How to Remove Wi-Fi Speed ​​Limits on a Laptop: A Complete Guide

Have you noticed that your laptop's Wi-Fi internet speed is significantly slower than on other devices? Or has your connection become sluggish for no apparent reason after a Windows update? The problem may lie not with your ISP, but with software or hardware limitations in your laptop. Wi-Fi speed limitations are a common issue caused by incorrect adapter settings, outdated drivers, power saving policies, or even artificial limits imposed by the router.

In this article we will look at all possible reasons for the decrease in speed and offer proven troubleshooting methods—from basic checks to advanced settings. You'll learn how to diagnose the problem, which router settings affect throughput, and why even a new laptop can throttle speeds to 50–70 Mbps instead of the advertised 300+ Mbps. We'll pay special attention to Windows 10/11, since it is in these operating systems that software limitations are most often encountered.

Before you begin adjusting the settings, make sure the problem is truly with the laptop. To do this:

  • 📱 Check the speed on a smartphone or tablet connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If the speed is normal there, the problem is with the laptop.
  • 🖥️ Connect your laptop to the router via Ethernet cable. If the speed increases, the Wi-Fi adapter or its settings are to blame.
  • 🔄 Restart your router and laptop. Sometimes temporary glitches in network equipment can cause this effect.
📊 How long have you been experiencing Wi-Fi speed throttling?
Less than a week
1–3 months
More than six months
I don't remember, it was a long time ago

1. Checking the current speed and network diagnostics

Before you change anything, you need to understand, What speed do you actually have? and where the bottleneck is occurring. To do this, use specialized services and built-in Windows tools.

The easiest way is to test the speed on Speedtest or Fast.comRun the test on your laptop and compare the results with other devices. Please note:

  • 📊 Ping (latency). If it's higher than 50 ms, there may be a problem with your router or ISP.
  • 📥 Download/upload speedIf it's more than 30% lower than the provider's tariff, there's a limit.
  • 🔄 Connection stabilityIf the speed "jumps" during the test, interference or adapter settings are to blame.

For more in-depth diagnostics in Windows:

  1. Click Win + R, enter cmd and run the command line.
  2. Enter the command: 
    netsh wlan show interfaces

    Pay attention to the lines Reception (Mbps) And Transmission (Mbps)If the values ​​are below 150 Mbps, the adapter is operating in legacy mode (e.g. 802.11n instead of 802.11ac).

  3. Check packet loss with the command: 
    ping 8.8.8.8 -n 50

    If the loss is >5%, the problem is in the signal quality or drivers.

2. Setting up a Wi-Fi adapter in Windows: eliminating software limitations

Most often, speed is limited non-optimal network adapter settings or energy saving policies. Let's look at the key parameters to check.

First open device Manager:

  1. Click Win + X → select "Device Manager".
  2. Expand the “Network adapters” branch and find your Wi-Fi module (for example, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 or Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4).
  3. Right-click → Properties → Advanced tab.

In this menu, pay attention to the following parameters (names may differ depending on the adapter model):

Parameter Recommended value Explanation
Wireless Mode / Wireless mode 802.11a/b/g/n/ac or 802.11ax If it's worth it 802.11n, the maximum speed is limited to 150 Mbps.
Channel Width / Channel width Auto or 20/40/80 MHz Narrow width (eg. 20 MHz) reduces the speed by 2–4 times.
Roaming Aggressiveness Medium or Low A high value may cause frequent reconnections and loss of speed.
Transmit Power / Transmission power Highest or 100% Low power reduces connection stability.

Also go to the tab "Power Management"** and uncheck the item Allow the computer to turn off this device to save powerThis option often limits the adapter's speed when running on battery power.

Open Device Manager|Find your network adapter|Check Wireless Mode|Set Channel Width to 20/40/80 MHz|Disable Power Saving-->

3. Update and reinstall Wi-Fi drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are one of the main reasons artificial speed limitManufacturers regularly release updates that fix compatibility issues with new Wi-Fi standards (for example, Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E).

How to update the driver:

  1. Open device Manager → Find your Wi-Fi adapter.
  2. Right-click → “Update driver” → “Search automatically”.
  3. If Windows reports that the driver is up to date, download it manually from the website of the laptop or adapter manufacturer (for example, Intel, Qualcomm).

If the update didn't help, try complete reinstallation of the driver:

  1. Download the latest driver from the official website.
  2. In Device Manager, uninstall the current driver (right-click → “Uninstall device” → check “Delete the driver software for this device”).
  3. Restart your laptop and install the downloaded driver.
What should I do if Wi-Fi disappears after updating the driver?

If the adapter stops working after updating, roll back the driver using Device Manager (right-click → "Properties" → "Driver" tab → "Roll Back Driver"). If rolling back isn't an option, download the previous driver version from the manufacturer's website.

Critical error: Some laptops (eg. Lenovo Legion or ASUS ROG) block Wi-Fi speed at the BIOS level if a non-native driver is installed. In this case, you'll have to download the driver from the laptop manufacturer's website, not the chipset one.

4. Router settings: why it may limit speed

Even if everything is configured correctly on the laptop, The router may artificially limit the speed. for individual devices. This happens due to:

  • 🔒 Qos (Quality of Service) — traffic prioritization, which can choke the speed of a laptop in favor of other devices.
  • 📡 Suboptimal Wi-Fi channel or standard (for example, the router operates in the mode 802.11n, and the adapter supports 802.11ac).
  • 🔄 MAC address restrictions (In some routers, you can manually limit the speed for specific devices).

How to check and change router settings:

  1. Open the router's web interface by entering into your browser 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (the address is indicated on the router sticker).
  2. Log in (the default login and password are usually admin/admin).
  3. Find the section Wireless or Wi-Fi and check:
    • 📌 Network standard: must be 802.11ac or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).
    • 📌 Channel width: install 40 MHz or Auto (20/40/80 MHz).
    • 📌 Compatibility mode: turn off 802.11b, if it is enabled (this is an outdated standard that slows down the entire network).
  • Check the section QoS or Bandwidth ControlIf there are rules for your laptop (by MAC address), delete or change them.

    • Also pay attention to Wi-Fi channelIf there are many networks nearby, they create interference. Use utilities like Wi-Fi Analyzer (for Android) or inSSIDer (for Windows) to find a free channel and set it manually in the router settings.

    5. Problems with energy saving and Windows modes

    Windows 10 and 11 aggressively optimize power consumption, which often impacts Wi-Fi speed. This is especially noticeable on laptops when running on battery power. Here's what to check:

    Power supply diagram:

    1. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
    2. Select a scheme High performanceIf it is not there, create your own scheme and set the maximum performance for the parameter. Wireless Network Adapter Settings.

    Hidden power saving settings:

    1. Open Registry Editor (Win + R → regedit).
    2. Follow the path: 
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c0\12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a
    3. Change the parameter value Attributes With 1 on 2 (This will make the hidden setting visible in Control Panel).
    4. Now in Power Options → Change advanced power settings an item will appear Maximum wireless adapter performance - install it in Maximum.

    Background processes:

    Sometimes background Windows or app updates can limit speed. To check:

    1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
    2. On the tab Performance Check your network load. If it's close to 100% without any activity, updates or viruses are to blame.
    3. On the tab Autoload Disable unnecessary programs that may consume traffic.

    6. Alternative methods: if nothing helps

    If after all these manipulations the speed remains low, try the following methods:

    Reset Windows network settings:

    1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Status.
    2. Click Network reset and confirm the action.
    3. After restarting your laptop, you will have to reconnect to Wi-Fi.

    Using an external Wi-Fi adapter:

    If the built-in adapter is weak or damaged, buy an external USB adapter (for example, TP-Link Archer T4U or ASUS USB-AC68). Modern adapters support Wi-Fi 6 and provide speeds of up to 1–2 Gbit/s.

    Changing DNS:

    Sometimes slow speeds are due to your provider's slow DNS servers. Try using public DNS:

    1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
    2. Right-click on your Wi-Fi → “Properties” → “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” → “Properties”.
    3. Set the following DNS: 
      8.8.8.8

      8.8.4.4

      (this is Google's DNS) or

      1.1.1.1

      1.0.0.1

      (this is Cloudflare DNS).

      4. Virus check:

      Some viruses (such as miners or botnets) consume bandwidth in the background. Scan your system. Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.

      7. Hardware problems: when the hardware is to blame

      If software methods do not help, the reason may lie in hardware failures:

      • 🔌 Poor Wi-Fi antenna connectionIn some laptops (for example, HP Pavilion or Dell Inspiron) The antennas are connected to the adapter with thin cables that may come loose over time.
      • 🔥 Adapter overheatingIf your laptop gets too hot, the Wi-Fi module may automatically reduce power. Check the temperature using HWMonitor.
      • ⚡ Adapter malfunctionIf the laptop was dropped or exposed to moisture, the adapter may fail.

    How to diagnose hardware problems:

    1. Connect your laptop to a different router (for example, your smartphone's mobile hotspot). If the speed is normal, the problem is with your router.
    2. Try using Wi-Fi on another device (e.g., a USB adapter). If the speed increases, the built-in module is to blame.
    3. Disassemble the laptop (if you have experience) and check if the antennas are tightly connected to the Wi-Fi module.

    If the adapter is faulty, it can be replaced. Universal modules are suitable for most laptops. M.2 2230 (For example, Intel AX200 or Broadcom BCM94360). The cost of replacement is from 1,500 to 4,000 rubles at a service center.

    How can I tell if the adapter is to blame?

    If the speed via cable (Ethernet) is normal, but via Wi-Fi it is low on all routers, the problem is definitely in the adapter or its antennas.

    FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Wi-Fi Speed ​​Limiting

    Why is the Wi-Fi speed on my laptop slower than on my phone?

    This may be due to:

    • Outdated drivers for the Wi-Fi adapter on the laptop.
    • Windows power saving settings (the adapter operates in low power mode).
    • The fact that the phone supports a more modern Wi-Fi standard (for example, Wi-Fi 6), but the laptop does not.

    First, update your drivers and disable power saving for your adapter. If that doesn't help, check your router settings.

    Can antivirus software limit Wi-Fi speed?

    Yes, some antiviruses (for example, Kaspersky or Avast) scan network traffic in real time, which can reduce speed. Try temporarily disabling network protection in your antivirus settings and re-measure your speed. If it improves, add an exception for trusted applications or disable traffic scanning.

    How do I know which Wi-Fi standard my laptop supports?

    There are several ways:

    1. Check your Wi-Fi adapter model Device Manager and find its specifications on the Internet.
    2. At the command prompt, enter: 
      netsh wlan show drivers

      In the line Radio type The supported standard will be indicated (for example, 802.11ac).

    3. If the adapter supports 802.11ax - This Wi-Fi 6, If 802.11ac — Wi-Fi 5.
    Will replacing the router help increase speed?

    Yes, if your current router:

    • Supports legacy standard (e.g. only 802.11n).
    • Can't work on frequency 5 GHz (and does your laptop support 5 GHz).
    • It has a weak processor and cannot handle the load (relevant for budget models).

    For full functionality Wi-Fi 6 I need a router with support 802.11ax (For example, ASUS RT-AX88U or TP-Link Archer AX6000).

    Why does the speed drop when charging my laptop?

    This is related to power saving settings. When the laptop is connected to a network, Windows may automatically limit the performance of the Wi-Fi adapter to reduce heat. To fix this:

    1. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
    2. Select a scheme High performance.
    3. Click Change plan settings → Change advanced settings.
    4. Find the item Wireless Network Adapter Settings → Power Saving Mode and install Maximum performance.

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