Slow home Wi-Fi is one of those problems that tends to get blamed on the internet provider when the real cause is usually something much closer to home. Router placement, channel congestion, outdated firmware and the sheer number of devices competing for bandwidth are the more common culprits, and most of them respond to simple fixes that don’t require a service call or new equipment. Here’s the checklist worth running before you do anything else.
If you’re fed up with network issues like those, you might be tempted to upgrade to a fancy new router or an even faster plan from your ISP. However, most of the time, the problem isn’t outdated hardware or an internet plan that’s too slow. It’s basic physics. Wi-Fi signals hate obstacles like walls, cabinets and even your kitchen microwave. By making a few strategic, zero-cost moves — such as getting your router off the floor and away from other electronics — you can drastically widen your coverage area and stabilize your connection in a snap.
That’s not all, either. There are other quick, straightforward steps you can (and should) take to optimize the way your home network performs. Let’s run through them now and ensure that your streaming, gaming and video calls run at the speeds you’re already paying for.
Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2026
1. Find the best place for your router
In most home internet networks, the technician will install your modem where the signal-carrying line enters the home. To translate that signal into a Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to connect a wireless router to the modem with an Ethernet cable. Most people keep the two pretty close together thanks to that wired connection, but depending on your home’s layout, that could be a big mistake.
Here’s why. The router’s job is to give your devices a wireless connection to the modem. It’s the central antenna in your home broadcasting the modem’s internet signal to your phone, tablet and other devices. Just like other antennas, it’s critical for your router to be in the right spot in order to create the strongest connection. Even if your router is new and equipped with the latest-gen Wi-Fi technology, you won’t experience the fastest speeds if it’s poorly placed.
So, what’s the “right” spot for your router?
Choose a central location
Routers send Wi-Fi signals in all directions, so a central spot in your home is best for whole-home coverage. If you keep your router in a back corner of your home, you’ll be sending a majority of the signal outside, toward your neighbors. That’s bad for your speeds, and it’s bad for network security, too, especially if your password is easy to guess.
If your modem isn’t in a central location in your home, you might need to get creative to move the router to a better spot. The first option is to run a long Ethernet cable under a rug or along the bottom of your walls. You could also enlist the help of power line network adapters, which plug into your home’s electrical wiring to pass the internet signal from outlet to outlet. Whatever approach you take, the improved wireless coverage will be worth it.
If you’re curious about the difference between a Wi-Fi and Ethernet connection, check out our hands-on, real-world comparison to see which fared better.
Raise the router
Routers tend to spread their strongest signals downward, so it’s best to mount the router as high as possible for optimal coverage. This is why you’ll often find routers and other wireless network hardware mounted on the ceiling in industrial and commercial environments.
That approach might be a bit much for your home, but you should still try placing your router on a high shelf or on top of a tall piece of furniture if you can. Search online, and you’ll also find custom wall mounts built for specific routers, such as this stick-up mount for the Eero Pro 6 mesh router.
Avoid electronics and other obstructions
Another good move: keeping your router clear of large electronics and metal objects. The more walls, large obstructions and electronics near your router, the higher the chances are that something will interfere with the strength of your signal.
Be sure not to hide your router behind a TV. Not only could the large appliance cause electronic interference with your network, but it also acts as a physical barrier for the signal to pass through, too.
Ry Crist/CNETOne device your router will definitely want to avoid is the microwave, which emits a strong signal in the 2.4GHz band. That’s the same wireless band your router operates in, and competition in the airwaves can cause electronic interference. TVs can cause interference, too, and their solid, rectangular shape acts like an extra wall, blocking Wi-Fi from penetrating. Translation: Resist the temptation to hide your router behind your TV.
Along with electronics, keep an eye out for bulky furniture that could limit the signal’s reach. Wi-Fi doesn’t travel well through water, for instance, so if you have an aquarium in your home, try to avoid situations where it’s between your router and the device that needs to connect.
2. Change Wi-Fi bands
The specific Wi-Fi band your router uses will affect your speeds, but it’s pretty easy to switch between them. Most routers support the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, while Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers can also send data on the 6GHz band. You can think of those bands as the highways that your router uses to transmit data to your device.
In most cases, your router will automatically switch between the bands it can access to deliver the best possible signal. For instance, the 5GHz and 6GHz bands are much faster at close range, but the slower 2.4GHz band can maintain connections at greater distances. So, your router might connect you to the speedy 5GHz band whenever you’re nearby, then switch you to the reliable 2.4GHz band when it detects that you’re farther away.
You should be able to manually switch to another band or adjust how your router switches between bands in your Wi-Fi network settings, though this may vary slightly depending on the router. Most routers use dual-band or tri-band technology, allowing them to access multiple bands simultaneously. Some will also let you choose a Wi-Fi band to prioritize. Either way, if one band is giving you fits, switching to another might be the quick fix you’re looking for.
All eight of this router’s antennas are upright, which would put out a good, horizontal signal to cover a single-story home. In a multi-story home, you could lay some of the antennas flat or at an angle, causing them to aim their signal upwards or downwards.
Chris Monroe/CNET3. Set up your Wi-Fi antennas properly
Some routers have no antennas at all; others have up to eight. Each antennas emits a Wi-Fi signal, and you can boost your speeds by ensuring they’re correctly positioned.
Each antenna’s signal comes out like a wave traveling in all directions, and that wave will be perpendicular to the antenna itself. So, a vertical antenna is more helpful in single-story homes, while a horizontal or angled antenna sends a signal that travels upward, which might be more useful in a multistory home.
If your router has two or more antennas, the best approach is to adjust them to different angles for better coverage throughout your home. You might have to experiment by running some speed tests on your phone to find the most effective configuration. There are plenty of free tests, like those that are quick and easy to run.
Wi-Fi mapping software — like NetSpot — can help you visualize your network’s strengths and find and address weak spots.
Matt Elliott/CNET4. Map your Wi-Fi signal
In worst-case scenarios, you may have to map the Wi-Fi signal in your home to identify exact dead zones and analyze coverage range. Several years ago, we used NetSpot software to map out the signal strength throughout the CNET Smart Home. Ultimately, we got a clear view of the weak spots in our Wi-Fi network, which helped us shore things up by moving our hardware to more optimal locations.
5. Invest in the right equipment for your space
If all else fails and you’re still suffering from a weak connection, it might be time to start thinking about new Wi-Fi hardware. For starters, I’d recommend calling your ISP and making sure that the modem they installed is as up to date as possible. In some cases, it’ll be in the process of rolling out new equipment and can move your address up to the top of the list.
Assuming the modem isn’t the problem, your next move is to make sure that you’re using the right router for your space. A single wireless access point should suffice for most apartments and smaller homes (under 1,500 square feet). For bigger, multilevel homes, it’s worth upgrading to a mesh router that uses multiple devices to offer consistent coverage in every room. Remember how moving your router to the right spot was the most important way to optimize your speeds? With a mesh system’s multiple devices, you’ve got a lot more room for tinkering. If a far corner of your home doesn’t have solid wireless coverage, you can just move one of the mesh extenders closer to that area. Problem solved.
If your router is several years old, you should consider upgrading to a newer model. The best way to track this is to determine which version of the Wi-Fi standard your router supports. To find out, just flip the thing over and scan the fine print. The router’s Wi-Fi standard will start with 802.11, the industry designation for Wi-Fi, followed by a few letters indicating the exact generation in use. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Wi-Fi 4 (2009) – 802.11n
- Wi-Fi 5 (2013) – 802.11ac
- Wi-Fi 6: (2019) – 802.11ax
- Wi-Fi 6E (2020) – 802.11axe
- Wi-Fi 7 (2024) – 802.11be
If you’re still rocking a Wi-Fi 5 router from more than 10 years ago (or, gulp, anything even earlier than that), then it’s probably time to upgrade. Wi-Fi 7 is the newest and fastest generation of Wi-Fi hardware, but Wi-Fi 7 routers might be overkill in your home if you don’t have Wi-Fi 7-compatible devices. It’s fine to save some money by sticking with Wi-Fi 6, but based on CNET’s latest lab testing, Wi-Fi 6E is the sweet spot between speeds and cost. Wi-Fi 6E is the first generation to add access to the ultra-wide 6GHz band, and it’s still better tech than most people have in their homes.
To learn more, check out our list of the best mesh routers. If you need some additional guidance, consult our router buying guide.
