DSL slow - what to do?

If your DSL connection suddenly becomes slow, we will show you what you can do about it.

DSL slow - troubleshooting: throttling or line problem?

Slow Internet does not always have to be caused by a broken line. Gradually exclude the possible causes:

First restart your DSL router. You can already eliminate some line errors by reconnecting your router. You should also restart your computer. All network drivers will be reloaded and an existing problem may be solved.
Then do a speed test. If the values are significantly below the contractually agreed speed, you should call the support of your internet provider. This can also determine whether there are any faults. Problems can arise in large cities with many adjacent connections, which support can solve by resetting.
If the speed test turns out to be bad, but your provider cannot detect any malfunctions, go one step further: Check the network connection of your computer. Are you using an old and poorly shielded LAN cable? If you use WLAN: Are you far from your WLAN antenna? How good is the reception quality? These factors can affect the connection quality.
Test your internet with another computer. If you are using an older model, outdated and slow network components, flash applications or Javascript can limit the speed of your browser. Maybe your operating system is downloading an update in the background.
Another possibility is that you have exceeded a contractually agreed volume limit and your provider has throttled the speed. Check this in your contract.

In all cases, you should contact your provider if you suspect a problem with your telephone and Internet line. This has contractually guaranteed you a speed from which it must not deviate too far.
If he cannot deliver the paid service due to technical problems, you can request a downgrading to the next lower tariff.

If the problem for your slow DSL is not on the line, you can improve your surfing speed by updating and replacing important hardware:

First update your operating system to the latest version. If you haven't installed any updates for a long time, you should do so for security reasons. Windows XP users can also consider switching to a newer version. Microsoft discontinued XP support in April 2014 and no longer publishes security updates.
Improve your network connection: Set the WiFi signal strength on the router to "high" (as far as possible) or invest in a device with better antennas and newer radio technology. A current LAN cable with Cat 6 shielding can also help. Hobbyists will find a solution here on how to better align the WiFi signal.
Scan your computer for viruses, spyware and malware. The CHIP anti-spyware charts can be found here. Browser search bars from strange third parties make your browser very slow.
Update your router's firmware and bring your browser up to date. You can also consider upgrading to a more efficient browser. The top 100 browser downloads can be found here on CHIP.de. If your computer still works too hard, you can use a No-Script plugin.
If all of this does not help, you can still change providers. With our DSL comparison calculator you will find the best offers in your area.
You can find further tips and suggestions from users in our thread from the forum.

If you are not sure whether your WLAN is the bottleneck for your slow data rate: Measure your WLAN speed, as we will show you in another article.

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