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Step 1
Restart your system. If your Internet has been lagging for a significant amount of time, it may be a software issue. This is best handled with a basic restart. Usually, this will do the trick. For any kind of computer issue, a restart is always a good place to begin.
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Step 2
Increase your browser's cache. Open your Internet service provider, and go to the Tools, or Preferences, section. There will be a slider bar for increasing, or decreasing, your browser's cache. Increase this as much as possible. This opens the intake amount of your processor and logs more information on your system's hard drive. This means the next time you visit a website, there will be more for the computer to recognize, and less to download, resulting in a faster-loading web page.
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Step 3
Run a scan for spyware and adware, programs that get downloaded into your computer when you visit various websites. They clog your computer's system and slow down your Internet processing speed. A basic anti-virus software program will handle this task (see link in Resources).
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Step 4
Clean up your hard drive. Sometimes program lags are just a result of your computer being overloaded. Delete unnecessary files. Back up files you don't usually use, but you may want to save. Music files and photos add up quickly, taking processing speed from your computer. Cleaning out your hard drive on a regular basis is a good practice to get into, but it will also increase the speed of your Internet.
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Step 5
Close other programs. The lack of speed may not be the fault of your Internet at all. The more programs you have open, the more divided your computer's processing is. Your computer has to focus on keeping all open programs running properly, even if you are not using them. Check that there aren't any open programs you don't realize are open. Close any programs you aren't using. The fewer windows you have active, the faster all your programs, including your Internet, will go.
