How to Increase Windows 11 Internet Speed – Guide
Slow internet speed can be something that no one would ever want to face on their PC. However, there may be cases where you may suffer from slow internet speed issues on Windows 11 due to which you will not be able to do your work. But what if I told you that there are some tricks to increase internet speed in Windows 11.
How to Increase Windows 11 Internet Speed
Limit bandwidth for settings updates
While Windows monitors your device’s bandwidth usage and properly optimizes Windows update sharing, you can also manually set a lower bandwidth for uploads and downloads if you are experiencing slow internet. You can also disable sending updates to other devices to further increase internet speed. To limit bandwidth, right-click the ‘Start’ icon on the taskbar or press Windows + X to launch the Quick Access menu. Then select Settings from the list of options. Alternatively, you can press WINDOWS + I to launch the Settings app. Select the ‘Windows Update’ tab on the left of the ‘Settings’ page. Then choose ‘Advanced Options’ on the right. Locate and click on ‘Delivery Optimization’ under ‘Additional Options’. If you don’t want to share Windows updates with other PCs, disable the toggle for ‘Allow downloads from other PCs’ by clicking the toggle for ‘OFF’. Then select ‘Advanced Options’ to limit the bandwidth for downloading and uploading. You will find two options for configuring bandwidth under Download Settings. The first option is Absolute Bandwidth, where you can enter the absolute value to use for downloading background and foreground updates. Enter the relevant bandwidth threshold in both text fields. The next option under Download Settings is to set the bandwidth consumption by the percentage of the update source. Select ‘Percentage of measured bandwidth (measured against update source)’, select the checkboxes for both options and drag the slider to set the desired value for both. Then upload settings. As in the previous case, there are two sliders to limit the bandwidth for uploading updates to other PCs and the monthly update limit. Check the checkboxes for both and drag the slider to set the desired value. This should increase internet speed for normal use.
Close background programs that consume a lot of data
Certain apps run in the background and consume a certain percentage of bandwidth, thus slowing down the internet speed. As these apps are not in active use, it can be difficult to pinpoint this cause of slow internet. In addition to slowing down the internet, these apps also slow down the system, which makes it even more necessary to shut them down. See How to fix this. First, right-click the ‘Start’ icon on the Windows taskbar or press WINDOWS + X to launch the Quick Access/Power User menu. Then select ‘Task Manager’ from the list of options. Alternatively, you can hold CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to launch Task Manager. Navigate to the ‘Performance’ tab and click ‘Open Resource Monitor’ at the bottom of the Task Manager. This will open the Resource Monitor window. Navigate to the ‘Network’ tab and look for programs with higher values in the ‘Send’ and ‘Receive’ columns. These programs affect internet speed by taking up most of the bandwidth. Right-click on the task you want to end and select ‘End Process’ from the context menu. Do not terminate all processes on the list. Some are critical to how Windows works and you may be working on some of the processes like Google Chrome. If you are actively using the process, there is a possibility that it is consuming maximum bandwidth. Therefore, it is essential to make an informed decision when terminating processes in Task Manager.
Disable background apps from running
Many apps run in the background and perform tasks that aren’t exactly relevant to the job at hand. These applications consume not only bandwidth, but also up system resources. While there’s no harm in allowing them to run in the background, it would be wise to disable them if they’re causing problems. Also, you can always run them manually upon request. While you can disable all background apps from running in Windows 10 once and for all, Windows 11 doesn’t offer the same functionality. Here, you will need to disable them individually. Here’s how you do it. Launch the ‘Settings’ app as discussed earlier. Navigate to the “Applications” tab on the left and select “Applications and features’ on the right. Find the app you don’t want to run in the background. Click on the ellipsis on the side and select ‘Advanced Options’ from the menu. Then click on the dropdown menu below “Allow this app to run in the background”. Select ‘Never’ from the drop-down menu to disable the app from running in the background. You can also disable other apps. But you can first analyze the apps that are important for your work and keep them enabled (if necessary).
Scan your PC for viruses and malware
A PC infected with malware or viruses is likely to have problems with internet speed. Fixing this is relatively simpler than the other methods in this guide. All you need to do is scan your PC for viruses and malware using a reliable antivirus. We recommend using Windows Security; an antivirus built into Windows that offers the same level of security as any other third-party antivirus. To scan your PC for viruses and malware, press WINDOWS + S to launch the ‘Scan’ menu. Type ‘Windows Security’ in the text field at the top and click on the relevant search result to launch the application. Select the ‘Virus and Threat Protection’ application in Windows Security. you will find the button to run a ‘Quick Scan’. But, we intend to run a full system scan. Therefore, to view and choose from other types of scans, click on ‘Scan Options’. Then select the ‘Full Scan’ option and click ‘Scan Now’ at the bottom to start the scan. Ideally, the scan should start immediately, with your progress displayed on the screen. You can continue working on the system while the scan runs in the background. Once completed, you will receive a notification of any malware or viruses detected, along with appropriate actions to combat it. Check if malware/virus detection and removal improves internet speed. If it doesn’t, go to the next fix.
Change DNS server
DNS server, made simple words, contains the website names along with the corresponding IP addresses. When you type the hostname or website name, say allthings.how, the DNS server finds the respective IP address and loads the website. DNS server selection is by default set to automatic, which can cause a slow internet connection. In this case, it is recommended to switch to an open source DNS server. Here’s how you do it. Press WINDOWS + R to launch the ‘Run’ command. Type ‘ncpa.cpl’ in the text field and click ‘OK’ at the bottom or press ENTER to open the ‘Network Connections’ window. If you are connected to a wireless network, right-click on the ‘Wi-Fi’ network adapter. If it’s a wired connection, choose ‘Ethernet’. Then select ‘Properties’ from the context menu. Then find and select ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)’. Then click on ‘Properties’. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” in the “TCP/IP Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Protocol Properties” dialog box and enter the following in the fields below (the server addresses we are changing to are the DNS server Google public). Then click ‘OK’ at the bottom to save the changes. Now restart your computer and check if your internet speed increases.
Disable metered connections
Having a ‘Measured Connections’ setting on your Windows 11 PC could be another reason for slow internet. While recommended for limited data availability, it should ideally be disabled for unlimited plans. First, launch the ‘Settings’ app as discussed earlier to disable metered connections. Then select the ‘Network & Internet’ tab on the left and click ‘Wi-Fi’ or ‘Ethernet’ (depending on your connection) on the right. Now, select your network connection. Then turn off the toggle for ‘Measured connection’. Check for an increase in internet speed after disabling metered connection. If not, go to the next fix.
Disable Windows Defender Firewall
Windows Defender Firewall protects your computer from attacks by restricting access to certain programs and other computers on the network. But it is also notorious for another reason – slow internet connection. We do not recommend disabling the firewall unless you are experiencing major issues with your internet speed. To disable Windows Defender Firewall, press WINDOWS + S to launch the ‘Search’ menu. Then type ‘Windows Defender Firewall’ in the text field at the top and click on the relevant search result to launch it. Then select ‘Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off’ from the list of options on the left. Now select ‘Turn off Windows Defender Firewall’ for both the private and public network settings (although it is not recommended). Then click ‘OK’ at the bottom to save the changes. After disabling Windows Defender Firewall, check for an increase in internet speed. If not, we recommend activating it immediately.
Use a different web browser
While you are busy reconfiguring the settings, the problem could be with the web browser itself. In this case, it is recommended to switch to a better option. You can use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera or Mozilla Firefox for better internet connectivity and faster speed.
Upgrade your internet plan
If nothing works, you are left with the “last resort” – upgrading your internet plan. Your ISP may offer other plans with higher speeds. Identify the internet plan that best fits your needs and upgrade. While this option is not that cost-effective, it will help with a stable high-speed internet connection. Thus, increasing productivity and saving time while working. These are the best fixes to increase internet speed in Windows 11. However, there are others tricks that would work for different users. But generally not for all users. In case you find other fixes and solutions to slow down internet speed, feel free to try them only after checking and confirming that your PC is out of harm’s way.
Final note
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