Mythbuster: Does more people online mean slower internet?

It stands to reason doesn’t it. The more people using your broadband at once, the less there is to go round.

And with less bandwidth per user, that means slower downloads, choppy streams, and a generally unpleasant internet experience.

So it looks like we’ve answered the question already. Yes, this one’s pretty much true.

But here’s the good news – it’s possible to make that limited amount of internet bandwidth stretch a lot further with a few simple tricks.

Tip 1: Prioritise what actually matters

Generally speaking, your broadband router will treat all of your internet traffic the same, whether that’s opening webpages or streaming a Netflix movie. Normally, that’s not a problem, but imagine you’re trying to stream the latest blockbuster but you’re also downloading a large file at the same time. If there’s not enough bandwidth to go round, a slow download is one thing, but a choppy movie? That’s not a good experience.

Which is where QoS (or Quality of Service) settings become so powerful. Because the chances are, your router has a handy feature in its settings that allows you to prioritise certain types of data or devices in your home over others. If broadband at home is limited, telling your router to put your living room TV top of the pecking order could make a huge difference.

If you’re unsure how this works, or how to go about setting things up, check your router manufacturer’s website for guidance.

Tip 2: Pause the bandwidth-hungry stuff

Background tasks can hoover up a lot more bandwidth than you think. Look out for things like game and operating system updates, cloud backups, automatic photo uploads, or even apps syncing their data.

If things are getting a little tight, pausing or scheduling these downloads for later can make your connection feel instantly faster.

Tip 3: Disconnect the extras

How many internet-connected devices do you have at home? How many of those devices are turned on for no reason?

If the answer to those questions is ‘a lot’, then it’s probably worth having a quick check and powering off any unnecessary devices around the house. They might not be using lots of data by themselves but add enough of them together and we could be talking a tidy chunk of your bandwidth being used for absolutely no reason.

Tip 4: Use a wire if you can

WiFi is great, but it’s not magic. If you can plug something in – a TV, console or laptop – you’ll get a more stable connection and free up wireless space for everything else.

A trusty Ethernet cable might not be glamorous, but it may be just the thing your TV needs to help it deliver your favourite movies without a hitch.

Tip 5: Try turning it off and on again

Yep. That old IT trick. It sounds simple, but restarting your router can genuinely help. A reboot clears temporary glitches, forces devices to reconnect cleanly, and encourages the router to pick a clearer WiFi channel. Just switch it off, wait about 30 seconds, and switch it back on.

It’s the broadband equivalent of taking a breather and going again. And speaking of breathing.

Tip 6: Give your router the space it needs

Routers don’t love being trapped behind TVs, under sofas or inside cupboards. In fact, they love nothing more than being on display for the whole world to see.

Now, this may or may not agree with your home décor, but as a compromise, if you at least move your router somewhere more open it might just reward you with an immediate improvement in your WiFi signal.

When upgrading starts to make sense

If you’ve tried all the above and things are still running slow whenever the house gets busy, you might just need more speed.

A faster full fibre connection gives every device more room to do its thing. It’s perfect for families who regularly have lots of people online at once – or for anyone who just wants everything to stay fast and smooth.

But if your speeds are OK and the problem is more about where the WiFi reaches, a mesh system like Zen EveryRoom or eero can help. It spreads strong WiFi across your whole home, so people can stream, game and browse from any room without battling for the best spot.

So, final word.

Yes, more people online can slow things down. But you’re not powerless. With a few smart tweaks, you can squeeze a surprising amount of performance out of the connection you already have.

And if you ever do find yourself needing a little bit more, faster speeds and whole-home WiFi are always there to help.