Improve your broadband speed

When you've been through the steps below, you can test your broadband speed using our online troubleshooter.

1. Use your main phone socket and microfilters

Your Hub should be plugged into the primary telephone socket. You can usually find this in your front room or hall, near where the phone line enters your house. If you can't find it, try looking from outside where wires enter your house, and then look inside for the socket below that point.

Where do I need microfilters?

A microfilter is a clever little device that allows your broadband and telephone services to work at the same time. You'll need to use microfilters if your main phone socket has a faceplate with a single socket. More about microfilters.

2. Improve your wi-fi

Your wireless set-up has a big impact on the broadband speed you'll get. There are some easy ways to improve your wi-fi coverage. Get help improving your wi-fi.

3. Leave your Hub switched on

When you switch off the Hub, your broadband looks like it's disconnecting. This makes the line look unstable and the broadband speed may be automatically reduced to make the line more reliable. So it's best to leave your Hub on - even at night - to get the best speeds and performance.

4. Check your devices and install anti-virus software

There's a pretty simple rule. The smaller, cheaper or older your devices, the less likely it is that they'll deliver great wi-fi. Laptops and computers will have better wi-fi in your home than phones and tablets. They're big enough to be fitted with large antennae so they can receive wi-fi signals in more places around the home.

Applications running in the background

Different things can cause a computer to slow down, which can give the impression that the broadband service is slow. Examples include:

Running too many programs at once
Web browser add-ons
Too many startup programs
Not enough RAM (memory) in your computer
If your computer seems slow it might be worth getting it looked at or upgraded.

Stay safe online

If your computer has picked up something nasty it can slow everything down. Firstly make sure you have activated our free BT Web Protect service to secure your home network. BT Web Protect helps prevent infection from viruses, scams and phishing attacks when you're on the internet by warning you if you're about to visit a potentially harmful website. It's free to all BT Broadband customers. Turn on BT Web Protect now

Then also make sure your individual devices are protected by downloading BT Virus Protect. It comes with either two or 15 licences, and it's free with all broadband products. This means you can install it on up to two or 15 computers or laptops; PCs or Macs. To check which version you can get, and to download, go to www.bt.com/mybt.

5: Know what else affects broadband speeds

We've invested heavily in the network so everyone gets a fast connection even at the busiest times. But similar to rush-hour traffic, the speed you'll get depends partly on how many people are using the network. During peak periods, usually between 8pm to 10pm, you may sometimes notice speeds reduce.

You may find that some websites work perfectly, but a specific website, video or download cause issues. This is the fault of the service, not your broadband. Popular websites sometimes have capacity issues dealing with thousands of videos at the same time. Wait a bit and then try again.