How do you improve Wi-Fi in a multi-storey home?
Where the connection comes in and where you need Wi-Fi are two different things. The router can stay by the connection, e.g. in a utility room, while Wi-Fi points in the living areas cover the floors.
RFC editorial team · updated
Start here
Compare the same device on both floors and note which Wi-Fi point it connects to.
Show the full checkCall or write to us — help does not depend on completing the checks.
Quick check
Three simple steps in order. Their result helps you pick your situation below.
Try the same activity on the same device on every floor.
Find out where the router is and whether there are other Wi-Fi points in the home.
Check whether network cables run between floors and which rooms the sockets lead to. Not sure — describe to us what you see.
The incoming connection and Wi-Fi can be separate.
The utility room terminates the incoming service. Points in living areas provide local Wi-Fi. This is an illustration, not a coverage promise.
- Upper floorWi-Fi point in the living area
- Ground floorWi-Fi point in the living area
- Utility roomIncoming connection and main router, e.g. in a garage or basement
Solid line: an example LAN cable route between floors.
With wiring
Check the LAN route to access points in living areas.
Without wiring
Test the connection between mesh points, one link at a time.
Not sure
Describe sockets and equipment models, then ask for an installation check.
Two links. Check both.
An extender or mesh point passes the internet on, but it has to receive it well first. A cable from a device to the extra point does not improve the link to the router.
- Main router
- Extender or mesh point
- Phone or computer
Link 1Router ↔ extra point
Decides how much internet reaches the extra point at all. Your phone cannot see this link.
Link 2Extra point ↔ your device
This is the link your phone’s signal bars show. Full bars say nothing about link 1.
Place the extra point roughly halfway — where it still connects well to the router, not at the very edge of coverage.
What does the result mean?
Choose the description that matches your situation.
Weak coverage on another floor
- Check
- It works well on the router’s floor, poorly a floor above or below.
- What it means
- A floor slab weakens Wi-Fi a lot. Since it works near the router, the result points to coverage on the other floor.
- What to do
- Best: add a Wi-Fi point on that floor, connected to the router by cable. Without a cable, a mesh system with a point near the stairs works well.
The connection ends in a garage or basement
- Check
- Check whether a network cable runs from the router’s room to the living areas.
- What it means
- The router can stay by the connection. Wi-Fi should, however, broadcast where you live.
- What to do
- Use the existing cable for a Wi-Fi point in the living area. Agree any move of the connection termination with us — do not move it yourself.
A console or printer fails after adding a second router
- Check
- Check whether the devices are on the same network, not two separate ones or a guest network.
- What it means
- A second router set up as a separate router creates a second network. Devices on the two networks may not see each other.
- What to do
- Set the second router to access-point (AP) mode following its manual, or ask us for help. Then check the console or printer again.
A cable to a mesh point does not bypass its wireless link
- Check
- The computer is connected to a mesh point by cable, yet it is slow.
- What it means
- The cable only connects the computer to the mesh point. The point still connects to the router over Wi-Fi, and that link can limit speed.
- What to do
- Check the link quality between points in the mesh app, or connect the point to the router by cable.
Check again after a change
Check the same activity in a room upstairs, not only next to the new point. Also walk between floors during a video call — the connection should not drop.
Unable to check? We can help.
If you do not know where the cables run, or the points still connect poorly, call us. Another router or a faster plan will not solve coverage upstairs.
You do not need an account or complete results. Tell us what is happening and what you could not check.
A reporting outline to copy
Select and copy the text into your message. Add what you know; “not checked” is a valid answer.
Since when / time: What fails / error: One or several devices: LAN / Wi-Fi / not checked: Where the cable goes: Equipment model (if known): Checks completed and results:
Never send Wi-Fi, router or account passwords.