How to fix slow Internet speed in Windows 11

We are connected to the Internet for the most part of the day, be it for work, shopping, or recreational purposes. But, several users after upgrading to Windows 11 have reported slow Internet.

A slow speed affects the whole user experience, be it for browsing or downloading files from the web. With the increase in the size of web pages and dependence on downloads, it’s imperative that you look for ways to resolve the problem.

But before we head to the actual fixes, it’s imperative that you understand the underlying causes, in order to effectively troubleshoot the problem.

What causes slow Internet issues in Windows 11?

While most of us blame the ISP (Internet Service Provider), it’s often the other issues that are the real culprit. We have listed some of the prominent ones in the following section:

• Weak signal
• A high number of devices connected to the router
• Problems with the DNS server
• Misconfigured settings
• Background processes consuming high data
• Metered connection set-up

Now that you have a thorough understanding of the causes, it’s time we head to the solutions.

How can I fix the slow Internet speed problems in Windows 11?

1. Restart the PC

1. Navigate to the desktop and press Alt + F4 to launch the Shut Down Windows box.
2. Click on the dropdown menu and select Restart from the list of options.
3. Next, click on OK.

One of the most effective solutions to most problems that you encounter in Windows 11 is to simply restart the computer. If it’s a background process or bug that leads to the problem, rebooting the OS will eliminate it, thereby fixing the error.

After the computer restarts, check if the slow Internet problem in Windows 11 is resolved.

2. Make sure the PC within the range of the router (Wi-Fi networks)

In the case of wireless networks, the farther is the device from the router, the lesser the Internet speed. An effective fix is to keep the device well within the range of the router.

Most devices display the signal strength after you connect to a wireless network. Make sure it’s maximum.

Also, we now have dual-band routers that support 5 GHz in addition to the standard 2.4 GHz, which offers a higher Internet speed. In case your router supports both, make sure you are connected to the 5 GHz network.

3. Update your network drivers

Use Device Manager

1. Press the Win + X keys simultaneously to open a Windows 11 shortcut menu.
2. Select Device Manager from the list.

3. In the device list, locate and double click Network Adapters.
4. Then right-click on your Internet network adapter and select Update driver.
5. Select Search automatically for drivers and wait for the process to complete.
6. If the Windows 11 utility detects any new drivers, it will automatically install them on your machine.

Corrupt or out-of-date drivers can have a negative impact on overall Internet performance. Many users report noticeable improvements after they update their network drivers in Windows 11.

Use an automated solution

If you want a quicker solution that will keep your drivers in check on a regular basis, we recommend you try a lightweight utility such as DriverFix.

To update singular drivers as in this case, the process is pretty similar. Just select your network driver from a list and wait for the process to complete.

The benefit of this application, however, is that you can let it run in the background and it will automatically find up-to-date replacements for any outdated or corrupt drivers on your PC and install them without any effort on your part.

⇒ Get DriverFix

4. Lower the bandwidth for downloading updates

1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app.
2. Select Windows Update from the tabs listed in the navigation pane on the left.
3. Click on Windows Update on the right.
4. Click on Advanced options.
5. Next, click on Delivery Optimization.
6. Disable the toggle for Allow downloads from other PCs.
7. Now, click on Advanced options.
8. Under Absolute Bandwidth, tick the checkboxes for allocation of bandwidth to downloading of updates in the background and foreground, and enter the desired value the respective fields.
9. You can also go with the Percetange of measured bandwidth method and use the slider to set the desired setting.
10. Scroll down and tick the two checkboxes under Upload settings.
11. Now use the slider to set the desired bandwidth for Uploading Updates and Monthly Upload Limit.

After changing the bandwidth settings, check if the slow download speed problem in Windows 11 is resolved.

A certain amount of bandwidth is allocated to Windows Update for both download and update. You can lower the bandwidth in order to maximize the bandwidth allocation to other tasks.

Also, Windows send updates to other PCs on the network which decreases the Internet speed. Disabling the setting might also help eliminate the problem.

5. Terminate processes consuming data

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager.
2. Navigate to the Performance tab.
3. Click on Open Resource Monitor at the bottom.
4. Go to the Network tab in the Resource Monitor window.
5. Locate the programs that are consuming way too much data, right-click on them, and select End process.

Certain processes that consume a considerable amount of data can be terminated to increase the Internet speed in Windows 11. However, do remember to not end any critical tasks, such as Windows Update.

If you couldn’t find any such tasks, or terminating some didn’t help, head to the next fix.

6. Disable apps from running in the background

1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app.
2. Select Apps from the list of tabs in the navigation pane on the left.
3. Click on Installed apps on the right.
4. Locate the app that you don’t want running in the background, click on the ellipsis next to it and select Advanced options from the menu that appears.
5. Next, click on the Let this app run in the background dropdown menu.
6. Select Never from the list of options.

Disabling background apps in Windows 10 is a lot different than the process in Windows 11. In the case of the former, you could easily disable them all in one go while for the latter, the settings are specific to each app.

When several apps run in the background and consume data, it is bound to lead to the slow Internet problem in Windows 11. Also, some of these may download files or updates.

It’s best that you disable the non-critical apps from running in the background to increase the download speed. Whenever you need to work on any of these, simply launch them.

7. Run the Internet Connections troubleshooter

1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app.
2. Click on Troubleshoot on the right in the System tab.
3. Now, click on Other troubleshooters.
4. Click on Run next to Internet connections to launch the troubleshooter.
5. Choose the appropriate response, if and when prompted, to complete the troubleshooting process.

Microsoft offers a bunch of troubleshooters that can identify and eliminate some of the commonly known issues. Before going with the intricate methods, it’s recommended that you run these, in case one is available for the problem.

Internet connections troubleshooter can be used to resolve issues that prevent you from accessing the Internet.

8. Disable Windows Defender Firewall

NOTE

There are various ways you can disable the Windows Defender Firewall in Windows 11 and we have listed one of them. In case you are comfortable with the others, go ahead and use them since the end result would be the same.

1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu.
2. Enter Control Panel in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search result that appears.
3. Click on System and Security from the list of options that appear.
4. Select Windows Defender Firewall.
5. Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the list of options on the left.
6. Now, tick the checkboxes for Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) under both Private network settings and Public network settings, and click on OK at the bottom.
7. Choose the appropriate response in case a prompt appears.

Windows Defender Firewall is a critical part of the OS that protects your device from unauthorized traffic, both to and from the computer. However, it’s known to cause slow Internet at times in Windows 11, thus disabling it could work as a fix in this case.

But, do remember that you would be losing out on critical security aspects and the computer would be exposed to risks. Therefore, if disabling Windows Defender Firewall does not work, re-enable it right away.

Even more, keep in mind that you may choose one of the best antivirus solutions for Windows 11 to further protect your computer.

9. Turn off metered connections

1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings.
2. Select Network & internet from the list of tabs in the navigation pane on the left.
3. Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on the network type.
4. Click on the network that you are connected to.
5. Disable the toggle for Metered connection.

10. Change DNS server

1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run command.
2. Enter appwiz.cpl in the text field and either click on OK or hit Enter to launch the Network Connections window.
3. Right-click on the connected network adapter, and select Properties from the context menu.
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) from the list of options and click on Properties.
5. Tick the checkbox for Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. Enter the following the respective fields and click on OK to save the changes:
   • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
   • Alternative DNS server: 8.8.4.4
7. After making the changes, restart the computer.

The DNS server is used to loacte the IP address corresponding to the domain name. Whenever you enter the domain name, it’s respective IP is located and the website launched.

Windows is set to choose the DNS server by default but due to issues with it, the Internet speed may be slow. Therefore, it’s recommended that you switch to an open-source DNS for higher speed.

What do I do if none of the methods listed fix slow Internet issues?

This is a highly likely scenario primarily due a problems from the ISP’s end. In this case, you can either get the connections checked for faults or choose another plan with a higher Internet speed. Also, you can switch to a faster and safer web browser to resolve the slow Internet problem in Windows 11.

But before making the upgrade, do remember to identify your requirements and choose the plan that best suits them.

Wi-Fi or Ethernet: Which is better?

Both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Wi-Fi, as the name suggests, offers wireless connectivity, while Ethernet connections use cables. The former offers mobility while the latter offers stability.

When it comes to speed, Ethernet no doubt emerges as the winner, but the margin is getting narrower by the day due to advancements in wireless technology. So, if you are facing slow Internet problems in Windows 11, switching to Ethernet might work.

These are the most effective fixes for this inconvenience in Windows 11 along with all the other relevant information that might come in handy when facing it. Also, see how you can solve issues that cause the Wi-Fi to disappear in Windows 11.

Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below or whether you had to upgrade the plan.

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