How to Reduce WiFi Interference in Your Home or Office

Slow connections can be incredibly frustrating. Video calls freeze, downloads drag, and smart home devices drop off without warning. Slow internet isn’t always your service provider’s fault – wireless interference can drastically reduce WiFi quality too.

WiFi signals are sent through the air, so it stands to reason that they will encounter interference from other networks, electronics, physical barriers, and overcrowding from connected devices. These interferences cause fluctuating speeds and sudden drop-offs. The good news is that WiFi interference issues are typically easy to correct. Smart router placement, correct WiFi channel selection, upgrading hardware, and device management can all improve your WiFi signal greatly.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to reduce WiFi interference at home and in the office.

What Causes WiFi Signal Interference?

Basically anything that interrupts or overlaps with your network can cause WiFi interference, like other routers, electronics, walls, and too many devices trying to connect at once.

WiFi signal interference often causes:

• Slow downloads
• Buggy video streaming
• Laggy video calls
• Trouble connecting with smart home devices
• WiFi dead zones
• Unreliable speeds even when close to the router
• Noticeable slowdowns at specific times of day

Wireless interference is common in large apartment buildings, crowded areas, and offices with multiple routers transmitting on the same channel.

How Do You Reduce WiFi Interference?

Before you tweak your router settings or purchase new hardware, take a second to determine the cause of your interference. Many problems have simple solutions, so don’t be too quick to replace your router just yet. Here are four of the most common interference sources:

Nearby WiFi Networks

Every apartment complex, office building, and densely-populated neighbourhood has several WiFi networks operating within range of each other. The more routers competing against you on a channel, the slower your network will be. Neighbourhood WiFi is actually one of the biggest contributors to this extreme interference, especially on congested 2.4 GHz networks.

Electronics

There are a number of household appliances and office electronics that use radio frequencies which can interfere with WiFi signals. Some of the usual suspects include:

• Microwave ovens
• Cordless phones
• Bluetooth devices
• Baby monitors
• Smart home hubs
• Wireless security cameras
• USB 3.0 peripherals

Even inactive devices can create intermittent interference with your WiFi signal.

Obstacles

WiFi signals struggle to pass through certain building materials. While wireless signals handle most walls reasonably well, some materials weaken your signal significantly:

• Brick walls
• Concrete
• Metal filing cabinets
• Mirrors
• Glass
• Reinforced flooring

Too Many Devices

Too many devices connecting to your WiFi isn’t really interference, but network congestion. Your smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, smart speakers, security cameras, and other IoT devices all take up space on your network when connected to it.

2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz vs. 6 GHz: Which WiFi Frequency Helps Reduce Interference?

WiFi routers broadcast on several different frequency bands. The most common ones you’ll come across are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, but newer routers also offer support for a 6 GHz frequency with WiFi 6 or WiFi 7. Each frequency band works differently and has its own advantages and ideal use cases.

Why Does 2.4 GHz WiFi Get More Congested?

WiFi uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which means every WiFi enabled device ever made supports it, which means a crowded wireless spectrum. 2.4 GHz only has three non-overlapping channels, and you’ll experience a lot of interference from neighbors on this band if you live in an urban or suburban area.

The one benefit of 2.4 GHz is its range. Signals at this frequency travel farther and through walls easier than 5 GHz. If most of your devices are far away from your router, or are located in physically isolated spots in your home, you may want to connect them to the 2.4 GHz band.

When Is 5 GHz the Better Choice?

The 5 GHz band has far less congestion than the 2.4 GHz band. Virtually all modern devices support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so your devices should be compatible with this band. In general, you’ll experience faster speeds on 5 GHz since it has more non-overlapping channels than 2.4 GHz. If you have a dual-band router, try moving some of your devices over to the 5 GHz band to reduce wireless congestion (aka network congestion) and see if that helps.

Where Does 6 GHz Come In?

If you have a WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 router, you might also be able to connect devices to the 6 GHz frequency band. Most devices currently don’t support this frequency, but it will become more common in the future.

The Best Router Placement to Avoid Interference

Router location has a major impact on home WiFi optimization. Position your router to reduce obstacles and let WiFi signals reach the entire space.

Ideally, your router should:

• Sit in a central location
• Stay away from microwaves, TVs, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices
• Avoid metal racks and electrical equipment
• Be placed up high rather than on the floor

Mount your router on a wall or place it on a desk whenever possible. Hiding it in a cabinet is one of the most common causes of poor WiFi performance.

How To Change Your WiFi Channel to Reduce Congestion

Most routers will pick the strongest channel for you, but sometimes that automatic scan won’t detect all of the nearby networks. Learning how to change the WiFi channel selection manually can help you improve your WiFi signal.

Best WiFi Channels to Use

By visiting your router’s admin page or using a free WiFi analyzer app you can scan to see which channels are open and least used in your area. The ideal WiFi channels to use on a 2.4 GHz network are 1, 6, and 11 since WiFi channels overlap like this and won’t interfere with each other.

Upgrade Your Equipment to Reduce WiFi Signal Interference

Older routers can be a source of interference themselves. When you upgrade your WiFi router, you gain better device management and faster bandwidth optimization than older generations provide. A newer router can:

• Boost overall WiFi signal strength
• Improve bandwidth management during high-usage periods
• Reduce congestion
• Support newer WiFi-enabled devices
• Provide more stable connections

Consider upgrading your router if it’s more than five to seven years old. Older hardware lacks the improvements found in current-generation routers.

Improve Your WiFi With Mesh Networks or Access Points

In bigger homes or office buildings, one router won’t often reach everywhere. WiFi extenders can solve this issue in some cases, but usually just cause more problems.

Instead of trying to max out your current router with extenders, upgrade to a mesh WiFi system or have access points professionally installed.

Desktop PCs, Printers, Smart TVs, and VoIP Phones Can Usually Be Wired

Wiring as many devices as possible eases the load on your WiFi network and can dramatically improve wireless performance.

Tips for Better Device Management at Home

Use these home WiFi optimization tips to get more out of your WiFi:

• Connect bandwidth-heavy devices like gaming consoles, smart TVs, and laptops to 5 GHz or 6 GHz networks
• Remove idle smart devices from your WiFi network
• Switch devices that don’t need wireless to a wired Ethernet connection for a more stable internet connection

How To Reduce WiFi Signal Interference in the Office

Offices bring their own unique WiFi challenges. Larger spaces, more employees, and higher device density all require additional planning for strong office WiFi performance.

Keep Guest WiFi Separated from Business Networks

If you offer guest WiFi, keep it completely separate from your business network. Guest networks add unnecessary congestion to your main WiFi signal and can create security vulnerabilities. Separating the two improves both speed and network security.

Read Also: How to Set Up Guest WiFi for Your Business Without Risking Security

Plan Your Access Point Placement

Proper access point placement is critical in large offices. Businesses often conduct wireless site surveys to plan access point locations based on:

• User density
• Building layout
• Device density
• Expected usage patterns

Support High-Demand Applications and Services

Cloud software, video meetings, and VOIP solutions are all necessary for businesses operating today. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and cloud productivity apps all require reliable internet with minimal latency, and weak WiFi can cause dropped calls and hinder productivity. Read more about it in our blog post on low-latency internet connections.

Read Also: How to Integrate VoIP with Microsoft Teams & Zoom

Determine Whether Your Issue is WiFi or Your Internet Connection

Wireless interference wreaks havoc, but not every WiFi problem can be blamed on interference. Internet bandwidth can be a bottleneck, too. If your entire network crawls at the same time every day there’s a good chance wireless interference is to blame. But if multiple devices slow down simultaneously regardless of time, your stable internet connection may be compromised at the ISP level rather than by wireless interference.

Before tweaking any settings, first determine if it happens all day long or only during predictable periods.

The Quick Guide to Reducing WiFi Interference

Step 1: Reboot Your Router

If your home WiFi suddenly stops working, rebooting your router often fixes the issue. Wireless networks can develop random bugs that cause immediate interference.

Step 2: Move Your Router

Poor router placement is one of the most common causes of weak WiFi. Move your router to a central location and away from large obstacles.

Step 3: Switch to 5 GHz and Change Your WiFi Channel

Some devices perform better on the 5 GHz band. On top of that, crowded WiFi channels cause extreme interference. WiFi channel selection helps you avoid congestion and fix slow WiFi by reclaiming lost speed.

Step 4: Disconnect Idle Devices and Update Firmware

Too many connected devices and outdated firmware can drag down WiFi performance. Disconnect unused devices from your network and reboot your router to apply any necessary firmware updates.

Step 5: Wire Devices That Don’t Need WiFi

Devices that don’t require wireless connectivity (desktop PCs, printers, smart TVs, and VoIP phones) perform better and free up bandwidth for everything else when connected via Ethernet.

When to Call Your Internet Provider or IT Partner

If you’ve worked through the WiFi troubleshooting tips above and performance still hasn’t improved, it’s time to bring in the help. Call your ISP if every device slows down at the same time, regardless of whether they’re connected to WiFi.

Something outside your home may be causing the problem. If you own an office building, your IT partner can run a wireless site survey, pinpoint interference, and map out AP placement based on your floor plan and number of employees.

FAQs

How do I know if interference is causing my slow WiFi?

First, check your router. Try rebooting it and see if that fixes the problem. Note that Bluetooth speakers, cordless telephones, and microwave ovens can all cause interference with your network.

How do I stop my phone from interfering with my WiFi?

Phones don’t interfere with your WiFi signal, but they do use up bandwidth. If you’re connected to a 2.4 GHz network, switch your phone to 5 GHz for less interference and faster speeds.

What causes the most interference on WiFi?

Overlapping WiFi networks from neighbors and household electronics are two of the biggest contributors. Devices like cordless telephones and baby monitors use radio frequencies similar to your router.

What should I do if I can’t reduce WiFi interference?

If the WiFi troubleshooting tips above don’t fix your connection, reach out to your ISP or IT support team. Issues can occur when your router is configured incorrectly, has failing hardware, or if there’s an issue outside of your home or office. Your ISP may be able to pinpoint where your interference is coming from if other solutions don’t work.