You are sitting with a laptop two meters from the router, and the pages load like... modem 90s, video on YouTube Is it constantly “buffering” and online games are lagging? The problem of slow Wi-Fi on a laptop is familiar to many - and the provider is not always to blame. Most often, the speed drops due to incorrect settings of the device itself, outdated equipment or interference on the air.

In this article we will look at all possible ways to speed up Wi-Fi on a laptop, from basic (rebooting the router) to advanced (setting up QoS and change channel 5 GHz). It doesn't matter if you ASUS, Lenovo, HP or MacBook - solutions are universal. And if you rent a home and cannot change the router, you will find methods here that work even without access to network settings.

1. Check the real Internet speed

Before you configure anything, make sure that the problem is Wi-Fi connection, and not from the provider. To do this:

  1. Connect your laptop to your router via cable (if possible) and take a speed test on Speedtest.net or Fast.com.
  2. Compare the results with your Internet provider's tariff. For example, if you have a tariff 100 Mbit/s, and the test shows 85–95 Mbit/s - this is normal (losses on the cable and equipment). If 20–30 Mbit/s - call support.

If the cable speed is normal, but Wi-Fi speed is not, the problem is in the wireless network. If the indicators are low there, the provider or the cable from it to your apartment is to blame.

📊 What is your maximum internet speed according to your tariff?
  • Up to 30 Mbit/s
  • 30–100 Mbit/s
  • 100–300 Mbit/s
  • More than 300 Mbit/s
  • I don't know

2. Optimize your router location

Even the most expensive router TP-Link Archer AX6000 or ASUS RT-AX88U will slow down if placed in the wrong place. Here are the key rules:

  • 📡 Height: Place the router at a height 1–1.5 meters from the floor (for example, on a shelf or wall). The Wi-Fi signal travels down and to the sides, not up.
  • 🚫 Obstacles: Move the router away from metal objects, mirrors, aquariums and household appliances (microwaves, refrigerators). They create interference.
  • 🏠 Center of the apartment: If possible, place the router closer to the center of your home, rather than in a corner near the front door.
  • 📶 Antennas: Direct them vertically (if the laptop and router are on the same floor) or at an angle 45° (if on different ones).

If you have a large apartment or house, consider purchasing Mesh systems (For example, Google Nest WiFi or TP-Link Deco) or repeater (signal amplifier). But remember: the repeater reduces the speed by 30–50% due to signal retransmission.

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If you have a dual-band router, try connecting to the network 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz. It is less loaded and faster, but passes through walls worse.

3. Change the Wi-Fi channel in the router settings

If you have many neighbors with routers in your home, their networks may overlap, creating interference. The solution is to change Wi-Fi channel manually.

How to do it:

  1. Open your router's control panel. Usually the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (indicated on the sticker on the bottom of the device). Default login/password - admin/admin.
  2. Go to section Wireless (or Wireless network) → Channel (Channel).
  3. For 2.4 GHz select channels 1, 6 or 11 - they do not intersect. For 5 GHz use channels 36–48 or 149–165 (depending on the country).
  4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

To find out which channels are busy, use the following utilities:

  • 🖥️ Windows: NetSpot or WiFi Analyzer (from Microsoft Store).
  • 🍎 macOS: Wireless Diagnostics (built-in utility, launched via Option + click on the Wi-Fi icon).
How to enable 5 GHz on a router if it is not in the list?

If there is no option in the router settings 5 GHz, then your model does not support this range. Check the specifications on the manufacturer's website. An alternative is to buy a dual-band router (for example, Xiaomi Mi Router 4A Gigabit for ~2000 ₽).

4. Update the Wi-Fi adapter drivers on your laptop

Outdated or faulty drivers are one of the main reasons for slow Wi-Fi. Especially relevant for laptops with adapters Intel, Qualcomm Atheros or Broadcom.

How to update the driver:

  • 🔧 Automatically: Go to Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager), find Network adapters, right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Update driver.
  • 🌐 Manually: Download the latest driver from the laptop manufacturer's website (for example, Lenovo or HP) or adapter (for example, Intel).
  • 🔄 Reinstall: If the update does not help, remove the driver via Device Manager and restart your laptop - Windows will install it again.

For macOS Drivers are updated via Software update (System Settings → General → Software Update).

Find out the adapter model in Device Manager|

Download the driver from the official website|

Remove old driver (if there are problems)|

Reboot the laptop after installation-->

5. Configure the power settings of the Wi-Fi adapter

Windows By default, it limits the power consumption of the Wi-Fi adapter to save battery power. This may reduce speed.

How to disable energy saving:

  1. Open Device Manager (Win + X).
  2. Expand Network adapters, find your Wi-Fi adapter (for example, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200) and right-click on it → Properties.
  3. Go to the tab Power management And uncheck with Allow this device to turn off to save power.
  4. On the tab Additionally find the parameter Roaming Aggressiveness (Roaming Aggressiveness) and set the value 1. Lowest (Minimum).

For macOS There are no similar settings, but you can reset the network settings:

sudo ifconfig en0 down

sudo ifconfig en0 up

(replace en0 to your interface, you can find it through networksetup -listallhardwareports).

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Disabling power saving for a Wi-Fi adapter can increase speeds by 10–30%, but will reduce battery life by 5–15%.

6. Use QoS (Quality of Service) to prioritize traffic

QoS (Quality of Service) allows the router to allocate bandwidth among devices and types of traffic. For example, you can give priority to your laptop over your smartphone, or online games over downloads.

How to configure QoS:

  1. Go to your router control panel (usually 192.168.0.1).
  2. Find a section QoS (or Traffic priority, Bandwidth Control).
  3. Enable QoS and select a mode:
    • By MAC address: Specify the MAC of your laptop (you can find it through ipconfig /all in Command line).
    • By traffic type: Prioritize Games, Video or Voice calls.
  • Set restrictions for other devices (for example, 5 Mbit/s for smartphones).

    • Example settings for a router TP-Link:

    Parameter Meaning Explanation
    QoS Status Enabled Enables the function
    Uplink 90% of internet speed Maximum outgoing speed
    Downlink 90% of internet speed Maximum incoming speed
    Priority Rule MAC Address: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX (laptop) Priority for your device
    💡

    If you have a router from your provider (for example, Rostelecom or MTS), the QoS function may be disabled. In this case, only buying your own router will help.

    7. Check your laptop for viruses and background programs

    Malware and heavy applications can absorb traffic, leaving you crumbs. For example, torrent clients, cloud synchronizers (Google Drive, Dropbox) or mining bots.

    What to do:

    • 🛡️ Conduct a full antivirus scan (Kaspersky, ESET NOD32 or built-in Windows Defender).
    • 📊 Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and sort the processes by column Network. Close programs that actively use the Internet.
    • 🔍 Check startup: Win + R → msconfig → Startup (or via Task Manager). Disable unnecessary programs.

    On macOS use System monitoring (Programs → Utilities) to search for "gluttonous" processes.

    How to find out who else is connected to your Wi-Fi?

    Open the router panel and find the section DHCP Clients List or Connected Devices. There will be MAC addresses and IPs of all connected devices. Unfamiliar devices can be blocked via MAC Filtering.

    8. Advanced methods: changing DNS, MTU and router firmware

    If none of the above helps, try these methods:

    • 🔄 Change DNS: By default, the provider's DNS is used, which can be slow. Try it 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google). How to change: 
      Панель управления → Сеть и Интернет → Центр управления сетями → Изменение параметров адаптера → Свойства → IPv4 → Использовать следующие адреса DNS-серверов
    • 📏 Configure MTU: If data packets become fragmented, speeds drop. Optimal value MTU for Wi-Fi - 1472. You can change it via Command line: 
      netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface "Имя_подключения" mtu=1472 store=persistent

      (find out the connection name: ipconfig).

    • 🔧 Update the router firmware: Go to the router control panel and check the section Firmware Update. Download the latest firmware from the manufacturer's website and update.

    For advanced users: if your router supports alternative firmware (DD-WRT, OpenWRT), installing them can significantly improve performance. But this is risky - if there is an error, the router will turn into a “brick”.

    💡

    Changing your DNS to Cloudflare or Google can speed up website loading by 10-50%, especially if the provider uses slow servers.

    ⚠️ Attention: Do not change the router firmware if you are not sure of your actions. Incorrect firmware can damage the device. Always make a backup of your current settings before updating.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about slow Wi-Fi on a laptop

    Why is Wi-Fi on a laptop slower than on a phone?

    This may be due to:

    • An outdated Wi-Fi adapter in a laptop (for example, 802.11n vs 802.11ac on the phone).
    • Drivers - on the phone they are updated automatically, but on the laptop they are not.
    • Energy saving settings (see section 5).

    Solution: Update your drivers, disable power saving for the adapter, and check the supported Wi-Fi standards in the laptop specifications.

    How can I find out which Wi-Fi standard my laptop supports?

    For Windows:

    1. Open Command line (Win + R → cmd).
    2. Enter: netsh wlan show drivers.
    3. Find the line Radio types — supported standards will be indicated there (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax).

    For macOS:

    1. Hold Option and click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
    2. In the section PHY Mode the standard will be specified (for example, 802.11ac).
    Does rebooting the router help? If yes, how often should this be done?

    Yes, rebooting the router helps 70% of cases temporary slowdowns. It clears the cache, resets connections and eliminates overheating.

    How often to reboot:

    • If the router works stably - once every 1–2 weeks.
    • If the Internet freezes every day - once every 24 hours (the router may be outdated or overheating).
    • After updating the firmware or changing settings - necessarily.

    Automation can be configured scheduled reboots in the router control panel (section System Tools → Reboot).

    Is it possible to speed up Wi-Fi using a USB adapter?

    Yes, if the built-in adapter in the laptop is outdated (for example, it only supports 802.11n). Modern USB adapters (for example, TP-Link Archer T4U or ASUS USB-AC68) support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and give a speed increase of up to 2–3 times.

    What to consider when choosing:

    • Standard: minimum 802.11ac (better ax).
    • Frequencies: support 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz.
    • USB port: required for full speed USB 3.0 (blue connector).

    Disadvantage: The USB adapter will occupy the port and may interfere (especially on ultrabooks).

    Why does Wi-Fi speed drop in the evening?

    In the evening the Internet slows down due to:

    • Provider network overload — all neighbors watch videos and play online at the same time.
    • Interference from other routers - channels in apartment buildings 2.4 GHz overloaded.
    • Provider restrictions — some tariffs have “peak” speed limits during peak hours.

    Solutions:

    • Switch to 5 GHz (if the router supports it).
    • Use QoS to prioritize your traffic.
    • Call your provider and ask if there are any tariff restrictions.