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How To Fix Slow Verizon Internet – Easy Ways To Fix It

August 5, 2024
By Dhanisha G

A slow internet connection can be a frustrating experience, hindering productivity, entertainment, and overall online activities. Whether you’re streaming your favorite show, working from home, or simply browsing the web, a sluggish connection can significantly impact your daily life. This guide will explain all the possible common causes of slow Verizon internet and provide practical solutions or strategies to help you troubleshoot and improve your connection speed.

Let’s get into the details to restore your online experience.…..

Outline

Why Is My Verizon Internet Slow?

Although there are so many reasons behind slowing down your Verizon internet speed, knowing the root cause will help you reset your internet speed and enjoy proper speed.

Here are a few common factors that affect your internet speed:

If the daily data capacity of your internet usage is exceeded.
Usage of Wireless Wi-Fi connection rather than wired connectivity.
Sometimes, there might be problem within your computer components, including operating system, processor speed, computer configuration variables, and the available memory.
The number of connected devices sharing your internet connection.
The high-network usage Applications are running simultaneously in the background.
The quality and maintenance of the wiring connecting your devices to the Verizon network.
Network outage, server failure, or network congestion might reduce the internet speed (or Verizon services are under maintenance).
If the service provider has kept any bandwidth restriction.
Check for any loose or damaged cable connections
Physical obstructions around the router and the connected devices.
Using an outdated gateway (or) dated firmware of the router that compromises the security, functionality, and internet speed.
If you use VPN or Firewall on the networking devices.

How To Fix Slow Verizon Internet?

There may be several possible reasons individually or collectively responsible for Verizon’s slow internet. Commonly, it may be due to internet congestion, bandwidth restriction, outdated gateway, firmware updates, and other factors as well. Anyways, though they sound complex but trust me they can be fixed with a few simple solutions. Here are some of the easy yet effective ways to speed up your slow Verizon internet.

1. Check The Speed Of Your Internet Connection

When you are experiencing slow internet, first examine the speed of your internet connection.

Try using speed testing tools like Ookla, Speed.one, Fast.com, etc to run speed tests on your connected device.

Now, compare the results with your current internet speed. If the results match your present internet speed go ahead with the other options.
Else, if the results don’t match your current internet speed, then you have to upgrade your internet plan.

2. Check For A Verizon Network Outage

Before proceeding with other options, once check to see whether there is a network outage in your area (or) location.

Just log in to the Verizon webpage and see if there are any notifications about network outages.

Everything will be shown in the app, including network failures, maintenance, upgrades, etc.

If you find a ticket on this, wait till the time is up, if nothing is found try the other options.

3. Power Cycle Your Internet Equipment

Power Cycling the router clears all the errors, cache memory, and improves your internet speed.

Unplug the router from the power supply and disconnect the devices from it.

Reconnect it and wait till the Verizon router lights blink brightly.

Take a speed test to check the speed of your internet.

4. Disconnect Unwanted Devices

Sometimes the speed of your network may suffer because of too many connected devices.

To fix it, either upgrade your plan to the next speed tier (or) remove unwanted devices from your network.

Moreover, change your Wi-Fi password regularly to ensure that no one else can access your network without your permission (mostly guests or neighbors).

5. Clear The Background Applications

Most high-network apps run in the background and consume a lot of data, resulting in slow internet.

So, check the apps that are consuming data on your connected devices and clear background app data on all devices.

For iOS devices, go to “Settings” and select “Cellular” to delete the apps consuming huge data.

For Android devices, select the “Network & Internet” option under “Settings”, go to “Data Usage” and click on “App data usage” to delete background apps.

6. Change Your Router’s Placement

Typically, we often confine the router to a corner of the house. Placing the router against a wall, in a corner (or) amongst too many physical objects slows down your network.

That’s why, keep your router in the middle of your home for greater coverage in all regions. Moreover, it is best to keep your router on a non-metallic surface since metal interferes with and hinders wireless signals.

7. Use An Ethernet Cable

Wi-Fi signals are vulnerable to physical or wireless interference. When compared to a Wi-Fi connection, an Ethernet cable provides greater dependability, lower latency, and more speed.

You can also employ Mesh Wi-Fi, MoCA (or) Powerline adapter if you don’t want to use Ethernet adapters for all devices.

8. Disable VPN Services

Even using a VPN may slow down (or) impact the speed of your internet connection since it employs various encryption settings to protect your browsing experience.

It also activates your system’s security firewall, which results in slower surfing. Disabling your firewall may be harmful to your system in this case, therefore you can disable the VPN to improve your internet speed when not in use.

9. Run Verizon Speed Optimizer Tool

When you don’t know what’s causing your slower internet, try this tool on your connected devices instead of breaking your head.
This tool will test your internet speed on multiple devices and provide you with the possible causes of low speed. Plus it reconfigures the network settings on the connected devices to boost the speed.

10. Check Your Devices For Malware

Devices with viruses (or) malware may also be one of the reasons for slow internet. Usually, devices with malware often consume a lot of data making your internet signal weak.

Scan your connected devices with anti-malware tools to identify any harmful software and fix them to improve your internet speed.

However, you don’t require any premium subscriptions due to the availability of various free online tools.

11. Optimize Your Browser And Frequency Band

Most wireless routers include a “Smart Connect” option that combines both bands into a single network to improve speed. You can check your router’s settings to see whether this feature is enabled for your connected devices.

The single-band router, on the other hand, runs at a single frequency of 2.4 GHz. So, if you have high-speed requirements for numerous devices and multitasking, upgrading to a dual-band router is better.
Even browser-related issues can also affect your bandwidth. Try clearing your browser’s cache, clear temporary files, and uninstall any unwanted browser extensions (or) plugins to fix your slow internet.

12. Upgrade Your Router’s Firmware And Hardware

Outdated firmware contains bugs and some faults in the router that can reduce your internet speed.
Therefore, upgrade your router’s drivers with the latest software versions to fix the bugs and faults. This can be done easily from the app itself.
Firstly, log in to the app and navigate to the “Settings” Choose the “Firmware” option and check if any firmware updates are available. If yes, update your router and take a speed test to check the internet performance.

Along with the software, upgrade your hardware as well. Routers that have been using the same hardware for a long time might not provide faster speeds and better network capabilities.

13. Clear All The Interferences

Place your router strategically. Don’t surround it with too many decorative items (or) electronic gadgets (or) any other electrical devices.

Sometimes, devices like baby monitors, refrigerators, ovens, and other neighboring Wi-Fi network equipment can disrupt your network making your signal weak. So, change the placement of the router and make sure that no objects are interfering with its signal.

14. Secure Your Router’s Network

It is very important to protect the privacy of your router’s network. That’s the reason, change the network’s password regularly to avoid unauthorized access and malicious activities.

Set a strong password that cannot be guessed easily by others and also configure the settings now and then to safeguard your personal data and network against cyber attacks.

15. Reset Your Network Settings

It is always advised to upgrade your router with new technologies like 4G (or) 5G for a wonderful browsing experience. Else if you can’t do that try on resetting your network settings.
For Android devices, tap on the “General Management” option under settings. Then look for the “Reset” option and select “Reset Network Settings”. That’s it, wait until your device is reset and run a speed test to check the internet speed.

For iOS devices, click on “General” in the “System” tab under the “Settings” option. Now, check for the “Reset” option and select “Reset Network Settings” to change the settings.

16. Does Verizon Throttle Your Interest Speeds

Usually, Internet service providers incorporate some traffic control strategies that limit speeds during specific activities (or) times of the day. Check Verizon’s speed policy if it could be a reason for your slow internet speeds.
If you suspect throttling, we recommend contacting Verizon customer service. They can provide further assistance and analyze any potential line (or) network issues.

17. Upgrade Your Router/Modem

● Outdated or underperforming equipment might slow down your internet. So, upgrading your equipment (router/modem) is essential to enhance faster speeds and better performance.

● Modem – In the case of using an older modem, upgrading to a newer version is essential to enhance the internet speed. Make sure your modem is compatible with your internet plan and supports the desired speeds.

● Router – It is worth upgrading your old version router to a new model, supporting the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards. Look for routers offering wider coverage, faster speed, and better stability.

● Network Interface Card (NIC) – Consider upgrading your NIC (supporting gigabit ethernet) while using a desktop computer for faster connection speeds and improved performance.

● Also, purchase a mesh Wi-Fi (or) Fios Network Extender to expand your wireless connection.

● Sometimes, upgrading your equipment will help you to experience faster speeds and better network coverage.

How To Check If Your Verizon Internet Issue Is Resolved?

To verify if your internet connection is working properly, follow these steps:

1. Perform a Speed Test: Use the official website or the My Fios App. In the app, navigate to the “Internet” option, then under “Wi-Fi Health Check,” select “Speed Test” to check your connection speed.

2. Evaluate Speed Results:

If both upload and download speeds are below what your plan specifies, your connection is still slow.
If the download speed is normal but the upload speed is slow, there may be a hardware issue or a problem with the Optical Network Terminal (ONT). Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for help.
If the upload speed is fine but the download speed is slow, disconnect any unnecessary devices and close high-data-consuming apps running in the background.

3. Check the Ping Rate:

A ping rate below 50 milliseconds indicates your issues are likely resolved.
If the ping exceeds 150 milliseconds, consider upgrading to a faster plan or switching from a coaxial connection to Ethernet. Also, watch for jitter or sudden increases in ping/latency, which can further impact internet speeds.

These steps will help you determine if your internet service is functioning correctly or if further action is needed.

FAQs:

1. Why is my Verizon service so bad?

It can be due to several reasons such as a lack of coverage (or) maintenance in your location, high data consumption, a bad ISP (or) weak signal strength.

2. How to know if Verizon is down?

You can check downdetector.com (or) contact your service provider to see whether Verizon is down in your area. If there is a local outage, you will also receive a Network Notification notice on your smartphone.

3. How to check my Verizon internet speed?

You can check your Verizon internet speed by taking a speed test on its official website (or) using any other reliable website like Ookla.

4. What if my slow internet is due to a hardware problem?

If restarting the router and modem doesn’t resolve the issue, there might be a hardware malfunction. Contact Verizon for technical support. They can diagnose the problem and provide assistance, which may include replacing damaged equipment.

5. Is my slow internet caused by an external issue?

Yes, it’s possible that your slow internet speed might be due to factors outside your home. Network congestion in your area, equipment failures on your internet service provider’s end, or severe weather conditions can all impact your connection speed. To determine the issue, check for service outages in your area or contact your internet service provider to inquire about any ongoing network problems.

Conclusion

Experiencing slow internet speeds can be frustrating, but with a systematic approach, you can often identify and resolve the issue. Follow these troubleshooting steps outlined above to determine whether the problem lies with your home network, your internet service provider, or external factors. If persistent issues persist, contacting Verizon’s customer support is essential to receive expert assistance. Remember, a stable and fast internet connection is crucial for today’s digital lifestyle, so don’t hesitate to take the necessary steps to optimize your online experience.