How to Increase Wi-Fi Speed on a Windows 11 Laptop: 7 Fixes

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Slow Wi-Fi on a Windows 11 laptop usually comes down to a few fixable things: a weak signal or crowded band, outdated drivers, power-saving settings, or apps quietly using your bandwidth. This guide walks through the fixes in order, from quick checks to adapter settings, so you can get the speed your internet plan actually provides.

Quick Answer

Move closer to the router and connect to its 5 GHz (or 6 GHz) network, update your Wi-Fi driver, set the power mode to Best performance, turn off Metered connection, and pause large background downloads. For more control, open Device Manager, go to your Wi-Fi adapter’s Advanced tab, and set Preferred Band to Prefer 5GHz band.

Wi-Fi adapter Properties dialog on the Advanced tab with Preferred Band selected and its value set to Prefer 5GHz band highlighted
(1) Select Preferred Band on the adapter's Advanced tab, then (2) choose Prefer 5GHz band. Property names vary by adapter.

Step 1: Measure Your Speed First

Run a speed test in your browser on Wi-Fi, then (if possible) on a wired connection or another device next to the router. If every device is slow, the issue is your internet plan or router. If only the laptop is slow, keep going.

Step 2: Improve the Signal

  • Get closer to the router, or remove obstacles like walls, metal cabinets, and microwaves.
  • Use 5 GHz or 6 GHz: these bands are faster and less crowded than 2.4 GHz, though they have shorter range. If your router has separate network names (for example, “Home-5G”), connect to that one.
  • Restart the router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
  • Consider a mesh system or extender for large homes.

Step 3: Update the Wi-Fi Driver

  1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates and install any network driver updates.
  2. Or right-click Start > Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, and choose Update driver.
  3. For the newest version, download the driver from your laptop maker’s or Wi-Fi chip maker’s support site.

See our guide to updating the Wi-Fi driver in Windows 11.

Step 4: Adjust Power Settings

  • Power mode: Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode, choose Best performance (especially when plugged in).
  • Adapter power saving: in Device Manager, open your Wi-Fi adapter’s Properties > Power Management and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
  • Energy Saver: turn it off in Power & battery if it’s on.

Step 5: Stop Background Bandwidth Hogs

  • Metered connection: Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > [your network], make sure Metered connection is off unless you need it (it limits some updates but can also slow syncing).
  • Delivery Optimization: Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization, turn off Allow downloads from other PCs or set bandwidth limits.
  • Cloud sync and game launchers: pause OneDrive, Dropbox, or game downloads while you need speed.
  • Check usage: Task Manager’s Performance > Wi-Fi and Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Data usage show what’s using the network.

Step 6: Tweak Adapter Advanced Settings

  1. Open Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, and choose Properties.
  2. On the Advanced tab, look for:
    • Preferred Band: Prefer 5GHz band (or 6GHz if available).
    • Wireless Mode: the newest option your router supports (for example, 802.11ax for Wi-Fi 6).
    • Channel Width for 5GHz: Auto.
    • Roaming Aggressiveness: lower it if the laptop keeps jumping between access points; raise it in mesh networks if it clings to a weak one.
  3. Click OK. The connection drops briefly while settings apply.

Available options depend on your adapter. If you’re unsure, change one setting at a time and re-test.

Step 7: Reset Network Settings and DNS

  • Network reset: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now. This reinstalls adapters and removes saved Wi-Fi networks.
  • Flush DNS: run ipconfig /flushdns in Terminal.
  • Try a faster DNS server: in your Wi-Fi’s Hardware properties > DNS server assignment > Edit, set a public DNS provider. This speeds up page loading, not raw download speed.

Other Things to Check

  • VPN: VPNs add overhead. Disconnect and test again.
  • Router settings: update the router’s firmware, choose a less crowded channel, and make sure it uses WPA2/WPA3 (older security modes can limit speed).
  • Hardware: older laptops with Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) adapters top out at lower speeds; a USB Wi-Fi 6 adapter can help.

Related: Connect Windows 11 to Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my laptop slower than my phone on the same Wi-Fi?

Your laptop may be on 2.4 GHz, have an older adapter or outdated driver, or be using power saving. Work through Steps 2 to 6.

Does Windows 11 limit Wi-Fi speed?

Not by default, but settings like Energy Saver, metered connections, and Delivery Optimization can affect it.

Is Ethernet faster than Wi-Fi?

Usually, and it’s more stable. Use a wired connection for large downloads or gaming when possible.

Summary

  1. Test your speed and move closer to the router or use 5 GHz.
  2. Update the Wi-Fi driver and use Best performance power mode.
  3. Stop background downloads and check metered settings.
  4. Tweak adapter settings like Preferred Band, then reset the network if needed.

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