As of recently, so many users keep complaining about their AT&T internet connection. If you’re one of them, we are sorry that your connection isn’t as strong as it used to be! Luckily, there are ways to fix your problem without changing the internet provider. We came up with the most common reasons your AT&T is slow and the easiest ways to solve this issue!
CONTENTS
- 1. The AT&T Connection is Slower in Your Area
- 2. Your AT&T Plan is Too Weak for Your Household
- 3. Too Many People are Using the Wi-Fi at the Same Time
- 4. You are Using the Internet for Too Many Things At a Time
- 5. There are Many Interferences Around You
- 6. You Need a Wi-Fi Signal Extender
- 7. The Router has Some Temporary Problems
- 8. Your Router is Weak or Old
- Final Thoughts on Why the AT&T Internet Is So Slow
1. The AT&T Connection is Slower in Your Area
In many cases, the culprit for your poor internet connection won’t be inside your home. You should consider this option, especially if your connection issue is temporary. In that case, you could check whether there are any malfunctions in the area where you live.
In addition, regular maintenance by AT&T can also slow down the internet or cut off the connection overall. Thus, it’s best to visit the official website to check if everything is working properly on their side.
What’s more, many AT&T customers reported slower internet connections recently. That happens when the company overloads the network without making the necessary adjustments to its strength.
In case your neighbors are using the same internet provider, and they have the exact issue, there isn’t much you can do. It’s best to contact customer support service to check your options.
2. Your AT&T Plan is Too Weak for Your Household
With any of the AT&T internet packages, you should be able to perform basic tasks online. However, if your household is too large, the basic plan might not be for you. Do you or your family members regularly stream content or are full-time gamers?
Well, your only option is to purchase the largest plan available. Luckily, AT&T offers three different download speeds, so you’ll definitely find something for yourself there.
3. Too Many People are Using the Wi-Fi at the Same Time
If you’re experiencing a slow internet connection every day during a specific time, your household members might be to blame. In case everyone is at home, and they’re using the internet for more demanding tasks, that could affect your own connection.
Therefore, it’s best that you step back and analyze whether your problem happens only at certain periods or is it an all-time issue.
If it happens only during peak hours, you can talk to your household members about making a timetable for internet usage. Alternatively, you can create a schedule of your internet connection needs and go online for more demanding tasks early in the morning or in the evening, when nobody is using Wi-Fi.
4. You are Using the Internet for Too Many Things At a Time
Your household members may not be creating too much traffic; you are! If you have multiple tabs open and you’re streaming content and downloading large files at the same time frequently, your internet connection could suffer.
That is why you should examine your own daily activities before blaming anyone else for your slow internet. You shouldn’t overload your network no matter which internet plan you’re using.
You should always be mindful of your own internet usage and try to focus on one task at a time. Chances are, your internet connection will become more stable.
5. There are Many Interferences Around You
This one is a more logistical problem. Many outside things can interfere with your connection. For instance, having multiple Wi-Fi sources or Bluetooth devices can make your internet weaker.
In addition, if you’ve placed your router improperly, it might not send out strong signals. Rough surfaces tend to absorb the signal and make it weaker.
Recommended reading:
- AT&T Broadband Light Blinking Green: How To Fix It?
- What Routers Are Compatible With AT&T Fiber?
- Fixing the AT&T Uverse Router Service Solid Red Light
- AT&T Broadband Light Red: Meaning & How to Fix It?
Thus, you shouldn’t place your router directly on the floor or next to a wall. In addition, you should make sure there isn’t any large furniture in front of the device. Moreover, if you have multiple floors in your house, the optimal placement of the router is in the middle of the house.
6. You Need a Wi-Fi Signal Extender
Your house might be too big for the signal to remain strong! That is why many people opt for a Wi-Fi signal extender. You can easily find a high-quality, durable product on Amazon or in the nearest store.
Before you make the purchase, it’s best that you check the reviews to find a perfect product for your needs.
7. The Router has Some Temporary Problems
A lot of the problems with your router could be fixed by a simple restart. You should unplug the device from a power source and wait for a few minutes before turning it back on. Then, you can check the internet connection.
In case that doesn’t work, you could try resetting it. You’ll probably find a “reset” function on the back of the device. You’ll need a pen or a bobby pin to press it. After that, you should wait for a couple of minutes for the resetting process to finish.
You should keep in mind that resetting the router will revert it to its default settings. Hence, you’ll have to set it up all over again. So, grab the Ethernet cable to connect it to your laptop or desktop and go to the router configuration page. Once you set it up, don’t forget to connect all of your devices to the router once again by typing your new password.
8. Your Router is Weak or Old
If you tried restarting and resetting your device and you still have internet connection issues, your router may be too old. Most people buy a router and don’t think about it for years. But, just like any other gadget, the router’s properties might become less effective over time.
What’s more, Wi-Fi technology is constantly evolving. Thus, older devices might not be able to work with those kinds of progressive changes. The best thing you can do in that case is to look for a newer model.
Final Thoughts on Why the AT&T Internet Is So Slow
There you have it – all the things that can go wrong with your AT&T internet and how to fix them. We hope you found this article helpful and that you now have properly working Wi-Fi!
If you still have some issues, we advise you to contact AT&T customer support. Your problem might be more serious, which is why you’ll need their help for troubleshooting it.
Hey, I’m Jeremy Clifford. I hold a bachelor’s degree in information systems, and I’m a certified network specialist. I worked for several internet providers in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle over the past 21 years.
I worked as a customer service operator, field technician, network engineer, and network specialist. During my career in networking, I’ve come across numerous modems, gateways, routers, and other networking hardware. I’ve installed network equipment, fixed it, designed and administrated networks, etc.
Networking is my passion, and I’m eager to share everything I know with you. On this website, you can read my modem and router reviews, as well as various how-to guides designed to help you solve your network problems. I want to liberate you from the fear that most users feel when they have to deal with modem and router settings.
My favorite free-time activities are gaming, movie-watching, and cooking. I also enjoy fishing, although I’m not good at it. What I’m good at is annoying David when we are fishing together. Apparently, you’re not supposed to talk or laugh while fishing – it scares the fishes.
