When only one device is slow, the problem is that device: an outdated WiFi driver, power-saving settings, connection to the slower 2.4 GHz band, or something running in the background. Updating the driver and checking which band it's on fixes most cases.
Common causes
Outdated or buggy WiFi driver
Driver problems are the most common cause of one slow laptop.
Connected to 2.4 GHz instead of 5 GHz
The slower band is more crowded and can be several times slower.
Power-saving mode
Battery-saving settings can throttle the WiFi adapter.
Background activity
Cloud sync, updates, backups, or malware can use the connection constantly.
Old WiFi hardware
An older adapter may simply not support modern WiFi speeds.
How to fix it, step by step
- 1
Check which band and speed it's connected at
On Windows, open the WiFi properties or run netsh wlan show interfaces to see the band, signal, and link rate.
- 2
Update the WiFi driver
Install the latest driver from the laptop or adapter manufacturer.
- 3
Set power to maximum performance
Change the wireless adapter power setting and disable adapter power saving in Device Manager.
- 4
Check what's using the network
Open Task Manager's Performance or Resource Monitor's Network tab to find programs using bandwidth.
- 5
Forget and rejoin the network
This clears old settings and often moves the device to the better band.
- 6
Test with a USB WiFi adapter
If a modern USB adapter is fast, the laptop's internal WiFi hardware is the problem.
When to call a technician
If drivers and settings don't help, the computer may have a hardware or software issue. We diagnose it and tell you whether a fix, an adapter, or a replacement makes the most sense.
On-site support across Orange County · see our business networking and WiFi installation services.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my laptop WiFi slow when my phone is fast?
Different WiFi hardware and drivers. Phones often have newer WiFi chips. Updating the laptop's driver usually helps.
Can antivirus slow down WiFi?
Some security software inspects all traffic and can slow browsing. Test with it temporarily disabled to check.
Does a USB WiFi adapter help?
On older laptops, a modern USB WiFi adapter can be a cheap and effective upgrade.