Your phone gets 200 Mbps but your Windows laptop struggles to reach 50 Mbps on the same Wi-Fi network. Here's how to fix slow laptop Wi-Fi speeds.

Why Is Your Laptop's Wi-Fi So Much Slower?

You run a speed test on your phone and get impressive speeds - maybe 200 or 300 Mbps. Then you test on your Windows laptop sitting right next to it, and you're lucky to get 50 Mbps. Both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, but the laptop is dramatically slower.

This frustrating disparity usually comes down to a few key factors: outdated Wi-Fi hardware in older laptops, driver issues, incorrect adapter settings, or Windows configurations that limit performance. The good news is that most of these issues can be fixed without buying new hardware.

Quick Fix: Check Your Wi-Fi Band and Adapter Mode

Make sure your laptop is using the fastest connection method available:

Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager)
Expand "Network adapters"
Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select "Properties"
Go to the "Advanced" tab
Look for settings named "802.11n/ac/ax Mode" or "Wireless Mode"
Change from "Auto" to the highest mode available (802.11ax, 802.11ac, or 802.11n)
Find "Channel Width" and set it to "Auto" or "80 MHz" or "160 MHz" if available
Click OK
Reconnect to your Wi-Fi and test speed again

Also verify you're connected to the 5 GHz network (faster) rather than 2.4 GHz (slower but longer range).

🔧Detailed Step-by-Step Solutions

Solution 1: Update Your Wi-Fi Adapter Drivers

Outdated drivers are the #1 cause of slow laptop Wi-Fi speeds:

Identify your Wi-Fi adapter:
- Open Device Manager
- Expand "Network adapters"
- Note the name of your Wi-Fi adapter (Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm, etc.)
Download the latest driver:
- Visit your laptop manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.)
- Find your specific model's support page
- Download the latest Wi-Fi driver
- OR visit the chip manufacturer's website (Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm)
Uninstall current driver:
- In Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter
- Select "Uninstall device"
- Check "Delete the driver software for this device"
- Click Uninstall
Restart your computer
Install the new driver you downloaded
Restart again and test your speed

Solution 2: Disable Power Saving for Wi-Fi Adapter

Windows aggressively saves power on laptops, which can throttle Wi-Fi performance:

Open Device Manager
Expand "Network adapters"
Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select "Properties"
Go to the "Power Management" tab
Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
Click OK

Also adjust power plan settings:

Go to Settings > System > Power & battery
Click on "Power mode" and select "Best performance"
OR go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings
Expand "Wireless Adapter Settings" > "Power Saving Mode"
Set both "On battery" and "Plugged in" to "Maximum Performance"
Click Apply and OK

Solution 3: Change DNS Servers to Faster Options

Slow DNS resolution can make browsing feel sluggish even with good bandwidth:

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi
Click on your connected network
Scroll down and click "Edit" next to "DNS server assignment"
Change to "Manual"
Turn on IPv4
Enter Cloudflare's fast DNS (generally faster than Google):
Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1
OR use Google DNS:
Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4
Click Save

Solution 4: Optimize Router Settings for Your Laptop

Your router might be configured for compatibility rather than speed:

Access your router's settings (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser)
Find Wi-Fi or Wireless settings
Make these changes for the 5 GHz network:
- Channel Width: Set to 80 MHz or 160 MHz
- Channel: Try channels 36, 40, 44, or 48 (less congestion)
- Mode: Set to 802.11ac or 802.11ax only (not mixed mode)
- Security: Use WPA3 or WPA2 (not WPA/WPA2 mixed)
Save settings and restart your router
Reconnect your laptop and test speed

Solution 5: Check for Background Processes Hogging Bandwidth

Windows update downloads and other background tasks can consume bandwidth:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
Click the "Performance" tab
Select "Wi-Fi" in the left sidebar
Watch the network usage while the speed is slow
Click the "Processes" tab and sort by "Network" column
Identify any programs using significant bandwidth
Close unnecessary programs or pause Windows updates

Also disable bandwidth-heavy Windows features:

Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options
Turn off "Delivery Optimization" to stop sharing updates with other PCs
In Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback
Set "Diagnostic data" to "Required diagnostic data" only

If That Didn't Work

Try these additional solutions:

Disable Bluetooth: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can interfere with each other - try turning off Bluetooth temporarily
Move Closer to Router: Even slight distance differences can affect laptop Wi-Fi more than phones due to antenna placement
Check Adapter Capabilities: Your laptop might have older Wi-Fi hardware (802.11n) while your phone has newer tech (802.11ax/Wi-Fi 6) - in this case, a USB Wi-Fi adapter with Wi-Fi 6 support can help
Scan for Interference: Metal desk surfaces, USB 3.0 devices, and other electronics can interfere with Wi-Fi - try different physical positions
Reset Network Settings: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset

📞When to Call a Professional

Sometimes slow laptop Wi-Fi requires expert diagnosis:

You've tried all solutions and speeds remain drastically slower than other devices
Your laptop's Wi-Fi adapter is very old (802.11n or older) and needs hardware upgrade recommendations
You suspect hardware failure or loose antenna connections inside the laptop
You need help setting up optimal router configuration for your specific environment
You want to upgrade to a USB Wi-Fi 6 adapter and need help choosing and configuring it

A professional can diagnose whether your issue is hardware limitations, configuration problems, or environmental factors, and recommend the most cost-effective solution.

Slow Internet Driving You Crazy?

Whether your laptop needs driver updates, router optimization, or hardware upgrades, we can diagnose the bottleneck and get you the speeds you're paying for. Don't settle for slow Wi-Fi.

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How to Fix Wi-Fi Speed Much Lower on Laptop Than Phone