‘Tis the season to be jolly? Will somebody think of the WiFi this Christmas?

Many people would agree – Christmas is the best time of the year. But it’s also the most chaotic. New gadgets everywhere, seven streams a-streaming (that’s how the song goes, right?), and someone trying to get the WiFi password from you every five minutes.

Ah, bring on the new year… but in the meantime, there are things you can do to give your WiFi a fighting chance.

Give your router a good spot

Your WiFi works best when your router has a nice area of undisturbed space around it. So do try to keep it away from tinsel, fairy lights, Christmas trees, piles of presents and large decorations. These can all interfere with your signal and slow things down – and that’s the last thing you want when you’re about to press play on the latest Christmas blockbuster.

It’s advice that applies all year round, but this is the season when your home is filled with a lot more junk, erm ‘stuff’ than normal. A bit of breathing room goes a long way.

This jam isn’t cranberry sauce

What does a 21^st century Christmas look like? Hundreds of devices trying to get their slice of your WiFi. Games consoles, TVs, smartphones, speakers, flashing lights and the rest all competing for a bit of your bandwidth tends to lead to one thing – congestion.

But a few quick fixes can help:

• Turn off or disconnect devices you’re not using.
• Save large downloads or updates for later.
• If you’re a bit tech minded, you can even log into your router settings to prioritise certain devices or services (check your router manufacturer’s website if you’re not sure how).

Where does this wire go?

One of the easiest fixes for stretched WiFi is to skip it altogether and use a wire. If you’re near enough to the router, and it’s convenient, try connecting your device (TV, laptop, console) using an Ethernet cable.

This won’t magically fix all your WiFi woes, but it takes the pressure off your wireless network and keeps things running smoothly when it matters.

Be our guest (without breaking the WiFi)

Christmas usually means extra people in the house – family staying over, friends dropping in, random schoolmates hoovering up your leftovers. It’s lovely… but it can be a lot for your connection.

If your router supports it, it’s worth setting up a guest network for visitors. It keeps things a bit more secure, gives you an easy way to share the WiFi details, and means you can switch off again once everyone’s gone home.

It’s also a good time to double-check your main WiFi password and make sure you’re happy with who’s got it. A tiny bit of housekeeping now can save you wondering why your connection suddenly feels slow in January.

Get some help around the house

We’re not talking about maid service here (though that would be nice). If you’ve got a full house this Christmas, or you’re finding certain rooms never quite get the signal they deserve, Zen EveryRoom or eero can help. These clever mesh WiFi systems make sure you get the best possible wireless signal across the home, whatever room you’re in.

They’re simple to set up and quietly take care of all the technical stuff so you don’t spend Christmas Day playing ‘household IT manager’.

Thinking about a bigger upgrade?

If your broadband is being pushed to its limits, quick fixes and even mesh WiFi might not be enough to make a difference. When your broadband’s working hard and you’re still feeling the strain, you might just benefit from a speed boost or full fibre upgrade.

For busy homes, Christmas gamers, film fans, or anyone else who wants to get the best from their connection, just pop your postcode in our handy search tool and find out how fast you can go.

Keep things merry and bright – and well connected – this Christmas

A calm, reliable connection won’t solve every Christmas problem, but it’ll definitely take a few potential headaches off your plate. With a few small tweaks – and a little help from Zen – you can keep your WiFi steady, your family happy, and your festive plans running without a hitch.