Your laptop crawls while your phone streams fine. Annoying, right? The good news: a handful of checks solve most cases. Start with quick triage, then move through Wi-Fi, software, DNS, and router tweaks. If one step works, stop there. No need to change more.
Quick triage checklist
Run these checks first to pinpoint the bottleneck fast.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Quick test or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Only the laptop is slow | Driver, VPN, firewall, background tasks | Boot once without VPN, pause cloud sync, check Task Manager/Activity Monitor |
| Every device is slow | ISP or router load | Reboot modem/router, test at a low-traffic hour, check plan speed |
| Fast near the router, slow far away | Weak signal or band choice | Move closer, join 5 GHz near, 2.4 GHz far |
| Ethernet is fast, Wi-Fi is not | Wireless settings or interference | Switch bands, pick a cleaner channel, relocate the router |
| Pages stall, pings look fine | DNS resolution | Change DNS, flush DNS cache, test again |
| Speed drops at dinner time | Congestion on Wi-Fi or ISP | Schedule big downloads later, spread devices across bands |
| New laptop, old router | Standards mismatch | Enable 802.11ac/ax on the router; consider a modern model |
| Random disconnects | Power saving, driver, interference | Disable adapter power save, update or roll back the Wi-Fi driver |
| Streaming buffers while uploads run | Upstream saturation | Pause backups or cloud photo sync while streaming |
Why is my laptop internet slow on Wi-Fi?
Start by separating Wi-Fi issues from wider network limits. Stand next to the router and test. If speed jumps, range or interference is to blame. If speed stays low on Wi-Fi yet a cable flies, tune the wireless layer. If both Wi-Fi and cable crawl across all devices, the cap sits with the ISP or modem.
Signal falls with walls, floors, and distance. The 2.4 GHz band reaches farther and cuts through obstacles better, while 5 GHz trades range for throughput. Use 5 GHz for nearby work and 2.4 GHz for rooms farther away. Name the bands separately so you can pick the right one each time.
Fix a laptop with slow internet: a clear plan
Step 1: Rule out the obvious
- Toggle airplane mode off, then reconnect to your Wi-Fi.
- Restart the laptop and the router. Give the router a full minute to boot.
- Test with one browser extension set to off. Heavy blockers or download helpers can stall pages.
- Try a wired cable. If wired speed is fine, keep reading the Wi-Fi steps; if not, check your ISP line or modem.
Step 2: Put Wi-Fi on the best band
Use 5 GHz for high speed when you’re near the router. Use 2.4 GHz for longer reach. Many routers expose both bands under one name. Split them into two names like “Home-24” and “Home-5G” to choose on demand.
Step 3: Pick a cleaner channel
Neighbor networks can collide on crowded channels. Log in to the router and set 2.4 GHz to channel 1, 6, or 11, then test each for a day. On 5 GHz, pick a low-traffic channel and set channel width to 80 MHz only if nearby signals are light.
Step 4: Move the router
Central, high, and in the open beats tucked in a cabinet. Keep it away from microwaves, baby monitors, and thick concrete. A small shift of one meter often lifts speeds across rooms.
Step 5: Tame background traffic
Cloud drives, game launchers, OS updates, photo backup, and conferencing tools can chew through bandwidth. Pause heavy jobs during calls or streaming. In Windows, open Task Manager → Processes and sort by Network. On a Mac, open Activity Monitor → Network to spot hungry apps.
Step 6: Update or reset the Wi-Fi stack
Install the latest Wi-Fi driver from your laptop maker. If a new driver breaks things, roll back one version. Refresh the network stack once: on Windows, run a network reset; on a Mac, use Wi-Fi recommendations or Wireless Diagnostics.
Step 7: Try faster, privacy-friendly DNS
Slow lookups make pages feel laggy even when raw speed looks fine. Switch your DNS resolver to a trusted anycast service, or to your ISP’s fastest node. Flush the DNS cache after switching, then retest.
Step 8: Check power settings
Set the wireless adapter to maximum performance on AC power and a balanced level on battery. That prevents the radio from dozing and dropping throughput mid-download.
Step 9: Refresh the router setup
Update router firmware, disable old security (WEP), and use WPA2 or WPA3. Turn off WPS pins. If your router is older than five years or still single-band N, a modern dual-band AX unit will lift capacity and stability.
Need step-by-step menus? See Microsoft’s guide to fix Wi-Fi connection issues and Apple’s tips for Mac Wi-Fi troubles. For DNS basics, Cloudflare’s overview shows how lookups work.
Windows and macOS steps that work
Windows 11/10
- Network reset: Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset. Reboot.
- Flush DNS: Open Command Prompt as admin, then run
ipconfig /flushdns. - Renew IP: Run
ipconfig /releasethenipconfig /renew. - Reset sockets: Run
netsh winsock reset, then restart. - Driver update: Device Manager → Network adapters → your Wi-Fi card → Update driver.
- Power plan: Control Panel → Power Options → Change plan settings → Advanced → Wireless Adapter Settings → Maximum Performance.
macOS
- Wireless Diagnostics: Hold Option, click the Wi-Fi icon, pick Wireless Diagnostics, then follow the prompts.
- DNS change: System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → DNS.
- Renew lease: System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → TCP/IP → Renew DHCP Lease.
- New location: System Settings → Network → three-dot menu → Locations → Create a new one, then reconnect.
- Login items: System Settings → General → Login Items. Remove heavy autostart apps.
Router tweaks that matter
Place it well
Put the router near the center of your home, up on a shelf, away from thick walls and metal. Antennas upright work for most rooms. If speed drops in far rooms, add one mesh node instead of cranking power.
Use modern security
Pick WPA2 or WPA3 only. Old WEP cuts speed and raises risk. Turn off legacy b/g modes unless you own old gear.
Keep firmware fresh
Vendors patch bugs that hurt throughput. Check the admin page for updates once a quarter. If your model no longer gets updates, budget for a new unit.
Enable smart QoS, not strict limits
Some routers include auto QoS that prioritizes calls and streaming without strangling downloads. Avoid hard per-device caps unless you must curb a single torrent box.
Apps that throttle speed
VPNs, endpoint security, and traffic shapers sit between your apps and the web. They add encryption and packet checks, which can shave throughput. Test with the VPN off. If speed recovers, switch to a nearer exit node or a lighter protocol. For security tools, enable any “network protection light” mode while streaming or gaming.
When a new router or adapter helps
If your laptop supports Wi-Fi 6 or 6E but your router tops out at Wi-Fi 4 or single-band N, you’re leaving headroom on the table. Look for a dual-band or tri-band AX router with gigabit WAN and solid firmware support. On desktops, a PCIe or USB Wi-Fi 6 adapter can be a cheap lift.
Fix map by platform
Match each action with where to click on your system.
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Change DNS | Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Hardware properties | System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → DNS |
| Flush DNS cache | ipconfig /flushdns in admin Command Prompt |
Turn Wi-Fi off/on, or run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder |
| Pick Wi-Fi band | Join the SSID named “-5G” for 5 GHz or “-24” for 2.4 GHz | Hold Option → Wi-Fi menu shows channel; join your chosen SSID |
| Update driver/OS | Device Manager → Wi-Fi card → Update | System Settings → General → Software Update |
| See heavy apps | Task Manager → Processes → Network | Activity Monitor → Network |
| Network reset | Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced → Network reset | Use Wireless Diagnostics |
Fast fix checklist
- Test next to the router, then by cable.
- Pick the right band and cleaner channel.
- Move the router into the open.
- Stop background hogs while you work.
- Update drivers and system, reset the network stack once.
- Switch DNS and flush the cache.
- Tune power and QoS to favor real-time apps.
- Replace aging gear that no longer keeps up.
Work through the list, retesting after each change. In most cases, one or two tweaks bring your laptop back to full speed.