How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal

Thanks to Wi-Fi, the need for special ports, connectors and numerous cords to connect a device to the Internet is a thing of the past. But while Wi-Fi signals continue to improve, strength and coverage issues persist.

Fortunately, as with most technology, when there is a problem there is a workaround and many solutions are available to help boost your Wi-Fi signal. In this article, we'll walk you through the easiest way to try to boost your Wi-Fi connection. Each section offers something different, so be sure to check them all out.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Android

Try these three tips to increase the Wi-Fi signal on your Android device:

1. Restart your router and device

Restart your router – turn it off for a while, then turn it back on. This will refresh the connections and allow it to reselect the clearest channel for each frequency, resulting in the strongest Wi-Fi signal. Then restart your device to pick up renewed Wi-Fi signals.

2. Forget and join the network

Set your device to forget your Wi-Fi connection, then reconnect it. Write down the Wi-Fi password as you will need to re-enter it to connect. Here's how to join your Wi-Fi network via your Android device:

1. Open "Settings".
   
2. Tap on “Connections”, then on “Wi-Fi”.
   
3. Long press on your Wi-Fi network, then on "Forget network".
   
4. Restart your phone, then reconnect Wi-Fi.
   

3. Try removing your phone case

Some of the materials used in phone cases are known to affect Wi-Fi signals. To determine if your phone case is affecting your signal, remove it and perform a speed test using an online service. like the Ookla Speed ​​Test. Then test again in the same place with the box turned on. If your phone performs better without the case, then you've found your problem.

Ookla's speed requires a lot of permissions, so we suggest uninstalling it after testing is complete.

How to Boost Wi-Fi Signal for an iPhone

To boost your iPhone's Wi-Fi connectivity, try the following:

1. Restart your router and device

It's amazing how a simple restart can make most technical issues go away. Restart your router to allow it to find a less crowded channel for a stronger signal. Once it restarts, restart your iPhone and then reconnect to Wi-Fi.

2. Forget and Join Wi-Fi

Try increasing your Wi-Fi speed by making your iPhone forget the Wi-Fi network and then reconnect as if for the first time. This action renews the connection from the iPhone end. Before you begin, write down the Wi-Fi password as you will need to re-enter it. Here's how to forget and rejoin Wi-Fi from your iPhone:

1. Open the “Settings” app.
   
2. Tap "Wi-Fi".
   
3. Tap the "I" next to the name of the connected Wi-Fi.
   
4. Select “Forget this network”, then “Forget”.
   
5. Restart your phone.
   
6. Open the “Settings” app again, then “Wi-Fi”.
   
7. Tap the Wi-Fi name and enter the password to join it.
   

3. Try removing your phone case

It's a fact that some of the materials used in phone cases, such as metal, can affect Wi-Fi signal reception. To check if your phone case is affecting your signal, with the case turned off, perform a test performance using an online service like Ookla Speed ​​Test. Then, in the same place, with the box turned on, perform the test again. If your phone performs better without the case, that's your problem.

Since Ookla asks for a lot of permissions, we suggest uninstalling it after testing is complete.

How to Boost Wi-Fi Signal for PC

Try the following tricks to increase the Wi-Fi signal on your PC:

1. Restart your router and PC

Restart your router by turning it off for a while and then turning it back on. This allows your router to produce a stronger Wi-Fi signal by selecting the least busy channel for each frequency. Once it restarts, restart your PC to renew its connection to your router.

2. Eliminate Wi-Fi Leeches

Cheapskates, malicious hackers or other intruders may try to connect to your Wi-Fi network to save money or do worse. The best way to keep these guys at bay is to hide your router's SSID or Wi-Fi network name using the "hiding" method. Only people who enter your network name will find it. Hiding your ID provides general protection for your modem.

This is done in the firmware settings through your Wi-Fi router's administrator. Each router's configuration is different, so use the following steps as a general guide on how to do this through your router:

1. In a web browser, enter the IP address of your router's administration panel. This is usually 192.168.0.1 or similar.
   
2. Browse the navigation options for a section labeled "Wireless" or similar.
   
3. Go through the submenus and look for a section called “Wireless Options”. "Wireless Settings" or something similar.
   
4. Look for an option with a name like "Enable Hidden Wireless", "Enable SSID Broadcast", "Hide SSID", etc.
   
5. Check or uncheck the box or enable a switch to disable this setting.
   
6. Save your settings. Your router may or may not need to restart. You are now invisible to devices.
   

3. Update your router firmware

A firmware upgrade will help your router perform better and support faster internet speeds. The ease or difficulty of this operation depends on the make and model of your router. Luckily, many new devices include the update process through the admin interface, so it's a matter of logging into your router's admin and finding the upgrade option.

How to Boost Wi-Fi Signal Through Walls?

There is nothing you can do about walls, their thickness, and how they affect Wi-Fi signals. However, there are a few things that can be done to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal through them, and by here are a few:

1. Reposition Your Router and Remove Dead Spots

To increase the strength of your Wi-Fi network for coverage throughout your home, consider placing the router elsewhere. Sometimes a small change in location can make the difference. It is best to install your router in a central location. Consider the following when determining the best location:

• Give it plenty of space. Keep it away from thick walls.
• Keep it away from your windows and TV.
• Place it somewhere high, like on a top shelf or on a cupboard.
• Place it somewhere where you can see it.

The goal is to place it somewhere with plenty of surrounding space so it can send out strong signals in all directions.

2. Try installing a Wi-Fi repeater

The router may be in a building that is too large to provide sufficient coverage. If so, consider investing in a Wi-Fi extender or repeater. As the name suggests, a Wi-Fi repeater receives the current Wi-Fi signal and amplifies it to extend its range to dead » Wi-Fi throughout a building.

They are very easy to install. All you need to do is place a repeater in a location where you can receive a Wi-Fi signal, then connect it to a power supply.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal With Aluminum Foil

A cheap alternative to Wi-Fi repeaters and extenders is to use aluminum foil as a reflector to increase signal strength. It is believed to work by redirecting the Wi-Fi signal by stopping it from going in one direction and sending it out in another.

All you have to do is:

1. Fold a piece of aluminum foil into a curved shape.
2. Place the foil around the antenna of the router. The foil should face the direction you want to boost the signal.

And There you go. A stronger Wi-Fi connection without spending a penny.

Boost your Wi-Fi signal

A bad Wi-Fi signal can be annoying, especially if you're trying to stream something or do anything else that requires a strong connection, like almost anything. Fortunately, there are many things you can try to increase your signal strength without having to contact tech support.

The best techniques for increasing signal tend to be the simplest. For example, restarting your router and connecting device, changing the position of the router, or placing foil over the router's antenna can noticeably increase your signal strength.

Do you know of any other proven methods for boosting a Wi-Fi signal? Tell us about them in the comments section.