I am having issues with slow speed, what can I do?

If you think you’re experiencing issues with your speed, follow these steps to diagnose and resolve the problem:

1. Conduct a speed test

Start by conducting a speed test that shows both your router speed and device speed.

2. Check your router speed

If the router speed is lower than expected, check the following:

• Household activity: Ensure no one in your household is streaming, gaming, or downloading large files while running the speed test. High data usage can affect the results.

3. Check your device speed

If the device speed is lower than expected, check the following:

• Distance to the router: Run the speed test close to the router. The further away you are, the slower the speed may be, especially if there are walls or other barriers in between.

• Router placement: Experiment with different placements for your router and mesh system to find the optimal setup.

• Signal interference: WiFi signals can be disrupted by other electronic devices like TVs or microwaves. Make sure your router is positioned away from such devices.

• Device type: The type of device used for the speed test can impact results. Try testing on multiple devices. Older devices may not support higher speeds.

4. Use the channel finder

Using the right WiFi channel can significantly improve your speed:

• What is a WiFi channel? A WiFi channel is a frequency range that wireless devices use to send and receive data.

• Channel finder tool: The channel finder scans for the channel with the least traffic for each node, optimizing speed.

• How to use it: Use the channel finder in the Linksys app to locate the clearest channel and change your WiFi channel accordingly.

• Instructions on how to use the channel finder feature in the Linksys app can be found here.

5. Update the firmware

Outdated firmware can cause performance issues. Make sure your router is running the latest firmware:

• Check the firmware: Learn how to check the firmware version of your Linksys mesh network.

• Update the firmware: Upgrade the firmware of your Linksys mesh network.

6. Restart your network

If you’re still experiencing issues after trying the previous steps, restarting your network can sometimes resolve underlying problems. Here’s how:

• Turn off all devices: Power off your Linksys mesh nodes, including the main router and any additional nodes.

• Unplug power sources: Disconnect the power cables from each node and wait for 10-15 seconds.

• Reconnect power sources: Plug the power cables back in.

• Turn on devices: Power on your Linksys mesh nodes, starting with the main router and then any additional nodes.

• Wait for stabilization: Allow a few minutes for the network to initialize and stabilize.

7. Consider extending your WiFi with additional nodes

If certain areas of your home or office have weak WiFi signals, adding more nodes can help extend coverage and improve speed. If all child nodes and client devices are already getting a strong signal, you can skip this step.

• Add more nodes: Visit our help page to add additional nodes.

• For more support, visit the Linksys website.