Operating System

Boost Your Laptop’s Wi-Fi Speed in Windows 10: 5 Simple Steps

Internet access may not yet be a basic human right, but it appears to be a necessary commodity, as every part of the world is virtually connected to the rest through this complex web. However, the speed at which people can surf varies from region to region. In the era of 5G networks, users no longer think about the speed of web browsing.

Internet speed can only be studied when a YouTube video starts buffering or when a website takes more than two seconds to load. Technically, internet speed refers to the rate at which data or content is transferred to and from the World Wide Web on your device, be it a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Internet speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps), which is calculated as the number of bytes per second of data that moves from the user’s device to the Internet, the upload speed, and the download speed from the Internet to the device.

In most cases, you can’t change the speed you get, but you can certainly tweak your computer to optimize the available rate. So, how to increase internet speed in Windows? Well, there are a few additional ways to maximize it, most of which revolve around changing your system configuration. Hence, we have brought you a complete guide on how to increase Wi-Fi internet speed in laptops Windows 10.

How to increase upload and download speed in Windows 10?! Your internet connection is not always condemned for low download and upload speeds. Sometimes, your computer limits your speed for various reasons. Fortunately, you can change these throttling options and increase internet speed on your Windows computer. You can alter all these options yourself without any help from your Internet Service Providers (ISP). So, without further ado, stay with DJ.

Since the Internet is a complex system, there are at least a dozen reasons for it to go down. Internet connection speed depends on various factors that have a great impact on its performance, such as:

  • Technology Transfer.
  • The number of people sharing a given network connection.
  • Your geographic location.
  • Device configuration problems.

1.Modify your internet plan

In most cases, it is not your computer that slows down the internet but your service provider and data plan.

Most internet plans have an upper and lower limit between which your average bandwidth falls.

If the Internet speed limit provided by your plan is lower than expected, it should be:

  • Consider choosing a better internet plan.
  • Change your internet service provider.

2. Protect Your Wi-Fi Connection

If your Wi-Fi password is not strong and you have not secured it, external devices may unintentionally connect to your Wi-Fi and use it.

This will cause your bandwidth consumption to increase and your internet speed to decrease.

The easiest solution to this problem is to secure your Wi-Fi connection with a strong password.

3. Delete Temporary Files

Temporary files are designed to smooth out your digital experience, but once they accumulate, they can just as readily slow down your computer. So, getting rid of these files is a quick and easy solution to increase internet speed and even improve the overall performance of Windows 10 PCs.

1.Launch Run dialog box by clicking Windows + R keys together.

2.Type %temp% and select Enter. This command will lead you to the folder location where all your Local App Data temporary files are stored i.e. C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp.

Increase Wi-Fi Speed in Laptop Windows 10

3.Click Ctrl + A keys together to click all the temporary files.

Increase Wi-Fi Speed in Laptop Windows 10

4.Select Shift + Del keys together. Then, select Yes in confirmation prompt to permanently delete these files.

Increase Wi-Fi Speed in Laptop Windows 10

5.Now, In the Run dialog box, type Temp and select OK, as shown. You will be taken to C:\Windows\Temp folder.

Delete Temporary Files

6. Again, repeat steps 3-4 to delete all system backup files stored here.

After doing the above steps, check your internet speed to see if it has an effect on the internet speed or not.

4. Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

Most programs require the internet to download, upload and sync files. A few specific applications are notorious for consuming excessive amounts of data in the background, leaving nothing to spare. By watching these apps and by reducing the background data consumption, you can improve the overall internet speed. To find and close these data-hogging applications, follow the steps mentioned below.

1.Click on Windows + I keys together to open Settings and select Network & Internet, as shown.

Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

2.Select Data usage from the left pane and click on your Wi-Fi network, like the figure below

Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

3.Finally, you can see a list of all the apps and Data usage listed next to each one.

Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

4.Make a note of apps that regularly consume an alarming amount of data.

5.In the Settings window, hit Privacy as shown.

Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

6.Scroll down and click on background apps from the left.

Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

7.As you can see, turn off the option to allow programs to run in the background.

Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

8.Alternately, click on individual apps and stop them from running in the background by toggling individual switches off.

Close Bandwidth Consuming Background Apps

5. Re-Enable Network Connection

When your internet isn’t working or isn’t working appropriately, re-enable your network connection because it resets the network connection without restarting your computer. Here’s how to increase Wi-Fi internet speed in Windows 10 by re-enabling the network connection:

1.Click on Windows key, type Control Panel and hit Open, as shown.

Re-Enable Network Connection

2.Set View by > Category and press Network and Internet, as depicted.

Re-Enable Network Connection

3.Select the Network and Sharing Center option.

Re-Enable Network Connection

4.Here, click on Change Adapter Settings from the left bar.

Re-Enable Network Connection

5.Right-hit Wi-Fi option and click on Disable, as highlighted below.

Re-Enable Network Connection

6.Wait for the icon to turn Grey. Then, right-press Wi-Fi again and click on Enable this time.

Re-Enable Network Connection

6.Clear Browser Cache or Use Different Browser

If your internet speed is good, but your web browser is slow, changing your web browser can solve your problem. You can use browsers that are faster. Google Chrome is the fastest and most popular web browser, but it uses a lot of memory. So you can go to Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox to browse the Internet.

Additionally, you can clear your web browser’s cache and cookies.

7.Remove Data Limit

Data limit is a feature that allows you to set a limit for your internet data consumption. If you have this feature enabled, it may slow down your internet speed after exceeding a predefined limit. So, disabling it will increase the upload and download speed. Here’s how to increase Wi-Fi internet speed by removing the data limit in Windows 10.

1.Open the Settings > Network and Security > Data Usage as instructed in Method 4.

2.Under Data limit section, hit Remove limit button.

Remove Data Limit

3.Select Remove in the confirmation prompt too.

Remove Data Limit

4.Select Status in the left pane & hit Change connection properties in the right pane, as highlighted below.

Remove Data Limit

5.Scroll down and toggle Off the option marked Set as metered connection.

Remove Data Limit

After disabling this feature, your network connection will no longer be restricted.

8.Change Bandwidth Limit for Windows Update

Windows 10 allows you to set a limit on the bandwidth used for updates. This restriction applies to both program updates and Windows operating systems. When you reach the limit, your internet connection may fail. So, check the current bandwidth limit if any, and change it if needed as below.

1.Hit Windows + I keys together to go to Settings window and click on Update & Security.

Change Bandwidth Limit for Windows Update

2.Select Delivery Optimization and click on Advanced options as shown.

Change Bandwidth Limit for Windows Update

3.In the Advanced options window, choose to

  • Set the total bandwidth or percentage of bandwidth measured under download settings.
  • Set monthly upload limit and bandwidth usage limit under the upload settings section.
Change Bandwidth Limit for Windows Update

After changing the limits, test your internet speed and look for changes.

9.Pause Windows Updates

Random and automatic OS updates are hated by all Windows users. Pausing these updates may seem difficult at first, but every time Microsoft releases a new update, they download directly in the background. The download process consumes an alarming amount of data, which can slow down your internet speed. Fortunately, you can readily stop these updates and increase your Wi-Fi internet speed in a few easy steps:

1.Open the Settings > Update & Security, as earlier.

2.Select Advanced Options.

Pause Windows Updates

3.Finally, in Pause updates section, select any suitable day in the click on date dropdown list.

Pause Windows Updates

Note: that you can schedule updates from a minimum of 1 day to a maximum of 35 days.

Note: You can extend this setting by following this procedure again.

This will stop the Windows update and increase your internet speed for a limited time.

10. Disable Windows Update Service (Not recommended)

Although we don’t recommend disabling the Windows Update service, as it’s always a good idea to keep your system up-to-date, it might speed up your internet right now.

Note: Make sure to turn it back on after you’re done.

1.Click on Windows key, type Services and select Open.

 Disable Windows Update Service

2.Right-click on Windows Update and click on Properties.

 Disable Windows Update Service

3.In the General tab, change the Startup type to Disabled and select Stop button shown highlighted.

 Disable Windows Update Service

4.Select Apply > OK to save these changes.

Note: To restart, go to the Windows Update properties window, set the activation type as startup, and click on the Start button.

Conclusion

We hope this guide was useful and you were able to learn how to increase Wi-Fi internet speed.

Having high-speed internet allows you to easily download your files within seconds without wasting time and also enjoy uninterrupted video calls.

In this article, we have tried to explain all the things that slow down the Wi-Fi internet connection in Windows 10 and also give their steps to increase the speed of the Internet so that you can increase the speed of your Wi-Fi.

What other things do you know to increase Wi-Fi speed?

Sarah Kmz

Sara is a talented author and technology enthusiast with a passion for writing about Windows tips and tricks. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and has always had a love for all things related to technology. After completing her degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington, Sara began working as a software developer. She quickly discovered that she had a talent for writing and decided to combine her two passions by starting a blog about Windows tips and tricks. Sara's blog quickly gained popularity and she became known for her clear and concise writing style, as well as her ability to explain complex technical concepts in a way that was easy for anyone to understand. Her blog has become a go-to resource for Windows users looking to optimize their experience and make the most out of their technology. In addition to her work on her blog, Sara is also a prolific writer of technical articles for a number of different publications. Her writing has been featured in numerous technology blogs and websites, and she is widely respected in the industry for her expertise in the field. When she's not writing or working on her blog, Sara enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is also an avid traveler and is always looking for new places to explore and new experiences to have. Overall, Sara is a talented writer and technology expert who is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with others. Her passion for both technology and writing has made her a respected figure in the industry, and she continues to inspire and educate others through her work on her blog and beyond.

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