Can Too Many Devices Slow Down Or Crash Your Wi-Fi Router? (2024)

Take a look around, and you’ll be surprised to see how many smart devices you’re using – phone, watch, smart TV, home assistant, etc. Note that we have not even taken computers, printers, or tablets into consideration. Although these devices are made to make our lives easier, too many devices can slow down or crash our WiFi routers!

With the internet taking up most of our daily lives, it’s quite possible for it to make our routers feel overwhelmed. This results in overburdening and slowing down of WiFi which you can’t count on.

While modern routers can hold up to 250 devices at a time, the numbers can be deceiving because the devices we are talking about coming with varying bandwidths. Moreover, they share the same wireless network provided by your broadband service provider. This is called Digital Congestion.

In this process, each device takes up bandwidth on a WiFi network whenever it sends signals to the same access point. If there are two or more devices connected, there will come a time when they start taking turns. They wait for any ongoing communication with one device to stop or pause before they can send their signal. Now, imagine if 20 devices connect at the same time, each device will have to wait until they get to their time. This can cause timeouts and call drops. Simply put, the performance of a shared internet connection will begin to falter as more devices and computers try to access the Wi-Fi connection simultaneously. Additionally, some electronic devices come with low-grade access that gives up on you within a year or two. The first signs of deterioration are bandwidth being off-center and failing, leading to poor signal catching and transmitting capacity. They struggle to pick up on your device, as well as send out the necessary connection to allow it to run smoothly.

If you’ve been facing these issues regularly, fret not! We’ve got some ways to resolve them:

Installing a second router or network booster enables better distribution of the network load. This allows the accommodation of more devices and adds more access points if needed. In case you’re living with your family, you can coordinate with them, keeping in mind peak hours. Also, make sure you download large files or heavy content overnight or outside peak hours.

In conclusion, too many devices do affect your Wi-Fi connection, however, this issue is not unfixable. Increase your WiFi speed, add internet boosters, and use the internet wisely, you are all set to enjoy a seamless connection.