A woman using a laptop with Wi-Fi signal icons above, seated at a wooden table.

Steps to Maximize Your Internet Connectivity

Whether you are at home or on campus, here are some steps you can take to maximize your internet connectivity. If you are using a university-owned device, be sure to follow the recommendations of the IT professionals in your unit and check with them before making the changes below. 

  1. Reduce the Number of Connected Devices. Connecting smart watches, phones, laptops, and tablets to campus networks takes up a lot of bandwidth. If you don’t need your device connected to a wireless network, consider turning the Wi-Fi off on that device.  It will help improve internet speed and connectivity for you and your neighbor.
     
  2. Limit Other Network Traffic. Check Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) to see which specific programs are working in the background and using the network.
     
  3. Close Cloud Backups and Storage Sync. If you’re not actively using them, shut down video programs and file sharing tools, such as Box or OneDrive cloud backups and storage syncing systems. Learn more about Cloud storage at: https://kb.ucdavis.edu/?id=00325
     
  4. Clear Your Cache. Free up browser files and data by clearing your cache. Doing this periodically can help your browser function more efficiently. Find cache clearing instructions at: https://kb.ucdavis.edu/?id=00119
     
  5. Check for Viruses. A virus can slow down your computer and put you and university data at risk. Signs of a virus include unwanted pop-ups, unusual behavior, and slow performance. Learn how to remove a virus or malware from your device at: https://kb.ucdavis.edu/?id=00302
     
  6. Join Virtual Meetings Without Video. If you don’t need to be on camera for a virtual meeting, turn off the video. Find additional Zoom network optimization tips at: https://kb.ucdavis.edu/?id=05743 

Check the Service Status Page

Information and Educational Technology (IET) provides real-time and historical data about campus system performance. Check the UC Davis Status page at: https://status.ucdavis.edu/ 

If you are experiencing an issue not addressed on the Service Status page, reach out to IT Express.

Learn more about connecting to campus wireless networks at: https://kb.ucdavis.edu/?id=02025