Slow Wi-Fi is rarely a slow internet problem. In most cases, the issue is happening between your router and your device — not between your router and the rest of the internet. This guide walks through a quick audit you can do in fifteen minutes.
Step 1 — Test wired first
If possible, plug a laptop directly into your router via Ethernet and run myping. The result is the maximum your line can deliver. If this number is much lower than your plan, the issue is upstream — call your ISP.
Step 2 — Test Wi-Fi at the router
Stand within 5 feet of your router and run myping on the device that's been giving you trouble. If you get close to the wired result, your router and device are healthy — the problem is range or interference elsewhere in the house.
Step 3 — Test where you actually use it
Move to the room where the problem appears. Run myping there. A 50%+ drop from the at-the-router test confirms a coverage issue. Solutions: relocate the router, add a mesh node, or run an Ethernet drop.
Step 4 — Switch bands
If your router supports 5 GHz and 6 GHz, test on each. 2.4 GHz reaches farther but is slower and more crowded. 5 / 6 GHz are faster but don't penetrate walls as well. Use the right tool for the room.
Step 5 — Reboot, then update
If steps 1–4 look fine but everything is slow, reboot your router and modem. If problems persist, check for firmware updates — outdated firmware is a frequent cause of mysterious Wi-Fi flakiness.