How To Fix iPhone 5s Slow Browsing problem, Very Slow Internet Connection

Slow internet browsing or slow internet connection problem is one of the most annoying issues you could encounter when using wireless internet connection. This is when it takes too long for a website or page to finish loading up on your device. Any device could give into this problem regardless of the Internet speed or data plan you are subscribed to. To help you deal with slow browsing problem on your iPhone 5s, I’ve mapped out some suggested workarounds and potential solutions for you to refer to. Read on to find out why your iPhone 5s internet connection is very slow and what to do to speed up your Internet connection.

Fixing slow browsing problem on your iPhone 5s

If it’s not the network equipment, the underlying cause of slow browsing problem on your iPhone 5s could be a glitching browser application in use and other software-related issues on the device. Temporary network outages, unstable network signal, and proximity (distance between your phone and network equipment) are also among other factors that you should consider looking into. The same thing could happen if hardware damage present on the network equipment or iPhone’s network components. Before considering repair options, try ruling out software-related factors to fix your iPhone 5s slow browsing problem on your end. Just carry out the following solutions.

First solution: Eliminate browser issues

Many cases of slow browsing problems in mobile devices are isolated to the browser in use. This is usually the case when the browser app is acting up. And the easiest way to fix the problem is by restarting your browser app. Here’s how:

  1. Double press the Home key to launch the recent apps screen. On this screen, you will see the previews of the apps you’ve recently used but not closed.
  2. Flip through the app previews then find Safari or the name of the browser app you’re using.
  3. Swipe up on the Safari app preview to close the app. Do the same to clear all other background apps.

Closing the app is necessary if you’ve left your browser app suspended or running in the background for long and eventually it crashed.

Aside from quitting and restarting the browser, clearing cache and cookies, browsing history and browsing data can also help. If you’re using the built-in Safari app as your primary browser in use, then you can directly clear its cache and browsing data straight from its system menu. Here’s how to access and manage these browser settings:

  1. To get started, tap Settings from your Home screen.
  2. Then tap on Safari.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom and tap Advanced.
  4. Select the Website Data from the given options.
  5. Then tap the option to Remove All Website Data. Doing so will clear your browser cookies and keep your browsing history.
  6. To clear browsing history and cookies, tap the option to Clear History and Website Data.

Also make sure that your browser app is up to date. If necessary, update your browser app to the latest version available to ensure that it’s getting all new features and system enhancements for optimum performance. 

If you’re using Safari, updates for the app are usually embedded into the latest iOS version released for your device. Thus, keeping your iPhone system up-to-date will do the same to Safari. To view available iOS update for your iPhone 5s, simply follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Home screen then tap on Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Tap Software Updates.

If a new iOS version is available, you should see notification. Read and review the update details then tap Download and Install whenever you’re all set to update your iPhone. 

You can also use iTunes as alternative solution if your iPhone’s internet connection is way too slow to update wirelessly. To get this done, you will need to use a computer that is connected to a fast and stable Internet and has the latest version of iTunes app in it. Once you’re all set, proceed to these steps to update your iPhone 5s manually:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
  2. Then open iTunes.
  3. Select your iPhone 5s when it appears in iTunes.
  4. Click the Summary pane.
  5. Then click the button to Check for Update.
  6. If a new update is available, click the Download and Update button.
  7. Enter your passcode when asked to proceed.

Allow your device to finish updating and once it’s done, reboot to apply the recent system changes. Then try to launch your browser and navigate to different websites to see if the Internet speed has improved.

ALSO READ: How to fix an iPhone 5s that keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi network

Second solution: Reboot your iPhone

The problem may also be attributed to random firmware crashes that caused conflicts to your iPhone’s browser application. And this is when performing a soft reset or rebooting your iPhone plays a vital role. A simple restart on the phone effectively wipes out random errors and app glitches without affecting any saved information on the phone storage. Just follow these steps if you haven’t restarted your iPhone already:

  1. Press and  hold the Power (Sleep/Wake) button on the top of the phone for a few seconds.
  2. Release the button when the Power Off slider appears. The iPhone will then shut down.
  3. After a few seconds, press and hold the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the Apple logo appears and then release the button.

Wait for your phone to finish its boot sequence and once it’s back up and ready, try launching your browser and test your Internet speed. If the download and upload speed is already acceptable or close to the actual internet speed you’re subscribing, then that’s denotes the problem is fixed. If not, then continue troubleshooting and carry out the next procedures to eliminate other culprits.

Third solution: Turn Wi-Fi off and on again

Random problems affecting wireless internet services including symptoms of slow Internet connection can also be remedied by turning the Wi-Fi feature off and on. It disconnects your iPhone from the Wi-Fi network and then reconnect. Just follow these steps to see if this trick will do some wonders and fix slow browsing problem on your iPhone 5s:

  1. From your Home screen, tap Settings.
  2. Select Wi-Fi.
  3. Toggle the Wi-Fi switch to turn the feature off. 
  4. After a few seconds, toggle the switch again to turn Wi-Fi back on.

Wait for your iPhone to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and then test browse to see if the problem is gone.

Fourth solution: Toggle Airplane Mode on and off

Another simple old trick that’s been proven to work wonders when it comes to random wireless issues on an iPhone is the Airplane Mode tweak. It works by turning off your iPhone’s wireless radios simultaneously and then enable them back. To see if this will yield a positive outcome to you, follow these steps to fix slow browsing problem by toggling Airplane mode feature on and off:

  1. From the Home screen, tap Settings.
  2. Select Airplane Mode.
  3. Then toggle the switch to turn Airplane Mode on. Doing so disables your iPhone’s wireless radios and relevant features are turned off. 
  4. While Airplane Mode is turned on, restart/soft reset your iPhone.
  5. After it reboots, go back to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu.
  6. Then toggle the Airplane Mode switch to turn Airplane Mode off again.

Reconnect your iPhone to your Wi-Fi network to get back online. Then launch your browser and navigate to different websites and pages to see if they’re already loading up faster. If slow browsing problem continues, try the next option.

Fifth solution: Forget Wi-Fi network then set it up again

Slow browsing problems can also occur among other symptoms of a corrupted Wi-Fi network on the phone. In this case, forgetting Wi-Fi networks is needed. Doing so deletes the Wi-Fi network from your phone and thus allow you to connect to the Internet like the first time you did. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen to get started.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi and make sure the Wi-Fi switch is turned on. 
  3. Scroll down to the list of saved Wi-Fi networks and find the network name/SSID your iPhone 5s is connected to.
  4. Select the Wi-Fi network then tap the information “i” icon next to it.
  5. Tap Forget This Network to delete the network from your phone’s wireless directory.
  6. If prompted, tap the option to confirm that you want to delete the Wi-Fi network.

Follow the same steps to delete all other saved Wi-Fi networks from your phone’s network directory. Doing so will prevent any of them from causing conflicts to the Wi-Fi network you’re using.

Sixth solution: Reset network settings to fix slow browsing problem on your iPhone 5s

Carrying out software resets can be considered among the last options if the problem isn’t resolved by the previous methods. What you’re dealing with could be due to a complex network error on the phone. To clear this out, reset network settings on your iPhone 5s. Just follow these steps:

  1. From the Home screen, tap Settings.
  2. Scroll to and tap General.
  3. Tap on Reset
  4. Select the option to Reset network settings.
  5. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  6. Tap to confirm that you want to reset network settings on your phone.

Network settings on the phone will then be restored to the original values. To get back online, you need to set up your Wi-Fi network as new then join or connect to it. Be sure to enter the correct Wi-Fi network password to ensure the connection is successful.

Last resort: Power cycle or reset your wireless router/modem

As mentioned earlier, slow browsing problem can also be attributed to firmware crashes on the network equipment. Thus, if you’re near your modem or wireless router, follow these steps to power cycle it:

  1. Turn off the modem/wireless router as you normally do.
  2. While it’s powered off, unplug its AC adapter from the power source and keep it unplugged for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  3. After the elapsed time, plug it back in then turn back on.
  4. Wait for a few seconds until all the light indicators on the modem/router become stable and the Wi-Fi signal to become steady.

This tweak also fixes other internet connectivity issues including random Wi-Fi disconnects or intermittent connection to no Internet connection at all.

Still experiencing slow browsing problem or slow internet connection

Normally, carrying out the above solutions is good enough to address slow internet connection issues but if the slow browsing problem continues, a more complex system error may be present and therefore needs to be rectified. Should you wish to troubleshoot further, your next option would be a full system reset or iOS restore. This is usually the key to rectifying complex system errors that caused persistent problems on your phone. However, performing this reset will also delete all saved data and personal information on the internal memory of your device. With that said, creating backups beforehand is recommended. You may choose to back up files to iCloud or to iTunes as you would prefer. If you opt for the former, then you can factory reset your iPhone through settings. But if you’d like to do the latter, you can use iTunes to manually erase your iPhone on a computer and restore from a recent iOS backup.

For more advanced solutions and advise, escalate the problem to your Internet service provider. There might be some network problems on your ISP that slowed down Internet services in your place at the moment. If possible, you can ask your Internet service provider to reset your wireless router/modem remotely. Doing so should fix complex firmware errors that are causing conflicts to the network equipment.

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