Paying for 500 Mbps and getting 40? Measure properly, then close the gap.
Moderate⏱ 15–25 minAny deviceRouter
The speed you pay for is the speed delivered to the modem, over a cable. The speed you experience is that, minus everything lost over Wi-Fi, through walls, on an old device, or shared with everyone else streaming in the house. The gap is often large — and mostly fixable.
Start by measuring in a way that separates your provider's line from your home network. Then you know whether to call them or change something at home.
Try these first — 30 seconds each
[ ]Run a speed test next to the router, then in the room where it is slow.
[ ]Pause big downloads, cloud backups, and game updates on other devices.
[ ]Restart the modem and router.
The full fix
6 steps in the order that solves it fastest, plus platform notes, prevention, and when to call
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1
Test with a cable if you can
Plug a laptop directly into the router with an Ethernet cable and run a speed test. If this is close to your plan speed, your line is fine and the problem is Wi-Fi. If even the wired test is slow, it is the line or modem.
2
Test at different times
Run tests in the morning and in the evening peak (roughly 7–11 pm). Big evening drops suggest congestion on your provider's network — worth raising with them, with your test results.
3
Check the device, not just the network
Older phones and laptops may only support older Wi-Fi standards and top out well below modern plan speeds. A 2015 laptop may never exceed 100–200 Mbps over Wi-Fi, whatever your plan.
4
Use the faster band
If your router shows separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, connect nearby devices to 5 GHz (or 6 GHz on Wi-Fi 6E/7 routers). 2.4 GHz reaches further but is much slower.
5
Find bandwidth hogs
Your router app or admin page often shows per-device usage. A console downloading a 100 GB game or a camera uploading constantly can saturate the connection.
6
Check the router is up to the job
Providers sometimes supply basic routers that cannot deliver high plan speeds over Wi-Fi. If your wired speed is fine but Wi-Fi is poor everywhere, a better router or mesh system is the upgrade that matters.
Platform notes
Router
Quality of Service (QoS) settings can prioritise video calls and gaming over background downloads.
Any device
VPNs route traffic through a distant server and commonly cut speeds. Test with the VPN off to compare.
Stop it happening again
Schedule big downloads and backups for overnight.
Wire in stationary devices like smart TVs and consoles.
Re-test after any plan change to confirm you are getting it.
When to get professional help
If wired tests next to the modem are consistently far below your plan, contact your provider with dated test results. Ask them to check the line and replace old equipment if needed.
This is general troubleshooting information for home users. Menus and settings differ between
device models and software versions. Back up important data before making changes, and contact
the manufacturer or an authorised repair provider for hardware faults or anything under
warranty.
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