Top 10 Ways to Improve Internet Speed on Windows
After the recent updates of windows’ OS, there are a lot of complaints seen regarding internet speed from many users. Many factors affect the speed that users do not know about, and they often blame their ISPs for slow speeds. However, they can try troubleshooting and discover the exact problem.
Below are the ten best ways to increase your internet speed on your Windows operating system.
#1 Disabling Updates
Yes, Updates are one of the most disturbing factors regarding internet speed. In the latest versions of Windows, Microsoft has made the update process almost entirely in the background. Because of that, what happens is, much of the data gets used up there, and the day-to-day tasks that involve the internet become slow.
You can easily disable updates and regain back your speed with straightforward steps. All you need to do is go to the control panel from the start menu, then to the “administrative tools” and “services.” Once in the services menu, jump to the “windows update” option, right-click, and go to “properties.” Then, DISABLE it from the “startup type” dropbox.
Outline:
Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services > Windows Update > Right click on it > Properties > Disable Startup type
That is all about it. Whenever you want to re-enable the updates, repeat the whole method, and select automatic or manual, whichever you want.
Note:- It is not an excellent approach to keep the updates disabled for a long time, as regular updating makes the system safe and bug-free. In short, this method is beneficial, but when you don’t need to surf the internet or download stuff, make sure you have enabled the updates.
#2 Turning OFF seeding
One of the most disturbing aspects of using Windows 10 is that it sends your data to random people. Yes, it is accurate, and it adversely affects your internet speed to a great extent. It uses the seeding method and sends “parts of previously downloaded Windows updates and apps” to unknown users. Also, it does so without taking any prior permission from its user. Thus, users remain unaware of this most of the time.
However, there is a simple and easy way to stop this. All you need to do is jump to the “update and security” section in the settings menu. Go to the “Windows update” section and then to “Advanced options.” You have to select the “Choose how updates are delivered” option and switch off the toggle under “Updates from more than one place.”
This is the most useful and safest way to increase your internet speed.
Outline:
Start > Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are delivered > turn OFF the toggle switch
#3 Stopping the background apps
Several apps in Windows keep running silently in the background without giving a single clue to the user. These apps use large amounts of data, and because of that, they slow down other internet processes.
A variety of applications run in the background, like torrent applications, antivirus applications, cloud-sharing applications, and many more. These apps mainly resume incomplete downloads or updates, and because of that, most of the data gets used up there without the user being aware of it.
A few simple and easy steps can solve this. You need to take the help of the Task manager option by merely right-clicking the taskbar. After you are in the Task manager’s menu, click on the performance tab. In that, click on “Open Resource Manager.” After you are in the Open Resource Monitor menu, click on the “Network” tab, and see the apps with higher “send” and “receive” numbers.
After seeing that, you will know which apps use more data in the background. To disable them, again jump to the settings menu to privacy and then to the “Background Apps” section. There you will see several apps which you can turn ON or OFF.
Outline: (To check the data usage of apps)
Right-click taskbar > Task Manager > Performance > Open Resource Monitor > Network > Check the apps having the highest “send” and “receive” bits/second.
(To disable the desired apps)
Start > Settings > Privacy > Background apps > Turn OFF the apps with the highest send and receive numbers.
This is everything about this method. It will significantly help increase your internet speed.
#4 Removing Limit Reservable Bandwidth
This is tedious but extremely effective in boosting your internet’s speed. Bandwidth is nothing but the maximum rate of data transfer across a given path. Windows OS, by default, sets a limit to the reservable bandwidth.
This limit can be modified to increase internet speeds. To do this, you must first press the “Windows” + “R” keys to open the Run command box. In that command box, type “gpedit.msc” and click on OK. After that, you will see a Local group policy editor.
In that, go to Computer Configuration, then administrative templates, in that – network, and then “QoS packet scheduler.” Then, select “Limit Reservable bandwidth.” After that, select the “enabled” option, modify “Limit reservable bandwidth” to 0 and click OK.
By doing this, you will disable all the bandwidth limits, ensuring higher internet speeds.
Outline:
Windows + R > Type gpedit.msc and click OK > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > QoS Packet Scheduler > Double click “Limit Reservable Bandwidth” > Select “Enabled” > Set the limit to 0. > Click OK.
#5 Using CCleaner
There are a lot of apps for Windows which claim to enhance the performance and increase the speed and safety of your system. But the truth is that this software doesn’t do their jobs as expected. Instead, they fill the computers with bugs and unwanted files.
However, there is one free software that does its job at the same time. Ccleaner is a tool available for free as well as a paid download. Its main job is to remove the temporary internet files and clear the browsing data. It also indicates the total data lost in a certain period. Its UI is self-explanatory and does not need many skills to use.
Overall, it makes internet use hassle-free while simultaneously increasing internet speed and safety.
#6 Removing Viruses
Removing viruses from your computer may sound like a fundamental and ineffective way to increase your internet speed. But, having any malicious file or virus affects the internet speed.
All you need to do is run an antivirus scan and fix all the problems, or buy one if you don’t have one as soon as possible because viruses significantly affect internet speeds in many cases and performance.
#7 Updating the network drivers
After the Windows 10 updates have rolled out, there have been many issues regarding driver updates. In many cases, it has happened that the OS might have got updated, but the different drivers have not. Because of this, many issues regarding driver compatibility are seen, which mainly makes the experience laggy and slow.
The network drivers are the main drivers affecting internet speeds if not updated. In many cases, these drivers also need to get updated in case they don’t start misbehaving after specific OS updates. It is a bit lengthy but a helpful process.
First, go to “Device Manager” by right-clicking the “computer” at the start and selecting properties. After you are in Device Manager, click on the arrow next to “Network adapters.” Now go to your Network adapter’s manufacturer’s website and download your device’s latest drivers.
Your device information will be available in the device manager. Locate the file, and install it by double-clicking and double-clicking the network adapter’s name. By doing that, a new window will open. In that, click “Driver” and select “Update Driver.” Now browse the driver file and double-click on it to start the installation process.
Once these drivers are updated, there are high chances your internet speed will increase.
Outline:
Start > Computer > Properties > Device Manager > Network adapters > Network Adapter website > Download drivers > Choose the correct driver and download it > Locate it > run it > Double click network adapter name > Driver > Update driver
As you have seen, this is a lengthy process, but it works in case you have missed the updates.
#8 Keeping your laptop charged
Regarding laptops, battery life is a huge concern for almost all windows users. However, after the recent updates, good optimizations regarding the laptop’s power consumption have been made available. Different performance modes on windows ensure good battery life or high-end performance.
When the battery is low, the PC automatically goes into the power saver mode, and many processes are restricted. As this happens, the download and upload speeds also decrease because the system starts working in a specific network frequency range. Hence the speed decreases. However, it is not a big deal because the original speed comes back as you plug in your laptop.
#9 Disabling the auto-tuning feature
Auto-tuning is a feature found in Windows OS. It is based on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). In layman’s sense, TCP is nothing but a type of interaction between different programs in the PC which transfer small data packets to improve performance and speed. However, in many cases, this does not happen; instead, the speed decreases.
Therefore, when you feel your internet is running slow, you can try disabling this autotune future. It is simple and easy.
First of all, press the Windows key + X on your keyboard. Then select the command prompt. Then, type “netsh interface tcp show global” in the command prompt window. Then, head to “Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level” and check it. If it is set to normal, you must disable it. To do that, you will have to type “netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled” to disable it.
Outline:
Press Windows + X on keyboard > Command Prompt > type “netsh interface tcp show global” > type “netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled”
And that is all about it. You can check the internet speed after performing this method.
#10 Turning ON metered connection
This is another wireless network technique to increase speed. When your PC is connected to wifi, many processes are going on which use internet data. To stop other non-required processes, you can set your wifi connection to “Metered Connection.” Turning this feature ON ensures the data is not used in the background.
To enable this, you must go to settings from the start menu, then to the “network and internet” link, and select wifi. Click on the “Manage known network” option and click on your device. Then click on “properties,” scroll down and go to the “metered connection” toggle. Turn it ON, and your job is done.
Outline:
Start > Settings > Network and Internet > Manage Known Networks > Name of your device > Properties > Set as Metered Connection > Turn the toggle ON.
Disabling and enabling your connection
Technically, this is not a method to boost your internet speed. It is just a small try to ensure that you are connected. Just turn off your wifi connection and reconnect it. Many users get their speed back by just doing this.