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The number of internet-connected devices in our homes has grown exponentially over the years. Computers were first, but now our phones, TVs, thermostats, and even our doorbells require internet connectivity. While these devices enrich, simplify, and secure our lives, they can crowd your home Wi-Fi network and take a toll on your internet speeds.
You might think you need to dish out more money for faster internet, but the solution to sluggish internet speeds may already exist in your home. With the Quality of Service (QoS) router feature, you can set which devices receive priority in the competition for bandwidth.
QoS is a router technology that prioritizes devices and/or services operating on a network in order to control the amount of bandwidth fed to those devices and/or services. Background activities like torrenting large files, for example, can eat up a lot of bandwidth and result in laggy streaming experiences. Instead of turning off your file transfer to have a better streaming experience, you can use QoS to set your streaming services as a higher priority than torrenting.
Note that QoS functionality is heavily reliant on the type of router you’re using. Some routers will require you to manually select the type of traffic or device you wish to manage and choose its priority. Other routers will automate the QoS process by choosing which traffic is a priority, such as placing video streaming, voice, and gaming in front of torrenting.
When experiencing internet lag, the first thing many will consider is how to increase internet speeds. While there is definitely some value in doing so, people often experience slow internet speeds because someone or something is hogging the bandwidth — not necessarily because their speeds are poor.
Do you live in a house with multiple active users who are constantly streaming or downloading large files? Maybe you live in an apartment with multiple gamers? Sharing crowded networks like these can result in poor performance for everyone involved.
Therefore, determining priority devices on your Wi-Fi network is important. It optimizes the way your bandwidth is being used across your network. Using QoS to prioritize devices is beneficial, especially if you:
Be aware that your experience implementing QoS can vary significantly depending on your router’s brand. Many modern routers streamline the process, allowing users to choose between settings such as normal, streaming, or gaming. Other routers implement a traditional QoS, in which users set the maximum amount of bandwidth available to specific devices.
Most routers today are a combination of wired and wireless, meaning you can choose to plug directly into the router with an Ethernet cable or connect to it wirelessly. There are also specialty routers, such as mesh Wi-Fi routers, that are designed to extend the reach of your wireless network — or even gaming routers that specialize in prioritizing gaming traffic.
Below we outline steps to setting up QoS for some common routers.
First, access your router admin page by doing the following:
To set application priorities, do the following:
To set priorities based on devices, perform the following steps:
Here's how to set up QoS on your NETGEAR router:
To set up priorities for applications or online gaming:
To appoint the priority for computers connected to the router via Ethernet LAN port:
To appoint the priority for a computer through its MAC address:
The following are steps for setting up QoS on Google Nest Wi-Fi:
Here are some important tips to keep in mind to get the most out of your Wi-Fi network using your QoS-enabled router:
Now that you’ve optimized your bandwidth usage with your QoS-enabled router, it's time to protect your network privacy and security by investing in a VPN app for your router. Some VPNs can be directly installed on a router to protect all devices connected to that router's network. Here are some of the most popular router-compatible VPNs to consider:
Premium VPN offering strong security and ultra-fast speeds
Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security
More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
Setting priorities on your router will differ greatly depending on the model and manufacturer. The first step is usually logging in to your router admin page, which can be done by entering the IP address of your router into a web browser and logging in with the correct credentials.
Set your computer as a priority within your router’s QoS settings. Typically, you can do this by choosing the corresponding Ethernet LAN port the computer is plugged into or by manually entering the IP or MAC address into the required fields.
While you could invest in a specialized gaming router, first try setting your main gaming device or the related applications as the highest priority within your router’s QoS settings.
Using a QoS router to its fullest capacity can help optimize the way internet traffic moves through a crowded network. Whether you are running a business from home, streaming your favorite content, or doing online gaming, prioritizing devices and services can increase network performance and even save you from paying more for an upgraded internet package.
Curious about which VPN router is best for your internet needs? Check out our guide on the best VPN routers.
High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
Loads of servers for multiple connection options
Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
Too many confusing plans
