maximum priced 100/40 plan and their offer to fix it, is to discount me $20 from one bill….

      Default Gravatar
      BrodieFebruary 24, 2016

      Hi Christopher,

      Sounds quite frustrating. What kind of speeds are you seeing for uploads and downloads? If you can’t reach a solution past a $20 credit with your provider I would recommend contacting them via their Facebook or Twitter. You’re much more likely to get a speedy response, and hopefully, resolution that way.

      All the best,
      Brodie

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