Internet Slow on One Device But Fast on Others? Here Is Why
If your phone gets fast speeds but your laptop crawls on the same WiFi, the problem is your laptop. Here is how to fix it.
Confirm It Is Device-Specific
Run a speed test on the slow device and a fast device at the same time in the same room. Use speedtest.net or fast.com. If the difference is significant, the issue is confirmed to be on the slow device, not your internet connection. This rules out ISP throttling, router issues, or network congestion as causes.
Update Your WiFi Driver
Outdated or generic WiFi drivers are the number one cause of device-specific slowness. On Windows, open Device Manager, expand Network Adapters, right-click your WiFi adapter, and select Update Driver. If Windows says it is up to date, go to your laptop manufacturer website and download the latest WiFi driver for your specific model. The manufacturer driver often performs significantly better than the generic Windows driver.
Check Background Bandwidth Usage
Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc and click the Network column to sort by usage. Common background bandwidth hogs include Windows Update downloading updates, OneDrive or Dropbox syncing large files, cloud backup services running, and browser tabs with auto-playing video. Pause or close anything consuming bandwidth and test your speed again.
Switch WiFi Bands
Your slow device may be connected to the 2.4GHz band while faster devices use 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band has longer range but much slower speeds and more interference. Check which band you are on by opening Command Prompt and typing netsh wlan show interfaces. If it shows 2.4GHz, forget the network and reconnect specifically to the 5GHz SSID if your router broadcasts them separately. If your router uses the same name for both bands, try connecting while standing close to the router to encourage the 5GHz connection.
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