10 Tips & Tricks to Speed Up Your In-Flight Wi-Fi
If you regularly struggle to send a message or check your emails using in-flight Wi-Fi, the following tricks and tips may help.
Browsing the internet at about 30,000 feet above sea level is now a reality, but in-flight Wi-Fi could be painstakingly slow. The main cause for the slow connection emanates from complications associated with Airplane Wi-Fi. In-flight Wi-Fi is difficult to provide as it relies on geostationary satellites used for weather forecasts and TV signals.
As the service becomes more common, airlines and other stakeholders are working on making it good in the air. But before we cross that bridge, you need to master tricks to speed up in-flight Wi-Fi for a fun-filled in-seat experience.
- Disable Photo Backups and Automatic Updates
Most devices run photo backups and automatic updates by default whenever they connect to Wi-Fi. Normally, the updates do not affect performance on the ground, but they can cause a serious drag when using in-flight Wi-Fi. The same is true for photo backups. Therefore, ensure you turn off the two functions and see your in-flight Wi-Fi improve.
- Avoid Downloading Large Files
Why not wait to download that document, video clip, or movie when you land? Doing so while on the flight could have a toll on the network speed.
It’s worth noting that terrestrial Wi-Fi is way faster than the in-flight network meaning that you may take forever to download something that otherwise would take seconds on the ground. Besides, the in-flight Wi-Fi is prone to connectivity or bandwidth loss, making it hard to successfully stream online or download a big file in the air.
- Sign Out of Cloud Services
Before you connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi, suspending cloud services is better because the they command massive bandwidth.
If you are experiencing intermittent or slow in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity, temporarily disable all the other services that could be slowing your Wi-Fi and activate them again once you land.
- Disable All Background Apps and Browser Extensions
The chances are that your device has apps running in the background and accessing the web without your knowledge. Apps that should come to your mind instantly include Location, Weather, and Maps. Ensure you disable these and others before boarding the plane for a faster and better in-flight Wi-Fi experience.
Alternatively, you can disable the browser extensions if it’s taking forever to load things when you’re up in the sky.
- Limit Open Tabs
Opening too many tabs on your laptop strains the in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity. For this reason, it’s wise to limit the number of active tabs you open at a time.
While it’s normal to leave numerous tabs open even after we’re done browsing on the ground, doing so in-flight might be costly and time-wasting. Instead, only use a single tab, and remember to close those you’re done using to maintain speed in your in-flight Wi-Fi.
- Clear Cache
If your browser has a saved cache, it will try to redirect you to the previous entry of the same site. While cached entries should not cause concern, they might obstruct you from accessing the in-flight Wi-Fi login page. Besides, cache clearing boosts internet connectivity speed and gets rid of any bugs.
- Switch to Mobile Version
Using the mobile version of a website is another effective way to power up in-flight Wi-Fi because it requires less data than the desktop version.
Also, check whether your browser has the data compression feature that drastically reduces data consumption when using in-flight Wi-Fi.
- Use Automatic DNS
Most users switch from automatic (DNS) servers and manually configure their own domain name system to protect their privacy or increase speed. However, if you’re one of these users, connecting to in-flight Wi-Fi might prove a hassle.
Normally, the third-party servers struggle to redirect users to their target webpage, especially when browsing in-flight. Switching back to automatic DNS will address such connectivity issues and speed up your in-flight Wi-Fi.
- Connect Few Devices
In-flight Wi-Fi is notorious for being intermittent, slow, or both. Notably, the Wi-Fi speed may be affected by connecting numerous devices. Since you’re sharing the in-flight Wi-Fi with other passengers, you can only access a fraction of the bandwidth you’re used to in your home router.
In most cases, other devices may connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi, especially if you’ve ever connected them. The device may be hidden away in a backpack or a briefcase, eventually putting a strain on available bandwidth. Take the time to check whether any of your devices are connected to the in-flight Wi-Fi and disconnect them.
- 10.Open the Sites before Taking Off
Tip number six encourages clearing cache to speed up the connection, but doing it selectively might help. You can create cache for sites you’re planning to visit in-flight by opening them before taking off. This way, the entries for those sites will be cached locally, meaning that the in-flight Wi-Fi data won’t have to fetch all the information.
Speed Up Your In-flight Wi-Fi Experience
The time when passengers spent hours of dead air is long gone as you can now stay connected in-flight. Use the tips discussed here to stay connected and accomplish personal and professional tasks.
Note that the in-flight Wi-Fi also poses similar risks as any other public Wi-Fi, so it’s wise to have a robust security system to keep your connection safe.
