Why Does My Internet Slow Down at Night?

Internet

Slow internet speeds are frustrating, especially when you had planned on staying in and having a movie marathon. There are many reasons why your internet might be slowing down at night. The most common reason is usually because of network congestion.

It could also be that you need to switch to a higher bandwidth plan or one that has a higher data cap. Xfinity Internet speed ranges from 75 Mbps to 2000 Mbps. In other words, if you tend to stream a lot at night, the Xfinity gig-speed plan might be the best option.

Speaking of network congestion, there are two types of them – local network congestion and wide area (WAN) network congestion. Local network congestion occurs within your home network, whereas WAN network congestion occurs on your ISP’s network.

Both types of network congestion result in slower internet speeds at night. That said, most of the time, you could be experiencing slow internet at night because of congestion within your home, or even because of non-congestion issues.

Let’s look at some of the most common causes of slow internet at night and how you can overcome these issues.

Network Congestion

As we shared earlier, network congestion is usually the most common reason for you to experience slow internet at night. Network congestion happens when a large number of people are online at the same time, on the same provider’s network.

You probably know this as the peak period, when everyone is online in your neighborhood. Internet users usually experience network congestion in the evening, from 7 PM to 11 PM. This is the time when people are back from work, or school or simply decide to unwind while streaming a movie.

The key problem with this is that when multiple people in the same household or neighborhood rely on one connection, no one gets the maximum bandwidth. It will be split, unless of course, you are using fiber-optic internet.

This is why many ISPs throttle speeds so that there is less network congestion. This is also why ISPs have data limitations. If you tend to experience a lot of network congestion during peak periods, you can either download your favorite shoes before the end of the month, so that you don’t have to stream to watch them.

You could also switch to another ISP, that offers higher or unlimited data, or get fiber internet if it’s available in your area.

Internet Equipment Placement

When you subscribe to an ISP, and rent its equipment, they will usually send a technician to install and activate your internet. Most providers, especially cable and DSL, provide both a router and modem.

These technicians usually look for a central location with little to no obstruction when installing the equipment. Of course, there needs to be a power outlet there. However, some of the time, technicians aren’t as sensitive about the equipment placement, and simply place it somewhere in the TV room.

However, if you have been experiencing slow internet or drop in signals, it could be because your router is unable to pass Wi-Fi signals as seamlessly as it is supposed to. See if there are any major obstructions near it, or if you need to upgrade to a higher-quality router.

Lack of Device Maintenance

This is yet another reason for slow internet speeds at night. When was the last time you had updated your device? If you honestly can’t recall when was the last time, then there’s a good chance you’ve not updated it recently.

Devices, such as smartphones, laptops, computers, and even routers, need to be updated regularly. These updates are either for a reason. They will remove any bugs or malware found in the devices, and ensure that they run smoothly until the next update.

However, you might realize that some of your older devices, such as an outdated router, may no longer be receiving any new updates. So, what can you do about it? The answer is simple. It is time for you to invest in a new router, or you could even speak to your ISP if you rent from them.

If you have updated all your devices but still experience slow internet speeds at night, you should free your network of any connected device that is not being used. This will free you up any extra bandwidth that is being issued for no reason.

Wrapping Up

Everyone is online at night, especially during the weekends. If you are streaming an online movie and it keeps buffering, it will only ruin your weekend. Of course, you can download it beforehand, but you might have also scheduled a PS5 game night at yours.

Therefore, you need a speedy internet. We have shared the three major reasons why you could be experiencing slow internet at night. We have also shared solutions to tackle these issues.

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