How to Fix Slow Internet on Windows 11 — 12 Proven Fixes
Windows 11 slow internet is rarely the ISP’s fault — it’s usually a local software or driver issue. Benchmark your current speed at instantspeedtest.net/, then work through these fixes from quickest to most involved until speed improves.
Fix 1–6: Quick Wins (Under 5 Minutes Each)
Fix 1 — Switch to 5 GHz WiFi. Open WiFi settings, connect to the 5 GHz band. Immediate speed improvement if you were on 2.4 GHz.
Fix 2 — Disable metered connection. Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi → your network → Properties → set “Metered connection” to Off.
Fix 3 — Change DNS to 1.1.1.1. Settings → Network → Advanced network settings → network adapter → DNS → set to 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1. Improves page load times immediately.
Fix 4 — Flush DNS cache. Run as administrator: ipconfig /flushdns then ipconfig /renew.
Fix 5 — Reset network stack. Run as administrator: netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset. Restart PC.
Fix 6 — Disable Windows Update delivery optimization. Settings → Windows Update → Advanced Options → Delivery Optimization → toggle off. This stops Windows from uploading updates to other PCs on your network bandwidth.
Fix 7–12: Deeper Fixes (5–15 Minutes Each)
Fix 7 — Update WiFi driver. Device Manager → Network Adapters → right-click WiFi adapter → Update driver. Visit manufacturer’s site for latest version.
Fix 8 — Disable adapter power saving. Device Manager → WiFi adapter → Properties → Power Management → uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device.”
Fix 9 — Close bandwidth hogs. Task Manager → Performance → Resource Monitor → Network tab — identify and close apps consuming bandwidth (OneDrive, cloud backup, Steam auto-updates).
Fix 10 — Disable large send offload. Device Manager → WiFi adapter → Properties → Advanced tab → find “Large Send Offload V2 (IPv4/IPv6)” → set to Disabled. Fixes a known performance issue on some Intel adapters.
Fix 11 — Run Windows Network Troubleshooter. Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Internet Connections. Often detects and fixes driver or configuration issues automatically.
Fix 12 — Use Ethernet. If all software fixes fail and you need reliable speed, plug in an Ethernet cable. See our wired vs wireless guide.
Related Guides
- WiFi Slow on Laptop But Fast on Phone
- How to Fix Slow Internet on Mac
- How to Speed Up Internet on PC
- What Is DNS and How It Affects Speed
- Internet Slow Only on One Device
- 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz WiFi
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Windows 11 make my internet slower?
Possibly. Windows 11 introduced changes to its network stack and power management that caused WiFi performance regressions on some older Intel and Realtek WiFi adapters. Updating to the latest cumulative update and installing the latest WiFi driver from the adapter manufacturer (not just Windows Update) resolves most reported Windows 11 WiFi slowdowns.
Why is my download speed slow in browsers but fast in speed tests?
Browser downloads often go through more restrictive HTTP connection limits (1–6 parallel connections vs speed tests’ many parallel connections). Additionally, antivirus real-time scanning of download files adds overhead. Try disabling antivirus temporarily during a large download to test. Alternatively, a download manager that opens multiple parallel connections often achieves speeds much closer to your speed test results.