12 Quick & Easy Ways to Improve WiFi Reception

Tips to improve Wi-Fi signal strength in your home or apartment

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: April 26, 2026 Fact Checked

This wikiHow guide shows you how to improve signal strength and minimize interference on your home wireless network. Your ability to maintain a consistent Wi-Fi connection depends on many factors, including the location of your wireless access point. Placing your router in the best possible location and minimizing interference (both physical and wireless) can greatly improve network performance.

Ways to Improve Wi-Fi Reception

Place your router in a central location with the fewest obstructions between it and your device. Avoid placing it on the floor or behind many walls.
Add an extender or more antennas to your router.
Try using the 5 GHz band for faster internet speeds, and reduce interference from nearby devices.
Make sure to update your router’s firmware for the best performance available.

1

Choose a central location.

Download Article

If possible, place your router in the middle of your house or apartment. If you're using a router that needs access to a coaxial cable or phone jack, this might not be possible, depending on where those outlets are located. However, if your router only needs to be plugged into the wall, this might be more feasible.
- If you live in a two-story home, place your router high up on a shelf or a tall piece of furniture. This will allow the signal to easily reach the second story.^{[1]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  Microsoft Support
  Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
  
  Go to source}

2

Create a clear path.

Download Article

Remove physical obstructions between your computer and the router. A Wi-Fi signal can usually travel about 1000 feet, but every wall drops that by about 100 feet. To maintain the most reliable internet connection, ensure your computer has line-of-sight to the router. If that's not possible, you can still improve reception by minimizing some barriers:^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source

Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- Place the router high up, such as on a wall mount or high shelf. If the router is on the floor or on a low table, you'll be wasting much of the router's 360-degree signal range. You should also avoid putting your router on the floor.
- Glass from mirrors and windows reflects Wi-Fi signals back around the room. If you can't move the router away from the glass, try covering the glass with a curtain or cloth.
- Thicker walls, such as those made of brick, concrete, or stone, seriously impact signal strength. You may also run into trouble if your walls contain metal ducts, studs, and pipes. If your walls are blocking the Wi-Fi signal, open the door to the room where your router is and place it as close to the door as possible.
- Tall furniture and appliances can block signals, especially when leaning against thick walls. Avoid placing your wireless router in rooms with many tall objects.

3

Consider an extender or more antennas.

Download Article

Add a wireless range extender or additional antennas. If it's not possible to be within 50 to 100 feet of your router, or if there are physical obstructions, you can use a range extender to rebroadcast your router's Wi-Fi signal in other parts of your home or office.^{[3]
X
Research source} You can also try adding more antennas. For example, you might have one antenna at 45°, one at 60°, and one at 35°. That way, the signal will blanket the area.
- See How to Boost a Wi-Fi Signal to learn how to set up a range extender.
- Another option is a mesh router.^{[4]
  X
  Research source} This type of router consists of multiple access points placed throughout the home to boost the signal in those locations. The advantage of a mesh router over a range extender is that you can manage all the access points from a single central admin interface.

4

Try 5 GHz.

Download Article

Switch to 5 GHz. If you have a dual-band router (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), log in to your router's admin website and switch the wireless band setting to 5 GHz. The 5 GHz frequency offers higher data rates, leading to faster, more consistent internet speeds. However, 5 GHz has a shorter effective range than 2.4 GHz. If your wireless device is far from the router or there are a lot of solid obstacles between them, sticking with 2.4 GHz will be more reliable.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Some routers allow you to set up both bands simultaneously as separate networks. You can try both frequencies on your device to see which performs better for your setup.

5

Reduce interference.

Download Article

Eliminate 2.4 GHz wireless interference. If you're using 5 GHz, you can skip this step. If your only option is 2.4 GHz, interference from common household electronics and neighboring networks can lead to dropped connections and slow speeds. Try minimizing interference from the following sources to maximize your internet speed:^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Your neighbor's wireless network. Move your router closer to the center of your home or office if your neighbor's router is too close to yours.
- 2.4 GHz cordless phones and Bluetooth accessories.
- High-voltage household appliances such as air conditioners, microwaves, refrigerators, and washing machines.
- Baby monitors and wireless security equipment.

6

Try a less crowded channel.

Download Article

Connect the Wi-Fi router to a less-busy channel. If too many of your neighbors are using the same Wi-Fi channel, your connection is likely slow and/or spotty.^{[7]
X
Research source} Try a free Wi-Fi scanning tool like MetaGeek to identify the least crowded channel to connect to.
- If you have a 2.4 GHz wireless router, make sure it is connected to one of the three non-overlapping channels—1, 6, or 11. This can be done in your router's administration portal in the Wi-Fi or Wireless section. Look for a sub-menu called Radio or Channel.
- If you have a 5 GHz router, there's a lower chance of a crowded channel slowing your connection, though it's still possible.

7

Restart the router.

Download Article

Restart your router at least once a month. To do this, turn off the router, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. Let it run for about 5 minutes, and then check your internet speed.
- You can check your internet speed online at speed test websites like speedtest.net.
- Restarting your router is also a great way to fix common internet connection issues.

8

Remove devices from the network.

Download Article

Disconnect unused computers and accessories from the network. If you have multiple computers, phones, tablets, printers, Smart TVs, and other devices using your wireless network at once, you might be slowing it down. Turn off or disconnect devices you aren't using to improve network speeds for those you are.
- You can limit the number of devices your router will allow to connect at a time. This is typically done by logging in to your router's administrative website and adjusting settings in the LAN (Local Area Network) or Local Network area.
- You can add or change the password to your Wi-Fi to prevent devices that you don’t know from joining the network.

9

Keep the router up-to-date.

Download Article

If you're still experiencing poor reception, your router may need a firmware update. This can usually be done in your router's admin portal, but some routers require additional steps. See this wikiHow to learn the basics of updating your router's firmware.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source

Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}

10

Replace your router's antenna.

Download Article

Put a high-gain antenna on your router. By default, your router will usually have an omnidirectional antenna attached. This is great if you can put your router in a central location, but if not, you might be broadcasting half your Wi-Fi signal outside or into someone else's apartment. Try switching to a high-gain directional antenna instead to broadcast your Wi-Fi signal into your house and not outside.^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source

Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- If your router doesn't come with a high-gain antenna, you can purchase one online. Make sure to look for an antenna compatible with your specific router model.

11

Craft a reflector.

Download Article

Create an aluminum foil reflector. If you're unable to boost your Wi-Fi signal far enough and don't have a repeater or mesh router, you can make a parabolic reflector out of aluminum foil to place behind your router's antennas. Here's how:^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Cut about 11" of aluminum foil from the roll.
- Tightly wrap the foil around a 2-liter soda bottle.
- Unwrap the foil after a few seconds—it should now be curved.
- Place the curved foil behind the router's antennas so the open part of the curve faces the direction you want to send a stronger signal.

12

Buy an updated router.

Download Article

Get a new router about every 3 years. If you've had your router for 3 or more years, it's probably time to replace it and set up a new router. That's about their average lifespan, since they're typically on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and they're often exposed to things like power outages or surges.
- You can also buy a USB wireless network adaptor for your computer if the built-in network adaptor is slow or not working.
- Buying equipment like routers, modems, and extenders from the same manufacturer can improve your network’s performance.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Which wireless channel to use?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

When choosing a wireless channel to use for optimal WiFi signals, try to find one that people around you are not using. Many routers choose a default for you but if that appears to be getting interference in your home, then try channels 1, 6 or 11 instead because these are known as non-overlapping channels. On other channels, co-channel interference can occur where other WiFi devices are trying to use the same channel, which can slow down the transfer while each device “takes its turn.” You will still need to work out if the neighbors are also using 1, 6 or 11 and there are tools that allow you to do this, so download one, use it, then choose the channel with the least or no other users on it.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 5
Question

How can I boost my WiFi signal?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Ways to boost your WiFi signal include: Using a WiFi booster, either a commercial or homemade one; shifting your router’s position to find an optimal placement in your home or office; shifting large furniture to external walls, to prevent signal blocking; reducing the amount of mirrors in your home; if you have a two-story house, place the router on the top floor to allow the radio waves to travel downward; and locate the router centrally. Replace your router after several years too, as the older it gets, the less effective it is likely to be. Details for these suggestions and more are fully explained in the steps above.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 5
Question

Do WiFi boosters really work?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes, the WiFi booster will work, provided you buy a quality booster that has had good reviews. It will work to increase the range of WiFi throughout a residential building or other building. Be sure to follow the instructions that come with the booster and use it within the spatial area it is recommended for. No booster can solve a WiFi problem in an area larger than what it’s designed for.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 10

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Make sure that your router is set to full transmission power.

Thanks
Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0
Depending on your brand and model of wireless router, you may be able to replace the built-in software with a replacement open source solution that adds many more capabilities and the option to increase the power to your wireless antenna.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
The addition of a "high gain" (higher dBi) external antenna will often provide increased reception signal and performance. Note that a higher dBi increases the signal horizontally, but decreases vertically. If you need to cover several floors, a higher dBi will probably not help. In this case, you might consider buying a Wi-Fi amplifier to boost your signal.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

If you replace your router's firmware, it may void your warranty. If not done properly, it can irreparably damage your router.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you turn the power up too high on a modified wireless router, it may suffer permanent damage.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0