Virgin Media issues UK Wi-Fi alert with users urged to switch off routers tonight

It's a common broadband problem. You come home from a long day at work, kick your shoes off and try and stream a Netflix box set. But instead of watching things in glorious 4K, all you see is a fuzzy image and annoying buffering. With most homes across the UK also trying to download files and watch content at exactly the same time, it's not surprising that internet speeds can start to stutter at peak times.

"Evenings are prime time for going online," Virgin Media explained in a new update on its blog.

"Streaming films, gaming with friends, scrolling social media or catching up on emails, it all adds up. Suddenly, the show pauses, the game lags, and someone shouts, "Is the WiFi down?".

If you are constantly having issues between 6pm and 10pm, Virgin suggests trying some steps, including restarting your router.

Yes, turning things off and on again can work wonders for the Wi-Fi.

"It sounds simple, but turning your router off for 30 seconds and switching it back on can refresh your connection and fix temporary slowdowns," Virgin confirmed.

You'll find the off switch on the back of the router, but be aware it can take around 5 minutes to reset, so only take this measure when nobody needs access to the web.

Another top tip is to make sure your router is powerful enough to cope with the number of devices connected to it - for example, the latest Wi-Fi 7 boxes are best for very busy homes. Older Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 boxes simply can't keep pace with today's needs.

It's also a good idea to check your router's placement and place it in a prime position.

Virgin says it's a bad idea to pop the router behind furniture, near other electrical items such as microwaves and watch out for very thick walls often found in older homes.

Finally, it's worth checking that you have the right speeds for your needs.

Explaining more, Virgin said: "If your broadband package isn't fast enough for what you need, it might feel fine during the day but start to slow down in the evenings when more people are online. Faster fibre broadband is built to cope with several devices streaming, gaming and browsing at the same time, so you get a smoother experience whenever you're connected."

Things still not working?

It might be time to chat to your provider. Take speed readings using both a wired and wireless connection and at different times of the day.

The more evidence you have, the more likely you are to get things fixed.