Consistent high speed is the minimum you should expect when you get a connection from an ISP like AT&T. So, it is no surprise that you are worried about the slow AT&T internet connection. Depending on factors like the network environment, AT&T may or may not be to blame.
In this guide, however, I have prepared a list of the 10 working ways to fix a slow AT&T internet connection at your home.
Before You Proceed: Test Your Current Speed with AT&T
Before you explore any of the reasons or solutions, you must check the current speed you get from the AT&T connection. I recommend using a standard test like Speedtest.net or Google Speed Test to determine both the download and upload speeds of the connection.
However, keep the following things in mind during the test.
- No other device should consume heavy internet resources while you are conducting the test.
- Make sure that no background applications are running on your computer or smartphone.
- Use the 5GHz/6GHz frequency band of the router and keep your device closer to the router.
- You must also check the maximum speeds you get via Ethernet, as it is the advertised number.
- Repeat the test on multiple devices (your smartphone and PC) to avoid device-specific issues.
- You should conduct the tests during non-peak hours to avoid the impact of network congestion.
If multiple tests on your AT&T connections reveal that you get less-than-promised speeds, you should try to find the reasons and fix the problem.
You should also keep in mind that ISPs do not offer speeds to the dot.
For instance, even with a 1 gig connection, you won’t always see 1000Mbps. If you ask me, you should leave a 10% margin for all things not under your control. However, if you pay for a 1000Mbps connection and get 500Mbps speed, you must check what is wrong.
Why Is Your AT&T Internet So Slow?
If you see that you get slow internet speeds from the AT&T connection (less than 80% of what was promised), you should look at the following reasons. In many cases, a combination of these factors may cause a subpar internet experience.
- ISP Outage: Outages at the ISP level are the most common reason for slow internet speeds on your AT&T network. During these outages, the network can’t manage much bandwidth.
- Network Congestion: Network congestion is another common reason, especially if you come across slow speeds during peak usage hours. This issue happens because more people use the network.
- ISP Throttling: ISP Throttling is the practice where the internet service provider deliberately restricts the download/upload speeds for specific websites/apps during peak hours.
- Signal Obstruction: Do you face a slow internet connection at a particular location? This could be due to obstructions between your device and the Wi-Fi router, especially in the 5GHz and 6GHz bands.
- Signal Interference: If you have kept the AT&T router/modem close to other electric equipment, the setup may face signal interference. Such signals will end up giving you slower internet speeds.
- Faulty Connections: Are you using third-party Ethernet cables or power cables? These might impact the overall speed of the Wi-Fi router and prevent your devices from reaching maximum speeds.
- Network Security: While uncommon, public networks or networks without strong security may have unauthorized users connected to them. These devices can impact the overall speed as well.
- Software Restrictions: Software utilities like VPNs will slow down the internet experience because of encryption and data forwarding. On the other hand, firewall systems can also slow down the internet.
- Wi-Fi Capacity: Each Wi-Fi router has a definite coverage capacity. So, if you use a standard router to cover a super-large home, you will find slow internet speeds in some areas and Wi-Fi dead spots.
- Network Overload: If you have connected too many devices to the AT&T network, you don’t have to look for another reason for the slow internet connection.
I must add that these are general, common reasons. Device-specific, plan-specific, and region-specific factors can also cause a slow internet experience.
10 Ways to Fix a Slow AT&T Internet Connection
Now that we know the common reasons your AT&T internet connection is slow, we shall look at 10 ways to fix the problem.
#1 Restart the Router
Restarting the router will temporarily disconnect it from the AT&T network and reconnect it. This step alone can solve most speed-based issues regarding your AT&T Wi-Fi network. A restart can also clear cache/junk files on the router.
I recommend frequent restarts for Wi-Fi routers as I do for smartphones and computers. These restarts will clear the cache and get rid of many temporary issues.
#2 Optimal Network Security
You should enable the strictest security standard for the network if you already have not. Keeping your Wi-Fi network secured will prevent unauthorized actors from accessing your resources. You’d also have all the other benefits of a non-open network.
#3 Optimal Router Placement
The distance between your Wi-Fi router and the device heavily impacts the Wi-Fi speeds. So, if you have an underperforming Wi-Fi router, you should upgrade it. If you still have Wi-Fi dead zones, you should consider getting a mesh Wi-Fi system, which can effectively eliminate Wi-Fi dead spots.
Mesh Wi-Fi systems are becoming more economical these days. You can also explore mesh Wi-Fi options by AT&T if you want to keep the proprietary features.
You should also keep the Wi-Fi router and access points away from devices like a microwave. This step alone can get rid of signal interference by a long shot. If you want to go a step further, you can allocate different channels for multiple networks.
#4 Check for Software Issues
Software elements like your security firewall, VPNs, and malware can also prevent the actual speed. VPNs and firewalls may throttle the speed, whereas malware could use them for malicious purposes. If you keep seeing terrible speeds on a specific device, you might want to check it for potential malware.
You may also want to check whether you have enabled a router-wide VPN service. A router-wide VPN will enable encryption for all traffic going through the Wi-Fi router. So, you will witness slower internet.
#5 Check Cables
You should also check whether you are using high-quality cables for the router and other devices. Cheaper, poor-quality cables can cause multiple problems, such as slow internet speed, especially when you have a high-bandwidth connection. It would be a good idea to check your router/modem as well.
#6 Disable QoS Features
Some quality-of-service features like Active Armor and Stream Saver from AT&T are known to cause slower internet speeds. These features might prevent you from accessing full-quality content from sites like Netflix and Prime. So, you may want to turn these features off.
#7 Update Router Firmware
Router firmware also plays an important role in providing the best speeds from AT&T. So, you should keep the firmware updated for the AT&T modem router. You can manage these updates using the Smart Home app from AT&T.
#8 Check for Outages
Country-level outages rarely happen for a company like AT&T, but local outages are another thing. If you feel the general speeds in the region are low, you should contact AT&T and see if there are infrastructure-level issues that need addressing.
#9 Upgrade the Plan
Have you noticed that internet consumption trends in your home have changed? Your kid may have started using the computer or been downloading games a lot. Depending on the number of devices in the household, you may have to upgrade to a better plan from AT&T.
#10 Use Wired Connection
You should always use a wired connection when speed and stability are the utmost priority. No matter how powerful it has become, Wi-Fi is vulnerable in many aspects. Shifting to an Ethernet connection will help you get the most out of the AT&T internet plan.
With these steps, you can fix the slow AT&T internet connection issue in most scenarios.
How To Prevent AT&T From Bandwidth Throttling
We already discussed the issue of bandwidth throttling by AT&T. Fortunately, you can use an incredible way to solve the problem: VPNs.
VPN services essentially encrypt your traffic so that outsiders don’t know what you are browsing. Throttling is powered by your ISP’s ability to understand which sites you are accessing. When you access a high-demand website, your connections are slowed down. By using a VPN, you can prevent AT&T from knowing this in the first place.
You can choose a paid or free VPN service based on what you need from the package.
Conclusion
I believe I have answered most of your doubts about fixing a slow internet connection from AT&T. You always have the option of contacting AT&T and asking for professional support or replacement. You may also want to check whether the throttling/network congestion in your area is legal.
