How to Hack Broadband for Speed

Using General Tips

Disable other Internet-connected items. Every Internet-connected item in your home cuts down on the available Internet speed, especially if the items in question are actively being used. Turn off things like consoles, smartphones, tablets, and smart home items when you can in order to increase the amount of speed available to you. You can also place some items, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, in Airplane Mode to restrict their Internet usage.

Turn off downloads or streaming software. If you're downloading a large file or streaming a movie on your computer while trying to use the Internet on a different platform, you'll invariably encounter some slow-down. Close streaming programs and pause any active downloads when you're trying to get the most out of your Internet.

Use the 5 GHz channel if possible. If you have a router which supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, try using the 5GHz band to avoid interference from neighboring Internet connections. You can usually find the 5 GHz Internet connection in the Wi-Fi menu of your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other Internet-connected item. The appearance of a 5 GHz channel's name will vary depending on your router's manufacturer, but you'll usually see "Media", "5", "5.0", or something similar next to the connection's name.

Use an Ethernet cable. When all else fails, connecting your computer directly to your router (or modem) via an Ethernet cable is a guaranteed way to speed up your Internet by eliminating some of the hiccups which accompany wireless connections. This isn't an option on a smartphone or a tablet. If you're using a Windows or Mac computer that doesn't have an Ethernet port, you can buy a USB 3.0 (or USB-C for Mac) Ethernet adapter which can plug into one of your computer's available ports.

Changing DNS Settings on Windows

Make sure that you're connected to the Internet. In order to change your Internet connection's properties, you'll have to be actively connected to the Internet.

Open Start Windows Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Open Settings Windows Settings. Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.

Click Windows Network Network & Internet. You'll find this globe-shaped icon in the middle of the Settings window.

Click Change adapter options. It's below the "Change your network settings" heading near the top of the page.

Select your current network. Double-click the Wi-Fi (or, if you're using an Ethernet cable, Ethernet) connection that has your network's name. This option will be a computer monitor-shaped icon in the middle of the page. Doing so opens a pop-up window.

Click Properties. It's in the lower-left side of the pop-up window. Another window will open. If you aren't on an administrator account, you'll need to enter the administrator password before proceeding.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). This option is a line of text in the middle of the window. Clicking it will select it.

Click Properties. It's a button near the bottom of the window. Doing so opens yet another window in which you can change your Internet connection's properties.

Check the "Use the following DNS server addresses" box. You'll find this box near the bottom of the window. Checking this box opens the two text boxes at the bottom of the window.

Enter DNS addresses. You can use different DNS addresses than your computer usually uses in order to get a little bit more speed out of your connection. Both Google and OpenDNS offer free addresses: Google — Enter 8.8.8.8 in the "Preferred DNS server" text box, then enter 8.8.4.4 in the "Alternate DNS server" text box. OpenDNS — Enter 208.67.222.222 in the "Preferred DNS server" text box, then enter 208.67.220.220 in the "Alternate DNS server" text box. You can also mix-and-match between Google and OpenDNS addresses (e.g., use 8.8.8.8 as the first server and 208.67.220.220 as the second server).

Save your changes. Click OK at the bottom of the first "Properties" window, click Close at the bottom of the second "Properties" window, and click Close on the "Status" window.

Flush your computer's DNS cache. You can do this by opening the Command Prompt program, typing in ipconfig /flushdns, and pressing ↵ Enter. Flushing the DNS cache will help resolve any website loading errors you might run into when you next open your browser.

Restart your computer. Click Start Windows Start, click Power Windows Power, and click Restart in the pop-up menu. Once your computer finishes restarting and connecting to the Internet, you should notice an increase in your Internet's speed.

Changing DNS Settings on Mac

Make sure that you're connected to the Internet. In order to change your Internet connection's properties, you'll have to be actively connected to the Internet.

Open the Apple menu Mac Apple. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

Click System Preferences…. It's near the top of the drop-down menu. This opens the System Preferences window.

Click Network. This globe-shaped icon is in the System Preferences window.

Select your Internet connection. On the left side of the window, click the Wi-Fi (or Ethernet, if you're using a cable) connection to which your Mac is currently connected.

Click Advanced…. It's in the lower-right side of the window. Doing so opens a pop-up window.

Click the DNS tab. You'll find this option at the top of the pop-up window.

Click ＋. It's in the lower-left side of the window. Doing so creates a text field in the "DNS Servers" column.

Enter the primary DNS address. Type in the address for a primary DNS server. Both Google and OpenDNS have free servers that you can use here: Google — Enter 8.8.8.8 here. OpenDNS — Enter 208.67.222.222 here.

Enter the alternate DNS address. Click ＋ again, then enter one of the following addresses: Google — Enter 8.8.4.4 here. OpenDNS — Enter 208.67.220.220 here.

Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. This will save your settings and close the "Advanced" pop-up window.

Click Apply. You'll find this option at the bottom of the window. Your settings will be applied to your Internet connection from now on.

Flush your Mac's DNS cache. You can do this by typing sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder;say DNS cache has been flushed into Terminal and pressing ↵ Enter. Flushing the DNS cache will help resolve any website loading errors you might run into when you next open your browser.

Restart your Mac. Click the Apple menu Mac Apple, click Restart..., and click Restart when prompted. Once your Mac finishes restarting and connecting to the Internet, you should notice an increase in your Internet's speed.