Why Is Internet Very Slow On My Laptop?

Laptop internet slowness usually stems from Wi-Fi interference, DNS hiccups, background apps, old drivers, or router limits—use the steps below.

When a notebook crawls online while phones fly, the bottleneck is usually local: radio noise, a bad channel, a clunky DNS path, or software eating bandwidth. This guide gives clear checks and fixes for Windows and macOS. Start with the quick tests, then move to deeper tweaks.

Quick Checks To Rule Out Simple Causes

Before tuning settings, prove where the slowdown lives. These fast checks save time and stop guesswork.

Test With Another Device

Run a speed test on a phone beside the laptop using the same Wi-Fi. If the phone is fine, focus on the computer. If both are slow, point attention to the router or internet provider.

Move Closer To The Router

Walls and appliances weaken signals. Sit one room away or in line-of-sight and retry. If speed jumps, you have a signal or interference issue.

Swap Bands Or SSIDs

Pick the 5 GHz or 6 GHz network for nearby rooms; use 2.4 GHz only for long range through walls. Many routers broadcast separate names; join the faster band when distance is short.

Restart Router And Laptop

Reboots clear stale sessions and memory leaks. Power the router off for 30 seconds, then turn it on. Reboot the computer as well.

Laptop-Side Fixes That Solve Most Slowdowns

These actions target common culprits on the computer itself. Work down the list until speed returns.

Kill Bandwidth Hogs

Pause big downloads, cloud sync jobs, game updaters, or video calls. On Windows, open Task Manager → Performance → Open Resource Monitor → Network to spot heavy processes. On macOS, open Activity Monitor → Network.

Forget And Rejoin Wi-Fi

Corrupt profiles can throttle throughput. Remove the network, then reconnect fresh with the correct password and band.

Update Wireless And Bluetooth Drivers

Old drivers cap speeds or drop features like 802.11ax. On Windows, in Device Manager → Network adapters, update the Wi-Fi card and Bluetooth. Match vendor drivers to your model.

Disable Power-Saving On The Wi-Fi Adapter (Windows)

Power modes can throttle radios. In Device Manager → Network adapters → your Wi-Fi card → Properties → Power Management, uncheck the option that lets the computer turn off the device to save power. In advanced properties, set transmit power to High.

Slow Wi-Fi On A Notebook? Practical Causes And Fixes

This section maps real-world causes to targeted remedies. Pick the path that matches your symptom.

Interference And Bad Channels

Neighboring networks, baby monitors, and microwaves crowd the airwaves. The 2.4 GHz band is the noisiest. Use your router’s admin page to choose a cleaner channel. Favor channels 1, 6, or 11 on 2.4 GHz; try auto or a clear DFS channel on 5 GHz/6 GHz. Apple documents best-practice router settings that line up with this advice, so match your setup to those recommended router settings.

Weak Signal Or Poor Placement

Routers stuck behind TVs or inside cabinets shed speed. Elevate the unit, keep antennas upright, and place it out in the open. For larger homes, add a mesh node rather than cranking power.

DNS Slowdowns

Pages can crawl even when raw speed tests look fine. That points to name lookups. Try a faster resolver. Set a well-known resolver like 1.1.1.1 on Windows; switch back if results don’t improve.

Browser Cache Or DNS Cache Glitches

Clear the browser cache and, if sites hang on one device, flush the DNS cache. Chrome has a built-in page to purge host entries at chrome://net-internals/#dns. On macOS, a quick Terminal command refreshes DNS (steps below).

Outdated Router Firmware Or Old Hardware

A router from years ago may top out at older Wi-Fi standards. Check for firmware updates in the admin page. If the unit is dated, a modern Wi-Fi 6/6E model can remove the cap.

VPNs, Proxies, And Security Suites

These tools add overhead. Toggle the VPN off and retest. Temporarily pause web-filtering or firewall features to compare. Keep protection enabled long-term; this is just a test.

Step-By-Step Fixes For Windows

These steps match official guidance and repair common stack issues. Run them with admin rights.

Reset The Network Stack

Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the sequence below. It resets Winsock and TCP/IP, refreshes the IP lease, and clears DNS. Expect to reboot afterward.

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Microsoft documents the tools you’re using. See Windows’ Wi-Fi fixes page for details.

Turn Off Metered Connection And Background Data Limits

Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → your network. Toggle Metered Connection off. In Windows Update, pause large updates until the test ends.

Force 5 GHz/6 GHz Preferred Band (If Supported)

Some adapters let you pick a preferred band in Device Manager → Advanced. Aim for 5 GHz or 6 GHz when you’re near the router for higher throughput.

Reinstall Or Roll Back The Wi-Fi Driver

If speeds tanked after a driver change, use Device Manager to roll back. If drivers are old, download the latest package from the laptop or card maker.

Step-By-Step Fixes For macOS

These tips use built-in tools that spot or clear common causes.

Use Wi-Fi Recommendations And Wireless Diagnostics

Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and open Wi-Fi Recommendations. For deeper tests, launch Wireless Diagnostics and follow prompts. Apple’s guide covers both tools on its help page linked earlier.

Flush The DNS Cache

Open Terminal and run this line. It refreshes DNS without a reboot.

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder; sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Enter your admin password when asked. No output appears; retry the site afterward.

Renew The DHCP Lease

Open System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → TCP/IP → Renew DHCP Lease. This forces a fresh IP from the router.

Prefer A Faster Band

If your router broadcasts separate names, pick the 5 GHz or 6 GHz SSID for nearby rooms. Remove the 2.4 GHz entry so the Mac won’t roam to it mid-session.

Router And Home Network Tweaks That Pay Off

When multiple devices sag or signal readings look weak, tune the wireless side and the layout.

Pick Cleaner Channels

Log in to the router and change the 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11. On 5 GHz/6 GHz, try a different non-overlapping channel or leave it on auto if your router does a good job of band steering.

Update Firmware And Enable WPA3

Install the latest firmware. While you’re there, enable WPA3 if all devices support it.

Add A Mesh Node Where You Sit

If your desk sits two rooms away behind brick or concrete, a mesh node nearby often beats any setting tweak.

When It’s Not Wi-Fi At All

Some bottlenecks hide behind the radio.

Disk Or CPU Bottlenecks

Old spinning drives or 100% CPU from background tasks can make the web feel slow even with fast links. Check Task Manager or Activity Monitor and free resources.

Browser Bloat

Dozens of extensions add overhead. Disable add-ons, try a private window, or test a second browser to compare.

ISP Rate Limits Or Outages

If multiple homes nearby report issues or your modem’s lights flap, call the provider. Save logs and test results so support can trace the issue.

Symptom-To-Fix Cheatsheet

Symptom	Likely Cause	Quick Fix
Great signal, web pages stall	DNS resolver lag	Switch to 1.1.1.1; flush DNS
Good speed near router, poor in bedroom	Weak signal, 2.4 GHz only	Add mesh node; join 5 GHz/6 GHz
Only the laptop crawls	Driver issue or background app	Update driver; kill heavy tasks
Every device slow at once	ISP congestion or router crash	Reboot modem/router; call ISP
Fast downloads, slow first page load	Browser or DNS cache	Clear cache; flush DNS

Copy-Paste Fix Blocks

Windows: Reset Stack And Renew IP

powershell -Command "Start-Process cmd -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList '/c netsh winsock reset && netsh int ip reset && ipconfig /release && ipconfig /renew && ipconfig /flushdns && pause'"

Run the line above in PowerShell. A Command Prompt opens, runs each step, then waits so you can read results.

macOS: Flush DNS Quickly

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder; sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Paste into Terminal, enter your password, press Return, then retry the site.

When To Replace Gear Or Call The Provider

Even perfect tuning can’t push past hardware limits or upstream issues. Plan an upgrade or support call when you meet these signs:

Router Older Than Five Years

Throughput, memory, and radios lag on older units. If you pay for a fast plan, a modern router unlocks it across rooms.

Modem Not Approved For Your Plan

Docsis versions and line profiles matter. Check your provider’s approved list and models.

Upstream Loss Or Noise

Frequent drops or poor signal levels in the modem status page point to a line issue. That needs a technician.

Finish With A Clean Baseline

After speed returns, save what worked. Keep firmware and drivers current, use clear SSID names, and note the best channels for your place. With these habits, your laptop stays fast without constant tweaking.