Speed up a slow home connection by checking for WiFi-guzzling apps

Boost your home WiFi speed by identifying bandwidth-hogging apps! This guide shows you how to pinpoint and manage data-intensive applications on your phone, tablet, or computer, improving download and upload speeds without upgrading your internet plan or hardware.

Android:

Access your Android device's Settings, then navigate to Apps and select See all. While you can't directly sort by WiFi usage, you can check each app individually. Tap an app and go to Cellular data and Wi-Fi to view its data consumption over both connections. The default view shows the last month's usage, but you can adjust the timeframe (up to four months). For more detailed analysis, consider using a third-party app like GlassWire Data Usage Monitor (free, with a paid option for extended history).

iOS/iPadOS:

Determining individual app WiFi usage on iOS/iPadOS is more challenging. Settings > Cellular Data shows data usage when not on WiFi, which can indicate potential culprits. Third-party apps can't monitor individual app WiFi usage, but Network Utility (free, with a paid ad-removal option) provides overall WiFi and cellular data usage since the last restart. To identify specific apps, compare Network Utility's data with your Screen Time usage statistics (found in Settings).

Windows:

Open Task Manager (right-click the taskbar) and go to the Processes tab to see real-time app resource usage, including bandwidth. The App history tab displays the last month's usage, highlighting high network activity. Alternatively, Settings > Network & internet > Data usage shows app data usage for the past 30 days, listing the most data-intensive apps first.

macOS:

Use Activity Monitor (accessible via Spotlight search or the Utilities folder) and select the Network tab to monitor real-time network activity for running apps. While it doesn't provide historical data, it helps identify current bandwidth hogs. Third-party options like iStats Menu ($10) offer similar real-time information but lack historical logs.

Other Devices:

Identifying bandwidth usage on other devices (smart home gadgets, game consoles) is less precise. Check your router manufacturer's app (e.g., Eero) for device-level bandwidth usage. For consoles, monitor running apps or games if high bandwidth consumption is detected. Note that smart home devices generally use minimal bandwidth.

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