Knowing how to get faster internet at home for free could be the difference between a happy connected household and a frustrating online experience. That's especially true now that the best streaming services and the best video chat apps are an essential part of modern life; these things can use a lot of bandwidth and buffering is never much fun.  #1. ADJUST YOUR WI-FI CHANNEL - One of the most common causes of slow Wi-Fi speeds is your router being on a "busy" channel, which is likely if you live in an apartment building or built-up neighborahood. If you're using the same Wi-Fi channel as one or more of your neighbors, your Wi-Fi speed will likely be slower, as multiple devices are competing for the same space. Thankfully, checking what channel your router is on is easy with a smartphone or computer. Once you've discovered your current channel, as well as the channels of networks around you, it's a good idea to change your channel to the least populated one, on both the 4.4 and 5 GHz frequencies. Here is how to do that.    HOW TO FIND YOUR WI-Fi CHANNEL: For Android users, the WiFi Analyzer (open-source) app shows you what channel your current Wi-Fi network is connected to, as well as the other networks around you. It also recommends the best channel, or channels, to connect to. Note that this is just one of many similar apps, but it's one we've got personal experience of and it works well.    For iOS users, install Apple's AirPort Utility app from the App Store, then open the Settings app. Scroll down to Airport Utility, then enable "Wi-Fi Scanner" to see a list containing your current network and other networks' Wi-Fi channels. If you want to use a Windows PC, it's a bit less user friendly but still possible. First, launch the Command Prompt by opening the Start menu and typing "cmd" - click Command Prompt when it appears.  Next, enter "netsh wlan show all" and press the return/enter key, then a load of information will fill your screen. Look for the section headed "SHOW NETWORKS MODE=BSSID," which contains a list of every nearby network and its channel.    Macs have a Wi-Fi scanner built in, so on macOS, hold down the Option key on your keyboard and click the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right of your screen. Click "Open Wireless Diagnostics."  In the window that opens, click "Window" then "Scan." Next, click "Scan Now" in the bottom right. You'll see the best channels to use in the bottom-right of this page.            HOW TO CHANGE YOUR Wi-Fi CHANNEL;  Once you've figured out what the best channel for your router is, it's time to change to that one. You'll need to sign in to your router, for which you need its IP address and admin username and password. If you're licky, this information will be printed on a sticker on the back of your router, so checking there would be the ideal first port of call. If it's not, here's how to find your router's IP address. On Android, open the Settings menu and navigate to the Wi-Fi section (usually found under "Connections") then select your connected network. Tap the cog to open Wi-Fi settings. From here, the exact process may vary depending on your device and software version, but it should be straightforward either way. On a Pixal phone on Android 12, for instance, simply scroll down on the settings page and you'll be able to see your router's IP address under Gateway. On some phones, you may need to tap "Advanced" or "View More" in order to see them. On some, under Advanced, you may need to tap "IP settings," then select "Static". Your router's IP will will be shown under "Gateway." Now, tap "IP Settings" again and change it back to "DHCP."    On iOS, open the Settings app and select "Wi-Fi." Next to your connected network, tap the "i" icon then a list of numbers will appear. Your router's IP address is the one listed under "Router." On Windows, launch the Command Prompt by opening the Start menu and typing "cmd" - click Command Prompt when it appears. Type "ipconfig/all" then press enter/return. Your router's IP will be listed under "Default Gateway."  On macOS, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right of your screen, then click "Network Preferences." Select your Wi-Fi network, then click "Advanced." Click the TCP/IP tab, then your router's IP will be shown under "Router. Once you've found your Router's IP address, simply enter it into the address bar of any internet browser. You'll see a login page, which will ask for your admin user name and password. This is usually found printed on the back of your router. but if it isn't, there are some defaults that may work, such as admin/admin, admin/password, or admin/[blank]. If none of these work, you could try looking on the manufacturer's website, or RouterPasswords.com and Router-Reset.com. Once you're in, navigate to the router's wireless settings page to change your Wi-Fi channel to one that's not in use by other networks, or one that's the least used.