Whether you work or not At home, watch Netflix or stream gameplay on Twitch without much bandwidth. Even if you have the mainline of Gigabit fiber in your router, everyone can use the internet that helps faster. It doesn't matter if you have the best wires outside your house - slowing down the Subpar and Wi-Fi dead zone, which is largely up to you. Here are some ways to solve the problem and hopefully improve the quality of your internal and external Wi-Fi.
Check out our other networking guides, including the best mesh routers, the best Wi-Fi routers, the best home office devices, and examples like how to protect your home Wi-Fi network, router shopping tips, and Wi-Fi 6e and Wi-Fi 7 crashes.
Updated May 2025: We have added details in most sections, including tips on Ethernet, Wi-Fi bands, and adjusting antennas.
Router in the closet? Not a good idea. Walls, cabinets, and even bookshelfs may weaken your Wi-Fi signal. Physical mobile routers can reach Internet speeds and how far away wireless transmissions can reach. The perfect location will depend on your home, but please don't hide the router around the corner, under the cabinet or inside the drawer - the more centered and prominent it is, the better it will be. For more information, read the guide on where to place your router for the best home Wi-Fi.
You may need to get creative with the cable to get your router in a better position, but it's worth it. The goal is to keep your main devices (holes, laptops, etc.) as close to your router as possible. Devices that don't require much bandwidth, such as smart thermostats, don't have to be a priority in terms of physical proximity.
Therefore, it is worth considering what it looks like when buying a router. If you buy a horrible router, you're more likely to put it in your closet. Given the location of your high priority device, find out the best location and then consider where it looks good for you. If you don't have a flat surface near the optimal area, install the router in the middle of the wall. Keep it away from other devices that use electromagnetic waves if possible; these include a baby monitor, a wireless keyboard and a microwave.
The router has internal or external antennas, or even just changing the angle can affect the strength of Wi-Fi in different parts of your home, so don't be afraid to sway these antennas and see if there is any improvement. For routers with internal antennas, it will make a difference even if the router is twisted or phished.
It's easy to forget that the wires still exist! us No, it's our name, but it needs to be said: You don't need Wi-Fi. Compared to Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet connects to your router faster, more stable, and is not affected by other devices or large fish tanks. The downside is that it limits the location of your device and is inconvenient.