It may sound ludicrously simple, but anyone suffering from dismal broadband speeds might want to press the power button on the rear of their Wi-Fi router. Yes, the old trick of switching things off and back on again can work wonders, and it only takes a matter of minutes. This latest tip comes via Virgin Media, who recently posted an update about Wi-Fi issues and broadband speeds.

“In most cases, you can make a few quick adjustments to improve the WiFi speed on your device,” the telecoms firm said.

“A quick reboot can clear temporary issues, refresh the connection, and help resolve slow speeds or dropouts.”

Routers can become clogged with digital data, and resetting these devices can ensure they are back up to full speed again. Think of it a bit like a phone or laptop, when these gadgets start playing up, most people restart them to try and fix any gremlins, and routers are no different.

Just remember that a full reboot can take up to 5 minutes, so make sure no one in the home is waiting to make a video call to the office or is in the middle of an important download.

Restarting the router isn’t the only option if you aren’t getting decent download speeds. Other top tips include moving closer to router when wanting the best speeds.

“Walls, furniture, and distance can weaken your WiFi signal,” Virgin explained.

“Sitting closer to the router often results in a faster and more stable connection.”

Other things to try include updating the WiFi drivers on your PC as outdated software can cause performance problems or connection issues. Virgin says it’s also a good idea to close unnecessary apps and background downloads.

Finally, disconnect unused devices such as phones, tablets and smart TVs that can be competing for bandwidth.

“These small tweaks take just a few minutes but can make a real difference to speed, reliability, and overall performance,” Virgin added.