If you notice that your Wi-Fi is consuming a lot more battery than it usually does, or you always appear to be connected but the internet isn't exactly lightning fast, then you might be suffering from a poor Wi-Fi connection. Wi-Fi problems can occur anywhere, from thickly walled buildings, to long-range connections or simply a bad Wi-Fi signal in the first place. Here's our guide for how to improve Wi-Fi on your Android smartphone.
Use an app
This might be the easiest option for instantly improving your Wi-Fi signal, but it's also the least proven. The problem is that many people debate whether these kinds of apps do boost your Wi-Fi connection, or just say they do. Yet a placebo is a powerful thing! Start with one of the higher-rated Play Store offerings like Wi-Fi Booster & Easy Analyzer, a free, all-in-one solution which does not require root. Give it a try.
Avoid poor connections
In the settings menu of Android there is a nice little option that tells your phone to avoid poor Wi-Fi connections, meaning that while it is scanning for available networks it will actually avoid trying to connect to those with poor signals. This will save you a lot in terms of power and frustration. Just go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the overflow menu button and then Advanced. Here you will see the check box to avoid poor connections.
- Got a great connection? Why not use your Android as a Wi-Fi hotspot
MacGyver a DIY radio dish
If you're in real need of a better Wi-Fi signal then you can actually make your own little parabolic dish to ''catch'' some better reception. This is basically a small version of a big radio or satellite dish. You can use a metal bowl or cut open a soda can to make a receiver dish. It may not be the most practical thing to do every time you have a weak signal, but it is fun.
Update your radio or firmware
If you're receiving over the air updates from your carrier or manufacturer then this probably doesn't apply to you, but if you are running custom ROMs you may find yourself occasionally needing to manually update the radio on your Android. This can be done very simply and we've shown you how to update the radio and bootloader on the Nexus 5 already. Making sure you're on the latest version of Android for your device is always a wise move for best performance, including your Wi-Fi drivers.
Forget bad connections
If you've signed in to a million different Wi-Fi connections and found half of them to be so bad you can't use them, then do yourself a favor and forget those networks in your Wi-Fi settings. If you don't your phone will connect to those bad signals whenever you're in range, again draining your battery with a unusable Wi-Fi connection.
Don't obstruct your antenna
Lots of cases can actually make your Wi-Fi signal worse, especially if they contain metal, which is often used for added protection or kick stands. To see if your case is affecting your Wi-Fi signal, do an Ookla speed test with the case off, then, in the same location, put the case back on and perform the test again. If you see a difference when the case is on you may want to look at alternatives.
Learn which Wi-Fi access point is the best
One way to do this is using the Wi-Fi analyzer app which offers three things. Firstly it provides the best channel to use for your particular network. Without going into details, it allows you to optimize the network and means you don't have to be a technical whizz-kid to do so.
The second thing it does is useful for in an office or other public places, as it allows to know which network has the most stable connection. This is not always the one which your phone assesses is the best by default, there are a lot of factors at play here.
The third thing is the easy access to things info IP address, network gateway, DNS, etc. It's not essential, but useful for some practices.
Improve access to the wireless network
Another simple thing that can greatly improve the Wi-Fi connection at home is the optimization of the router's location. Often it is placed right next to the phone or cable outlet, but this is rarely the best for your connection. If you can move it, take a look at the Wi-Fi FDTD solver app that allows you to see at a glance how your modem is doing.
Do you suffer from poor Wi-Fi reception? What do you do to improve your Wi-Fi signal?
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