Why your internet is slow at night
Internet often slows at night because more people are streaming, gaming and downloading at the same time.
Start by separating the broadband line from home Wi-Fi. Test near the router and, if possible, over Ethernet.
What to test first
- Run a LinkSpeed test and note download, upload, ping and jitter.
- Repeat close to the router.
- Use Ethernet if possible.
- Check whether the issue happens at certain times.
- Compare against your expected package.
Common causes
- Weak Wi-Fi signal or interference.
- Router overload.
- Large downloads, cloud backups or uploads.
- Provider congestion or a local fault.
- High latency, jitter, packet loss or bufferbloat.
How to improve it
Test at quiet and peak times. If Ethernet is also poor in the evening, congestion is more likely.
If the problem remains over Ethernet, keep a note of your results and contact your provider with the figures.