Your cookie preferences


We use cookies and similar technologies. You can use the settings below to accept all cookies (which we recommend to give you the best experience) or to enable specific categories of cookies as explained below. Find out more by reading our Cookie Policy.

Select cookie preferences

Skip to main content

Working from home: Getting the most out of your broadband

Hybrid working is the new normal, so many of us will working from home for the foreseeable future. But working from home can be difficult especially if you struggle with slow or unreliable broadband.
Share this guide
working from home broadband guide - woman working from her kitchen table at home

Working from home continues to be standard practice for many of us, at least part of the time, and if your broadband slows down or cuts out, it can be a huge cause of frustration.

To make sure things run as smoothly as possible while working from home, here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re getting the most out of your broadband when working from home.

1. Keep your devices cool

During the summer months, higher temperatures can put added pressure on your computer, laptop, mobile devices, and even your router can be affected by the heat. So, in order to have the best online experience while working from home, take steps to keep your devices out of direct sunlight and as cool as possible.

  • Make sure you have as much airflow as possible around your device

  • Remove your devices from any protective cases

  • Switch your devices off when you don't need them to give them a chance to cool down

We have a full guide on how to stop your gadgets from overheating that can give you even more advice.

2. Run a speed test

If you’re not 100% sure what broadband speed you’re actually getting, then run a quick speed test in order to get a clearer idea. This will help you decide if you need to “ration” your bandwidth.

If you only have access to download speeds of around 10Mbps, you’re going to have to be much more strict with your internet usage while working from home than if you had 67Mbps, for example.

Across the country, download speeds vary considerably thanks to some areas having better infrastructure in place. Latest broadband statistics show that Southampton has the fastest average download speed, clocking in at 166.677 Mbit/s. This was closely followed by Stockon-on-Tees, with a download speed of 166.356 Mbit/s. The London Borough of Newham comes in third place with a download speed of 157.795 Mbit/s, and Coventry and Peterborough come in fourth and fifth with download speeds of 157.652 Mbit/s and 157.509 Mbit/s, respectively.

Using the internet for emails and searching Google won’t place a huge amount of strain on your connection, but if your job includes video calling or downloading and uploading large files, then you might need to be a little more strategic.

Take a speed test

Run a broadband speed test to find out what speed you're currently getting, and what else could be available to you.

3. Streamline your computer

close window tab

Check to make sure you’re not running unnecessary programs on your computer that could be slowing it down or placing excess demand on your broadband.

Program updates, security scans, media player pop-ups, media-rich web pages and chat notifications could all be affecting your speeds by using up bandwidth and processing power unnecessarily.

To get the most out of your broadband, shut down applications that you’re not actively using, especially bandwidth-heavy TV and radio streaming services.

4. Make sure your Wi-Fi router is set up properly

In order to make the most out of your broadband connection, you’ll need to make sure you’re getting the best Wi-Fi signal in your home.

Firstly, make sure your Wi-Fi router is plugged into your master socket and not an extension. This will be the largest socket in your house, typically located in your hallway or near your front door.

Secondly, make sure your router is positioned correctly, upright and facing towards you, and that it’s in the best possible location. The best place for your router is in the middle of your home and unobstructed by walls or furniture. While that might not always be practical, at the very least, don’t put it in a cupboard, on the ground, or anywhere it can be blocked by furniture.

Electrical devices can also disrupt your Wi-Fi signal, so keep it away from cordless phones and microwaves. If you can get your router on its own shelf or spot near the centre of your home, your Wi-Fi strength should be a lot stronger throughout.

If you've tried different routes with your router and you still haven't improved your connection, you might be able to boost your connection with a Wi-Fi extender.

Finally, check that it is set up properly, with all the wires connected securely and a microfilter connected if you need one. If you’re running into connection problems while working from home, take a look through our more detailed guide.

5. Use a Wi-Fi booster

Powerline adapters use electricity power lines to boost your Wi-Fi signal around your home, which is especially useful if you have Wi-Fi dead spots.

Some providers like TalkTalk, Sky and BT will provide you with powerline adapters but there may be an additional charge.

6. Limit the number of devices connected to Wi-Fi (if you can)

In an ideal world, when working from home, you would ensure your broadband is at peak performance by limiting the number of connected devices.

However, if you have kids who are home while you’re working, this may not be possible. Streaming movies, music and games is going to slow down your connection and potentially affect your download and upload speeds.

One idea would be to plan your day around when the internet will be used the most and try to schedule tasks that require the most bandwidth for quieter hours.

If you need to make video calls or upload large files, try to do so when the kids are distracted offline, and if your kids, housemates or partners love online gaming, ask them to limit that to outside office hours.

7. Turn off HD streaming

If there’s no chance of getting your family or those you live with offline, then at least reduce the amount of high-definition streaming they’re doing.

Most streaming platforms are set to automatically stream at the highest quality available, but it’s fairly straightforward to change your playback settings and save yourself some bandwidth.

How to turn off Netflix HD streaming

Open Netflix on your computer’s browser, select the profile you want to adjust and open the settings menu by clicking on the profile image in the upper-right corner.

Select 'Account Preferences' and scroll down to the 'My Profile' section at the bottom. Then click on 'Playback Settings'.

turn off HD settings in netflix

From here you can change your Netflix playback settings to limit the data usage per screen. The difference between streaming in HD and SD is significant. HD can use up to 3GB per hour (7GB for Ultra HD) while standard video quality only uses up to 0.7GB per hour.

Change Netflix playback settings to low

This will change your streaming settings for your computer and your TV streaming. To adjust your settings on your mobile devices, you’ll need to do so individually for each one. Navigate to the 'More' section of your app, select 'App Settings' and then 'Video Quality'.

Likewise, this will only affect the streaming settings for that particular profile, so you may need to do this more than once depending on how many profiles are active during the day.

8. Change your wireless channel

If you’re struggling with a poor Wi-Fi connection, you might want to try changing your wireless channel settings. If your Wi-Fi router is broadcasting on the same channel as your neighbours, it could slow your internet down.

Some of the more advanced routers –– such as the Virgin Media Super Hub 3 and BT Smart Hub 2 –– will automatically switch to less congested channels.

9. Plug yourself in

Plug in ethernet cable to laptop

If you’re still struggling with your Wi-Fi, then try connecting your device directly to your router with an Ethernet cable. You should have received one when you first ordered your broadband service, if you can’t find it then they’re fairly inexpensive to purchase on Amazon.

10. Go mobile

If there are moments throughout the day when your broadband connection just can’t cope, there’s always the option to go mobile. If you have a decent 4G signal in your home, it’s a simple matter to turn your smartphone into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

This is known as tethering, and while it’s not an ideal long-term solution nor necessarily available to everyone, it could help to have another way to access the internet just in case.

To find out more about mobile tethering and how to set it up for your smartphone, take a look at our more detailed guide.

What are your customer rights when using broadband for working from home?

Sometimes, there are factors beyond your control, and your broadband connection may suffer due to engineering works, provider issues or high volumes of traffic.

Now, with so many of us working from home, a loss of connection could mean a loss of earnings. The Ofcom voluntary Code of practice means that you might be entitled to compensation if your broadband service is unavailable, or if your speeds are lower than guaranteed by your provider.

However, this automatic compensation is limited to the daily cost of your broadband, not any loss of earnings you experience as a result.

Switch to business broadband

If you're regularly experiencing slow broadband speeds at peak hours, you might want to switch to a business broadband deal. If your plan is to work from home for a while, getting a dedicated business broadband service means you could free up your internet connection to ensure consistent speeds.

Some business broadband providers will also include connection guarantees to make sure you don't lose service. For example, a number BT business broadband packages include an 'Always Connected Guarantee', which includes a 4G Assure hub that will allow you to switch over to 4G mobile broadband. This means you should very rarely lose your connection.

Keep your business running smoothly with a dedicated business broadband connection.

"Make sure that the broadband package you opt for is robust enough for the needs of an entire household - speed is as much about multiple users accessing the internet at the same time as it is about a swift experience. Surfing, streaming and downloading can all impact the stability of your connection, so opting for a fibre or ultrafast package is a great option for making sure your broadband is up to the task of keeping your home - and everything in it - connected."

Ernest Doku, broadband expert at Uswitch.

Read more...

woman working with laptop on the train

How to use a mobile internet dongle - Uswitch

Wondering what is a broadband dongle? Want to ask what is a USB mobile broadband stick? Read the Uswitch guide to mobile broadband dongles, plus compare dongles.

Read our guide to mobile internet dongles
couple looking at their laptop at home

Which broadband provider has the best customer service?

Using the latest data from Ofcom, see which broadband provider is best for customer service and find what to look out for when choosing your next package.

Read our broadband customer service guide
Woman looking very frustrated at her broadband connection

Broadband outage in the UK | What to do when your broadband goes down

What happens when your broadband goes down? What can you do about it? And how long will you be offline? Here's how to deal with an internet outage.

Read out broadband outages guide