Share this article
Improve this guide
How to Fix Network Congestion: Test, Causes & Solutions
Follow our practical solutions to avoid network congestion
7 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Key notes
Technology advancements have made it possible for more and more people to benefit from an Internet connection daily. However, without proper management, this could lead to various inconveniences.
Imagine networks as cities and Internet-connected devices as citizen-owned cars. Much like cities, if networks aren’t correctly managed, upgraded, and even expanded if necessary, they will be heavily congested.
Network congestion isn’t a simple matter. It’s one of the most complex challenges a network administrator could face. Mainly because there’s no magic fix for it other than competent management skills.
Much more so if you’re on one of the receiving ends or one of the causes of said congestion.
If you’re experiencing network congestion and are not in any way in charge of managing the network, there’s nothing you can do aside from contacting the network administrator.
What is network congestion?
Network congestion is a phenomenon that appears due to a series of factors. Mainly, it is caused by too many devices on a network that isn’t designed to carry that big of a load.
The bottom line is that improper network management could lead to these clogs. Once some of the devices log off or stop exerting the load on the network, the situation should automatically alleviate for everyone, one bit at a time.
Network congestion is also a lead cause of the following underlying issues:
The good news is that network congestion isn’t a permanent issue, or at least it shouldn’t be.
Much like rush hour, it occurs every time several connected devices are using network resources at the same time.
?What does it mean when the network is congested?
A congested network means there are not too many devices on the network, but some of them put an excessive load on the network or perform actions that use a lot of bandwidth, such astorrenting.
In a nutshell, this network issue can be seen as a flawed transfer between your devices in the network.
?What does a heavily congested network mean?
If this process affects your network because of an excessive number of devices connected simultaneously, you’ll have a heavily congested network.
That means your bandwidth is drained, and your network, with its routing devices (routers, switches, cables), will lead to network congestion.
What causes network congestion?
Although you probably painted quite a clear picture in your mind already, several key factors play a role in network congestion. The city traffic analogy is quite appropriate.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most common causes of network congestion:
So, these defined causes of network congestion should make you more prepared for network problems from your own Internet provider.
In order to recognize and ultimately get through congested network issues, you must know the signs of network congestion:
✅ Connection high latency and slow navigation
✅ Broadcast storms – broadcast storms can lead to network congestion
✅ Devices with constantly high CPU loads
✅ Hacking attacks or unusual network behaviors
✅ ISP throttling
How do I know if my network is congested?
As we have seen, there are more than just a few causes for network congestion. Therefore, you probably understand better now why there’s no magic fix for this issue.
More often than not, you can solve this problem easily by managing the network properly.
How to test for network congestion?
In this case, when the final server is relatively far away, you might encounter issues on your side or the receiving end. If the problem’s with you, you might want to try the fixes below.
Waiting could be the most effective approach if congestion occurs on the other end.
How to fix network congestion?
In this section, we’ll describe different ways to handle congestion in the network and offer you some practical advices:
1️⃣ Monitor the traffic on your network and check for any bottlenecks or heavy usage patterns
2️⃣ Segment your network into multiple subnets that you can resize according to usage
3️⃣ Optimize the TCP/IP settings to balance the packet send/request speed
4️⃣ Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) that will optimize resources by placing more requests on edge servers
5️⃣ Prioritize traffic on your network (for instance, VoIP services is always high-priority)
6️⃣ Use choke packets to reduce the output of sender devices, thus preventing network congestion
7️⃣ Opt for multi-hop routing, so that traffic can be routed over a different path whenever the default route starts queueing
8️⃣ Upgrade your Internet subscription to accommodate more devices and a larger bandwidth
9️⃣ Make sure your devices are up-to-date and not obsolete (even the cables)
? Check for any attack attempts in your connection logs
In addition, you can use a VPN to bypass congestion (if the issue is on your ISP’s side)
Thebest VPN software for Windows 10includes advanced security options and has a large number of servers across the globe.
Their main purpose is to provide more secure and private browsing. Your identity and browsing data will be completely private if you use a VPN. This means that your ISP won’t be able to place any restrictions on your traffic use.
If you ran the test as described above and noticed abnormal traffic in the intermediary hops (those belonging to your ISP), you can try using a VPN to fix the situation.
How can network congestion be avoided?
Even though network congestion can be a nuisance, it’s not the end of the world. You should take care of your network connection regularly by troubleshooting orprioritizing your connectionin cases where you have more than one available network.
On the other hand, using VPN protection improves connectivity and network connection, so you should go for a fully encrypted tool likeExpressVPN.
Check out our guide tolearn more about packet loss and how to fix it. Visit ourNetwork & Internet Hubto learn more about proper network management.
If you know for a fact that your network quality is poor, you can try tweaking it (if you’re a network administrator). Alternatively, contact the network manager and bring the tweaks above into discussion.
More about the topics:Fix network issues,packet loss
Vlad Constantinescu
Vlad might have a degree in Animal Husbandry and Livestock Management, but he’s currently rocking anything software related, ranging from testing programs to writing in-depth reviews about them.
He spent 3-4 years as a software editor at Softpedia and another year as a VPN specialist before he landed his current job as an author at Windows Report.
In his free time, Vlad enjoys playing guitar, doing jigsaw puzzles, researching cybersecurity, and even having a good read on rainy days.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Vlad Constantinescu
