Why Your Internet is Slow at Night – How to Fix It

Your internet may be slowing down every night because of network congestion.

Most people connect to the internet before bed to relax after working all day. This increases the network traffic, also known as network congestion, and slows down your speed temporarily. While there may be more reasons for a slower speed at night, this is one of the most common causes.

In this guide, we will be identifying reasons why you might be facing throttled speed at certain times, and explore ways in which you can fix this issue.

Reasons for Slow Internet at Night

As discussed, the first and most common reason for a slow internet speed at night is network congestion:

Network Congestion

Network congestion happens when there is too much load on the network provider’s server due to an overflow of data. Your internet provider has a set amount of bandwidth that is divided amongst users. When too many users connect to the internet at the same time, that bandwidth limit exceeds, resulting in slower speeds. You might face issues like lags in online gaming, increased buffering when streaming, delays in a video call, or slower uploads and downloads.

How to Fix Network Congestion Issues

You can manage network congestion by some of these simple tips:

• Upgrade your router – newer and advanced routers are better equipped for managing throttling speeds. Users with better routers may be getting better bandwidth as compared to those using older or outdated ones.
• Switch to a 5 GHz band – the 5 GHz band is a frequency in your router, which is less crowded and will improve your internet performance during peak hours.
• Close background apps – extra apps working in the background will compromise your home network’s bandwidth and affect the internet’s performance.
• Disconnect extra devices – connect only the devices you are working on so you can manage your bandwidth and improve performance on the device you need the most.
• Utilize non-peak hours – for intensive internet activity like downloading large files, pick a non-rush hour to get faster speeds. If you want to watch a movie at night, download it when you have better speed in the day.

Internet Throttling

Internet throttling refers to when your internet service provider intentionally slows down your speed. This usually happens if you are exceeding your data limit or when your provider wants to manage network congestion. Internet service providers try to cater to every user based on their internet plan and speed. A user with a higher internet speed is prioritized to get a better bandwidth than a user with a basic internet plan and a slower speed range.

How to Fix Internet Throttling

Although you may not directly be able to fix network throttling since your internet service provider controls it, there are some fixes you can try to avoid the issue:

• Get a faster internet plan – if you feel that your network is starting to throttle a lot, chances are your internet requirement is greater than your current plan. Upgrade to a higher tier plan to enjoy better speeds.
• Get an unlimited data plan – you can also avoid internet throttling by choosing an unlimited data plan so your ISP will not throttle your speeds when you reach your data limit.

Internet Connection Type

The internet connection type you use may also have an impact on the performance and consistency of your network at night. Satellite internet, for example, is easily affected by weather changes, which may cause slower speeds. Cable and fiber internet are the two most reliable internet connection types that offer consistent speeds throughout the day. Furthermore, network congestion is also less likely to affect a fiber and cable internet connection.

How to Fix this Issue

You probably already know where we’re getting at, right?

• Switch to a cable for fiber provider – both of these connection types offer maximum reliability and consistent speeds to avoid network congestion, and speeds getting slower at night.

Regularly Test Your Internet Speed

If you feel like your internet is still underperforming after you’ve tried every possible solution, you need to check if your ISP is delivering the promised speeds. The best way to keep a check on this is by regularly testing your internet speed. Make sure you test your internet speed at multiple locations within your home, and at different times, to gauge the best results. If you feel like you are not getting the right speed, you should contact your internet provider and complain about the issue.

A Quick Overview – How to Fix Slow Internet at Night

To get a quick overview of why your internet is slow at night, we’ve identified the following reasons:

• Network congestion due to bandwidth overload
• Network throttling due to data limits or basic tier internet plans
• An inconsistent internet connection type

To tackle these issues, we recommend the following solutions:

• Switch to off-hours for heavy internet usage
• Upgrade your router and switch to a 5 GHz band
• Prioritize apps and devices to avoid bandwidth distribution
• Upgrade to a faster and unlimited data plan
• Switch to a reliable cable or fiber internet provider
• Regularly test your internet speed to avoid getting slower speeds from your ISP

We hope this guide will help you get consistent speeds at night. In case you are dissatisfied with your service after trying all the recommended solutions, you should explore other internet providers in your area for better service.