Network Fix
Why Is My Wi-Fi Slow? 10 Fixes for Windows 11
Why is your Wi-Fi slow on Windows 11 or 10? Find the cause with a quick test, then work through 10 fixes, easiest first.
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Slow Wi-Fi is usually caused by distance or walls between you and the router, a crowded 2.4 GHz channel, another app or device using the bandwidth, or an outdated adapter driver. Run a speed test near the router and far from it: if only the far test is slow, fix the signal; if both are slow, check your apps and your ISP.
Why is my Wi-Fi slow? It is one of the most common questions people ask about their PC, and the frustrating part is that "slow" can have a dozen causes. The good news is that you can narrow it down in a few minutes and fix most of them yourself, without calling anyone.
This guide starts with a quick test that tells you where the problem is, then walks through ten fixes in order, easiest and most likely first. Everything works on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Symptoms
- Pages take several seconds to start loading, or videos keep buffering.
- Video calls freeze or drop to low quality.
- Downloads are much slower than the speed your internet plan promises.
- Everything is fine near the router but slow in another room.
First, Find Where the Problem Is
Run two speed tests with Test Net Speed: one sitting next to the router, and one where you normally use the PC. Note the download, upload and ping. The app saves every result, so you can compare them side by side.
- Fast near the router, slow far away: a Wi-Fi signal problem. Start with fixes 1 to 4.
- Slow everywhere, but fast on a network cable: a Wi-Fi or adapter problem. Try fixes 3 to 8.
- Slow everywhere, even on a cable: the problem is your internet line or a busy network. See fixes 5, 9 and 10.
If the words download, upload and ping are new to you, our guide to upload vs download speed explains what each number means.
Common Causes
- Distance, thick walls, floors and metal objects weakening the signal.
- Interference from neighbours' networks on the same channel, especially on 2.4 GHz.
- Other devices or background apps using your bandwidth.
- An old or buggy Wi-Fi adapter driver, or aggressive power saving.
- A router that needs a restart, or a slow or overloaded internet plan.
Fix 1: Restart the Router and Your PC
Unplug the router for 30 seconds, plug it back in and wait until all lights are stable, then restart Windows. It sounds too simple, but it clears memory leaks and stuck connections in both devices and solves a surprising number of slowdowns.
Fix 2: Move Closer, or Move the Router
Wi-Fi weakens quickly through walls and floors. Place the router high, central and in the open, not inside a cabinet or behind a TV. If one room is always slow, a mesh system or a wired access point helps more than any setting.
Fix 3: Switch to the 5 GHz Band
Most routers broadcast two bands. 2.4 GHz reaches further but is slower and crowded; 5 GHz is much faster at short range. If your router shows two network names, connect to the 5 GHz one (often ending in "5G"). If it uses one name for both, the router chooses automatically, and moving closer helps it pick 5 GHz.
Fix 4: Forget the Network and Reconnect
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Open Wi-Fi settings
Go to Settings, Network & internet, Wi-Fi, then Manage known networks.
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Forget your network
Select your network and choose Forget, then connect again and re-enter the password.
Fix 5: Find What Is Using Your Bandwidth
A cloud backup, a game update or a streaming device can use most of your connection without you noticing. Pause big downloads on every device, then test again. On your PC, our guide to seeing which apps use the internet shows how to find the busy app.
Fix 6: Update the Wi-Fi Driver
Right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and choose Update driver. If Windows finds nothing, check your PC or laptop maker's support site, which often has newer drivers.
Fix 7: Stop Windows Turning the Adapter Down
On laptops, power saving can slow the adapter. Plug the laptop in and set Settings, System, Power & battery, Power mode to Balanced or Best performance, then test again.
Fix 8: Reset Network Settings
As a last software fix, go to Settings, Network & internet, Advanced network settings, Network reset. Windows removes and reinstalls your network adapters and restarts. You will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi afterwards, and VPN apps may need to be set up again.
Fix 9: Change the Router's Wi-Fi Channel
If many neighbouring networks are nearby, log in to your router (the address is usually printed on it) and switch the 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6 or 11, or let the router choose automatically. Then test again.
Fix 10: Check Your Internet Plan and ISP
If speeds are slow even on a network cable, run tests at different times of day and keep the history. Consistently low results, especially in the evening, point to your ISP or plan. Your saved test history is useful evidence when you call them.
Still Broken?
If every device is slow, even on a cable, contact your internet provider. If only one PC is slow, its Wi-Fi adapter may be failing; a cheap USB Wi-Fi adapter is an easy way to test that.
FAQ
Why is my Wi-Fi slow but my phone is fast?
Your phone may be on the 5 GHz band while the PC uses 2.4 GHz, or the PC's adapter or driver is older. Connect the PC to 5 GHz and update its Wi-Fi driver.
Why is my Wi-Fi slow only at night?
Evening is peak time: more people share your ISP's network and more neighbours use Wi-Fi. Test at different times; if speeds drop every evening, talk to your ISP.
Does a VPN slow down Wi-Fi?
It can. A VPN adds encryption and an extra hop to a distant server. Test with the VPN on and off to see the difference.
How fast should my Wi-Fi be?
Near the router on 5 GHz you should get close to your plan's speed. Far away or on 2.4 GHz it is normal to get less. A cable test shows your real line speed.
Conclusion
Slow Wi-Fi is fixable once you know where the problem is. Test near and far from the router, then work through the fixes: restart, move closer, use 5 GHz, stop bandwidth hogs and update the driver. Keep a history of speed tests so you can see what worked, and so you have proof if your ISP is to blame. For more tools, see all network apps for Windows.
