Some of the 5G smartphone users may notice that even if their phone supports 5G, it gives less speed when we downloading files, streaming videos, and browsing, which can be very frustrating, especially when we expect more speed than 4G. You may get more confused when you see bad speed, even with full signal bars and a 5G symbol in your smartphone.
This slow speed may not be because of your phone issue, it may be because of network traffic, low coverage and many more reasons. Sometimes, even if a phone shows 5G, the network may behave like we are connected to a 4G network.
In this article, we will share why your phone's 5G network speed is very slow, and fixes that you can try on your 5G smartphone. So without wasting much time, let's know more about this issue. The fixes I share here may work on most smartphones.
Why Is The 5G Network Very Slow?
5G networks are much faster than 4G networks, but in real-life situations, many areas have limited 5G coverage. In this situation, your device is always connected to a weak 5G signal, which causes low-speed 5G internet. When the signal is unstable, the 5G internet speed can drop, even when a 5G icon is displayed.
Another reason is if your area is a high internet usage place, then there will be network traffic, especially when several users are connected to the same tower, and also some of the service providers use NSA (Non-Standalone ) 5G, which relies on 4G network, which means you don't always get 5G performance on the internet.
There is also a chance that slow 5G speed may be caused by your phone, like if you are using an old 5G smartphone, it doesn't support the full 5G band, so your phone cannot unlock full 5G network benefits, Also if your city weather conditon is not good this can be also the reason for slow 5G speed.
How To Fix A Slow 5G Network
- Try Flight Mode: If your 5G network was fast before but has unexpectedly become slow, then you can try enabling and then disabling Flight Mode, which will restart your network. To enable and disable it, swipe down from the top of the screen of your smartphone, then you will see the control centre there, you get a Flight icon, click on it to enable by clicking again, it disables it.
- Disable VPN: If you are using any VPN service on your device, try disabling it; it may fix your problem. To check if VPN is enabled, open the Settings app on your smartphone, then click the search bar on the Settings app, then search "VPN", then you will see the VPN option, click on it, then disable it.
- Update Software: Some 5G smartphones require the latest updated software to unlock all the benefits of the 5G network, so updating the software may help you to fix your problem. To check for a software update, open the Settings app on your device, then find System or System & Updates. There, you will see an option called Software Update if you cannot find then, use the search bar on the Settings app. Click on it, then check for an update.
- Reset Network Settings: Resetting network settings resets all settings related to the network to its factory settings. This may help you fix your low 5G network speed issue if it is caused by a wrong network configuration. To reset network settings, open the Settings app, then find System or System & Updates option, then find Reset option, then click Reset network settings.
- Check Network Coverage: Check if your area can provide better 5G coverage. If it is not, then you cannot get the full speed of a 5G network, even if your smartphone shows a 5G symbol.
- Switch to Standalone 5G: If you are using a Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G service, then try to switch to a service provider that can provide you with a standalone 5G network.
- Switch Smartphone: If you are using a very old 5G smartphone, then it may not provide full 5G band support, which means you cannot get full 5G network speed in this type of smartphone, even when it shows a 5G symbol.
Non Standalone 5G VS Standalone 5G
| Features | Non Standalone 5G | Standalone 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Depends | Depends on 4G | Depends Fully 5G |
| Stability | Less Stable | More Stable |
| Latency | High Latency | Low Latency |
| Coverage | Wide availability | Limited availability |
| Battery | High battery usage | Low battery usage |
Conclusion
By reading this article, you understand why 5G network speed is slow and how to fix it. There are reasons like tower load, indoor signal issue, service provider limitation, etc, that can slow down the internet even when it shows 5G symbol in your smartphone.
By knowing the network type, carrier is standalone or non-standalone, phone limitations, area coverage, etc, may help you with the slow 5G issue. Every time, the issue may not be caused by the phone; sometimes other problems can also cause issues, so before making a decision to switch your smartphone, make sure to check other reasons behind it also.
Hope this article helped you to fix the issue with the right fixes you can enjoy the full benefits of the 5G network. If you like this article, then don't forget to check out our other articles on Tech Fixes, which may also help you.