People are just realising their Wi-Fi is slower when using four popular apps – but there’s a speed-boosting fix

IT’S no surprise Wi-Fi can grow sluggish when there’s so many apps at your fingertips – on your phone, smart TV and gaming console.

Experts from Hughes Net, an American satellite internet company, have outlined four culprits commonly found on people’s devices.

Most video-based apps are aware of their weight on the Wi-Fi networkGetty Images – Getty

The four apps are Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

But other apps that help folks ‘cut the cord’ and switch from cable to online telly can also be to blame.

“Video is one of the biggest high-speed Internet data drainers,” they say.

“In order to avoid some of the drain, you can set your video quality so that these apps and streaming sites use less data.”

This can be done inside the apps settings.

Most video-based apps are aware of their weight on the Wi-Fi network.

Therefore, they let customers alter their settings so that the data usage is less noticeable.

“Go to the app’s settings and set the video quality to Standard Definition (SD) rather than High Definition (HD),” experts advise.

“While HD is usually good for your very big TV, the difference between SD and HD on a smaller screen like a laptop won’t be very noticeable.

“Plus, you’ll be able to extend your data usage longer.”

The catch is that streaming will be in a lower quality.

However, as Hughes experts say, you are unlikely to notice this when streaming on a smaller screen.

This tip can also be used to limit your mobile data usage when streaming your favourite shows on the go.

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