Try these steps before you spend money on a new router.
Slow internet is not always the connection's fault. More often the problem is where the router sits and how it is configured.
- Put the router high and in the open — inside a cabinet or on the floor, signal strength halves.
- Use the 5GHz band — much faster than 2.4GHz for devices in the same room.
- Change the channel — if every router nearby is on the same channel, throughput drops; pick auto or a quieter channel in the settings.
- Update the firmware — outdated firmware hurts both speed and security.
- Change the password — use WPA2/WPA3 with a strong password, or the neighbours are using your bandwidth.
- Reduce connected devices — entry-level routers slow noticeably past about 15 simultaneous devices.
- Add a USB Wi-Fi adapter to desktops — a weak built-in receiver on an older desktop is often the real bottleneck.
If none of this helps, the router is probably simply old — a Wi-Fi 6 router handles far more devices on the same internet line.