What device prioritisation actually does
A work call breaks up, or a game stutters, just as someone starts streaming a film or a laptop backs up photos. Device prioritisation tells your router which job matters most when they collide. The general name is QoS (quality of service). FRITZ!, maker of the FRITZ!Box routers, puts it simply: you choose which devices and applications get high or low priority when they use the internet. Providers wrap the same idea in friendlier names. EE's WiFi Optimiser has Game, Work and Stream modes, and Sky's WiFi Max add-on includes Device Priority.
Crucially, prioritisation shares out the speed you already have; it doesn't make your line faster. When the connection is busy, the favoured device or app goes to the front of the queue and everything else waits. The providers say as much: Sky warns that while one device is prioritised your other devices might see slower speeds, and eero says that with its queue management switched on every device still gets bandwidth but some may run slower.
Ofcom points out that the number of people using the internet at once in your home, and the time of day, can both slow your connection. Prioritisation deals with the first of those, inside your home; it can't touch the line or your provider's network.
Two kinds of priority
- Priority at the router. This is what QoS settings, EE's modes and Sky's Device Priority control: which traffic the router sends first when the connection to the outside world is full. Upload counts here too, because video calls and games send data as well as receive it; FRITZ!'s priority rules, for example, are set out in terms of upload bandwidth.
- Priority on the Wi-Fi itself. Wi-Fi has its own built-in system called WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia), which gives traffic such as voice and video a better place in the queue for airtime. Apple recommends having it enabled, says routers supporting Wi-Fi 4 or later should have it on by default, and warns that switching it off can affect the performance and reliability of devices on the network. If you see a WMM setting in your router, leave it on.
When it helps, and when it won't
Prioritisation is built for one situation: several heavy and time-sensitive activities competing for the same connection at the same moment. eero says its Smart Queue Management makes the biggest difference when high-bandwidth and low-latency uses overlap, giving 4K streaming while gaming as its example. FRITZ! gives a similar picture, with automatic updates, cloud storage syncing and file sharing as the kind of background traffic that should give way to calls and games.
It won't fix problems that have nothing to do with the queue. Use this table to work out which one you have before changing settings.
What you notice | Likely cause | Will prioritisation help? |
|---|---|---|
Calls or games suffer only when others stream, download or back up | Activities competing for the same connection | Yes, this is what it's for |
Lag spikes whenever someone uploads or downloads something big | The router holding too much data in its queues (bufferbloat) | Ordinary QoS only helps a bit, says Bufferbloat.net; it recommends Smart Queue Management (SQM) |
Poor connection in one room, fine near the router | Weak Wi-Fi signal | No: fix the coverage first |
Slow even when only one person is online | The line, the package or a fault | No: test the line and check the plan |
Connection keeps dropping out | A fault or a hub problem | No: report it as a fault |
For weak signal, see finding Wi-Fi dead spots room by room and mesh Wi-Fi vs extenders; for dropouts, broadband that keeps dropping out. Bufferbloat.net describes bufferbloat as lag that occurs when there's other traffic on your network, and says a faster connection won't cure it; how to test for it and switch on SQM is covered in bufferbloat explained, and ping itself in latency, ping and jitter explained.
One side effect to expect: eero says speed tests may read lower with its queue management switched on. That's a trade-off eero flags itself, not a sign that your broadband has got worse. If you want a fair reading of your line, run the broadband speed test on a wired device with prioritisation off, then switch it back on.
Try a cable before you try a setting
Ofcom's advice is that an Ethernet cable should give you a faster, more reliable connection than Wi-Fi. For a console under the TV or a desk where you take daily calls, a cable often helps, because the device no longer competes for Wi-Fi airtime, though it still shares the broadband line with everyone else.
So wiring and prioritising can work together, with one exception: Sky's Device Priority only works for wireless devices, so on Sky you'd choose one or the other. FRITZ!Box rules and EE's modes didn't mention that limit in the pages we checked.
See our guide on wiring your home with Ethernet, and if a cable is plugged in but not working, Ethernet connection fixes.
EE: WiFi Optimiser's Game, Work and Stream modes
EE's WiFi Optimiser, in EE's words, lets you choose which activity gets priority. It's run from the EE app, and EE says it's powered and supported by NETDUMA. Whether you pay extra depends on your plan. EE's WiFi Optimiser terms (December 2025) and broadband plan terms (31 July 2026) say it's included for customers on the Standard, Premium and Ultimate plans who have an eligible hub. On other plans, such as Core, it's a monthly add-on on a 30-day rolling contract that you can cancel at any time (EE says removal can take up to 48 hours). Until December 2025 it was called WiFi Enhancer. We don't quote add-on prices because they change: check what's in current EE plans on our EE broadband deals page or in the EE app.
It has three modes:
- Game Mode prioritises gaming devices and apps. It adds a Geo Filter, which EE says helps you choose better-quality game servers, and a Ping Optimiser, which EE says helps reduce server ping. EE's help page says Game Mode still prioritises unlisted games, though its terms say supported games and apps are prioritised and that not all games or apps are supported by NETDUMA, so check the supported list before relying on it.
- Work Mode prioritises work apps such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. EE says it's aimed at video meetings and file transfers.
- Stream Mode prioritises streaming apps such as YouTube and Netflix, to cut down on buffering.
Which EE hubs it works with
EE's plan terms (31 July 2026) say WiFi Optimiser needs a Smart Hub 6 Plus, Smart Hub 7 Plus or Smart Hub 7 Pro. The basic Smart Hub isn't on that list, and EE's Wi-Fi help page lists Stream Mode for the Smart Hub 6 Plus. Existing customers who upgrade may keep their current router, EE says, so check in the EE app which hub you have before expecting the modes. You can see which hub each provider supplies in our provider routers comparison.
Setting up an EE mode
- If it isn't already in your plan, add it in the EE app: EE's help page gives Manage, choose your broadband account, Add-ons, then WiFi Optimiser. EE's plan terms give a different route, WiFi Controls on the app's home screen, then WiFi Optimiser, so use whichever your app version shows.
- To switch a mode on, go to Manage > Broadband > WiFi Optimiser, choose Game, Work or Stream Mode and toggle it on.
- For gaming extras, the Geo-filter is under Manage > Broadband > Geo-filter, and Optimise your ping is inside WiFi Optimiser.
- To see whether your game is recognised, open Game Mode, choose See today's boosts and then Check Supported Games.
- If you pay for it as an add-on and want to stop, go to Manage > Broadband > WiFi Optimiser > Remove WiFi Optimiser.
Two limits from EE's help page: WiFi Optimiser doesn't work while your broadband is running on 4G through Connectivity Backup. And EE says running all three modes at once might affect performance if your internet is slow, which makes sense: if everything is a priority, nothing is.
Don't confuse the add-on with WiFi Intelligence, which EE includes free with all its broadband plans and Smart Hubs, including Core. That automatically picks the best Wi-Fi channel and frequency for each device and keeps the hub's software updated. It helps the Wi-Fi run smoothly, but it doesn't let you choose which activity comes first.
Sky: Device Priority with WiFi Max
Sky's version is called Device Priority and it's part of the Sky WiFi Max add-on, alongside Sky's Wi-Fi guarantee, Advanced Security and parental controls. Sky says a monthly charge applies, or WiFi Max comes at no extra cost with its Full Fibre 2.5 and 5 Gigafast+ packages; it isn't available with Broadband Essential Plus, Ultrafast (G.fast) or Unlimited Pro, and new 24-month minimum terms apply when you add it. For current Sky packages, see our Sky broadband deals page; for the boosters and lights that come with WiFi Max, see our guide to Sky WiFi Max and boosters.
Rather than prioritising a type of app, you pick a single device for a set time.
- Open the My Sky app. You need to be the account holder.
- Go to Manage > Broadband > Device Priority.
- Select the device and choose how many hours, from 1 to 8.
- End it or extend the time whenever you like from the same screen.
What Sky can and can't prioritise
- One device at a time. Choose the one that matters most for that evening.
- Can be prioritised: Sky's examples include computers, e-readers, games consoles, mobile phones and phones, set top boxes, streaming video devices, tablets, toys, TVs and VR headsets.
- Can't be prioritised: anything connected by Ethernet cable; devices connected through a Sky Max Pod Wi-Fi extender, because Sky says the device must be connected to the Sky hub itself, so move it closer to the hub if you can; plus baby monitors, security cameras, Wi-Fi extenders, smart watches and smart appliances, which Sky says are incompatible.
- It ends early if a parental-controls scheduled downtime starts for that device, as well as when the time runs out.
The Pod rule matters because Pods come through WiFi Max: under its guarantee, Sky may send one if your Wi-Fi misses the guaranteed speed. Sky also says that if you can't move a device closer to the hub, prioritising it might not be suitable, so for a console in a far bedroom a cable may do more. And if you ever claim on the Wi-Fi guarantee, Sky says Device Priority must be switched off when it assesses your coverage.
BT and Virgin Media: what their hubs offer instead
The BT and Virgin Media help pages we read in October 2026 (BT's Wi-Fi Care page and Smart Hub 3 user guide, and Virgin Media's Connect app and hub pages) didn't describe a feature for ranking one device or app above another. That isn't proof no such setting exists, so check your app for anything new. Here's what they do list.
- BT: customers with a Smart Hub 2 or Smart Hub 3 get BT Wi-Fi Care, which makes automatic connection tweaks and updates, and the hub picks the best Wi-Fi channel and frequency for each device. BT's Smart Hub 3 user guide lists features such as multiple networks and parental controls but no device priority, QoS, game or work mode setting. The hub's settings are reached through Hub Manager in the My BT app or at 192.168.1.254; our guide to logging in to your router's settings walks through it. See current packages on our BT broadband deals page.
- Virgin Media: the Connect app, available with a Hub 3, 4 or 5, shows connected devices and lets you pause Wi-Fi to individual ones and restart the hub remotely. Virgin Media lists Intelligent WiFi on the Hub 3, 4, 5 and 5x, and on the Hub 4 says it chooses the least busy connection for your devices. See current packages on our Virgin Media broadband deals page.
Without a priority feature, the blunt alternative is to pause the device that's hogging the connection for the length of the call or match. It works, but someone else loses their internet for a while, so agree it as a household. Our guide on how to see what's using your broadband helps you find the culprit first.
Using QoS on your own router or mesh system
If you use your own router or mesh system, look in its app or web page for QoS, prioritisation or SQM. Two examples show the two main approaches.
FRITZ!Box: three priority categories
A FRITZ!Box already gives telephony and video calls priority automatically, with no settings needed. You can add your own rules using three categories:
Category | Examples FRITZ! gives | How it's treated |
|---|---|---|
Real-time applications | Telephony, video calls, cloud gaming | Sent first and given the bandwidth they need; internet phone calls come before other real-time traffic |
Prioritized applications | VPN, remote access, online games | Can use up to 90% of the upload when real-time apps aren't using the connection fully, leaving 10% for everything else |
Background applications | Automatic updates, cloud storage sync, BitTorrent | Lowest priority whenever the connection is full; can use all of it when nothing else needs it |
To set a rule, open the FRITZ!Box user interface and go to Internet > Filter > Prioritization. Choose a category, select Create New Rule, pick the device (and either all applications or specific ones) and click Add. You can also set a device as a real-time application from the Home Network menu in the MyFRITZ!App. FRITZ! notes that a real-time application using the entire bandwidth stops others sending data, so keep that category for genuinely live traffic.
eero: Smart Queue Management
eero takes a different approach. Rather than asking you to rank devices, its Smart Queue Management (SQM) manages how traffic is queued to cut delays for voice calls, video calls and gaming. You turn it on in the eero app under Settings > Advanced networking > Network services > SQM. eero says it isn't available when the eero is in bridge mode, where another device does the routing.
Set priority on the device that does the routing
Both examples share one rule: prioritisation only works on the box that's actually routing your traffic. FRITZ! says prioritisation isn't possible when a FRITZ!Box is working as a mesh repeater or in IP client mode, and tells you to set it on the Mesh Master or main router instead. eero's SQM isn't available in bridge mode. So if you've added a mesh system behind your provider's hub, find out which one is the router before you start changing settings.
Avoid having two routers both doing the routing job. Apple advises enabling NAT (the feature that shares one internet address between your devices) only on the router, because double NAT can cause problems. If you're unsure how your kit is set up, our guide to broadband for online gaming explains double NAT in more detail.
Two smaller points. FRITZ! says devices on the guest network can't be prioritised, so put the work laptop or console on your main network. And if your router's rules ask for a device's IP address rather than its name, our guide to giving a home device a fixed IP address explains how to stop that address changing.
Prioritise one thing, not everything
Prioritisation only works by making something else wait, so the more you put at the front of the queue, the less difference it makes. The providers' own designs reflect this: Sky allows one prioritised device at a time, EE warns that all three modes together might affect performance on a slow connection, and FRITZ! squeezes non-prioritised traffic down to 10% of the upload when prioritised apps are using it fully.
A sensible order for most homes:
- Live, two-way activities first: work calls, video calls with family and online games.
- Live viewing next: if the TV is what suffers in your home, this is where EE's Stream Mode or prioritising the TV or set top box comes in.
- Background jobs last: cloud backups, game and system updates and big downloads, which can wait or run overnight.
This is a choice you make inside your home; how providers manage traffic on their own networks is a different subject, covered in can your provider slow down or block websites?
A set-up checklist for a busy household
- Pin down the problem. Which activity suffers, on which device, and when? If it happens only when others at home are online, competition inside the home is a likely cause. If it's slow at busy times even when you're alone, the problem is more likely the line or the provider's network.
- Wire the key device if you can, and move backups and big downloads out of that time.
- Find out who does the routing. Your provider's hub, or your own router or mesh system? Set priority there.
- Turn on one priority. An EE mode, Sky Device Priority for one device, a FRITZ!Box rule or eero's SQM, depending on your kit.
- Re-test at the busy time, with others streaming as usual.
- If nothing changes, look at Wi-Fi coverage, the line and the package rather than adding more priorities.
When prioritisation isn't enough
If calls and games still struggle with the right device prioritised, the connection may simply be too small for everything your household does at once.
Upload can be the tighter limit, because video calls, cloud backups and live streaming all send data out of the house. Our guide to download vs upload speed explains the difference and which everyday jobs lean on upload, and our guide to live streaming from home looks at the upload that streaming needs.
When you've ruled out Wi-Fi and faults, run a speed test on a wired device at a busy time and compare the result with what your contract promises. If your plan is simply too slow for your household, compare deals at your postcode, or look at fibre broadband deals to see what faster packages are available where you live. Our comparison shows deals through a partner widget; it doesn't switch you itself, and the provider you choose handles the switch.
Device prioritisation FAQs
Does QoS or game mode make my broadband faster?
No. Prioritisation shares out the speed you already have so that the device or app you choose goes first when the connection is busy. Sky says other devices might see slower speeds while one is prioritised. If your line is too slow for everyone, only a faster package will fix that.
Is EE's WiFi Optimiser free?
It depends on your plan. EE includes WiFi Optimiser with its Standard, Premium and Ultimate broadband plans if you have an eligible hub (Smart Hub 6 Plus, 7 Plus or 7 Pro). On other plans it's a monthly add-on on a 30-day rolling contract. WiFi Intelligence, which is different, is free with all EE plans but doesn't let you choose which activity comes first.
Can I prioritise a wired device on Sky?
No. Sky says devices connected by Ethernet cable can't be given Device Priority. Devices connected through a Sky Max Pod can't be prioritised either. A wired device doesn't compete for Wi-Fi airtime, and Ofcom says a cable should give a faster, more reliable connection than Wi-Fi.
Does BT or Virgin Media let you prioritise a device?
The BT and Virgin Media help pages we read in October 2026 didn't describe a device-priority feature. BT's Smart Hub 2 and 3 get automatic Wi-Fi Care, and Virgin Media's Connect app lets you pause Wi-Fi to individual devices on a Hub 3, 4 or 5. Check your app in case that changes.
Should I turn on QoS on my own router if I use mesh Wi-Fi?
Set it on whichever device does the routing. FRITZ! says a FRITZ!Box can't prioritise traffic as a mesh repeater or in IP client mode, and eero's queue management isn't available in bridge mode. If your provider's hub is the router, use its features; if your own router or mesh is, use that.
Why does my speed test look slower with QoS turned on?
It can be a side effect of queue management rather than a fault. eero says that with its SQM on, every device still gets bandwidth but some may run slower, particularly in speed tests. Other routers' QoS may behave differently. For a fair reading of your line, test on a wired device with the feature switched off, then turn it back on.
Is prioritising one device better than plugging it in with a cable?
They solve different problems, and a cable is usually the better first step. A cable takes the device off Wi-Fi so it no longer competes for airtime, while prioritisation decides who goes first on the shared line. Wiring and prioritising can work together, but Sky's Device Priority only works for wireless devices, so on Sky you'd choose one or the other.
