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WiFi is slow on the laptop

Step 1 of 3

Move closer to the modem

Walls and distance make WiFi weaker. Sit in the same room as the modem if you can.

The simulation shows Windows in English, like most laptops.

  1. Move closer to the modem

    Walls and distance make WiFi weaker. Sit in the same room as the modem if you can.

  2. Restart the modem

    Unplug its power for 30 seconds, plug it back in, then wait 2–3 minutes until the lights settle.

  3. Pause Windows updates for a week

    Big updates can quietly use your internet. Open this menu and press Pause for 1 week.

    SettingsWindows UpdatePause for 1 week

From basic to technician

BasicThe best place for your WiFi routerBasicChoose the right WiFi: 5G or 2.4 GHz
FixWiFi is slow on the laptopYou are here
Technician fixes (advanced)

The simple steps didn’t help? A technician would try these next, in this order. Stop as soon as the problem is fixed. Commands marked “as administrator”: right-click Start › Terminal (Admin).

  1. Read the real WiFi connection

    Signal under 60% = too far or too many walls. Band 2.4 GHz = slower and crowded; choose the 5 GHz network (often named …_5G) when close to the router. Receive rate under 50 Mbps means the WiFi link itself is slow, not the internet.

    netsh wlan show interfaces | findstr /i "SSID Radio Band Channel Receive Transmit Signal"

  2. Compare with a cable or another device

    Run a speed test next to the router on a phone, then on the laptop. Both slow → the provider or the router. Only the laptop slow → its WiFi driver or settings. If possible, plug in a LAN cable: if that is fast, the WiFi is the bottleneck.

  3. Stop the adapter saving power

    Device Manager › Network adapters › the WiFi adapter › Properties › Power Management: untick “Allow the computer to turn off this device”. On the Advanced tab, set “Roaming Aggressiveness” to Lowest if the laptop keeps jumping between access points, and “Preferred Band” to 5 GHz if listed.

  4. Find background downloads

    Task Manager › Performance › Wi-Fi shows live traffic. If it is busy while you do nothing, open Resource Monitor › (resmon) › Network to see which program downloads. Limit Windows Update: Settings › Windows Update › Advanced options › Delivery Optimization › Advanced options › set a bandwidth limit.

  5. Create the WiFi report (as administrator)

    Makes a detailed report of the last 3 days of WiFi sessions, disconnections and their reasons. Open it at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WlanReport\wlan-report-latest.html. Many disconnects with “driver” reasons → update the WiFi driver from the laptop maker.

    netsh wlan show wlanreport
Coming soon

Still not fixed?

In the next update you can tell us what happened, and our AI helper will suggest another way. Until then, restart the device and go through the steps once more.