Why is my computer's Internet slow when my phone is fine?

The short answer

If your phone or other devices are fine on the same Wi-Fi, your Internet connection is probably fine too. The problem is likely the computer or how it connects: a weaker Wi-Fi adapter or worse position, an outdated driver, a VPN or security software, background downloads, or a power-saving setting.

Find out what's wrong with yours

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Confirm it's really just this device

Test both devices the same way, close together, on the same Wi-Fi network (not the phone's mobile data):

Run our test on the computer.
On the results page, choose Test another device and scan the code with your phone. The phone runs the same test, and we compare the two side by side.

If the computer is much worse, the problem is the computer or its Wi-Fi link. If both are bad, see why is my Internet slow instead.

Common causes

Wi-Fi hardware and position

Phones often have newer Wi-Fi than older laptops. A desktop under a desk, or a laptop in a metal-heavy room, can also get a much weaker signal than a phone held up in the open.

The Wi-Fi driver

An outdated or buggy Wi-Fi driver is a common cause of slow or unstable Wi-Fi on Windows PCs especially.

VPN or security software

VPNs route everything through another server, which adds delay and can cap speed. Some security software inspects every connection and slows things down.

Background activity

System updates, game launchers, cloud sync and backups can use the connection without you noticing.

Settings

Wi-Fi power saving, the computer being connected to the 2.4 GHz network while the phone uses 5 GHz, or a "metered connection" setting can all hold one device back.

Fixes, easiest first

Restart the computer.
Plug it in with Ethernet, if you can, and test again. If it's now fast, the problem is the Wi-Fi link.
Pause cloud sync, backups and downloads, then test again.
Turn off the VPN and security software's web protection briefly, then test again.
Connect to the 5 GHz network if you're near the router.
Update the Wi-Fi driver (from the computer or adapter maker's website) and install pending system updates.
Forget the Wi-Fi network and rejoin it.
Turn off Wi-Fi power saving in the adapter's settings.
Consider a newer Wi-Fi adapter (a USB one is an inexpensive option) if the computer is old.

Questions people ask

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

Different Wi-Fi hardware, antennas and position. An older laptop may support only older, slower Wi-Fi standards. Updating its driver and connecting to 5 GHz often helps.

Can a VPN make my Internet slow?

Yes. A VPN adds a detour to every connection, which adds delay and can limit speed, especially if the VPN server is far away or busy.

My computer is slow on Wi-Fi but fast on a cable. Why?

That points to the Wi-Fi link: the adapter, its driver, its position, or interference. The fixes above for Wi-Fi apply.

Last updated October 17, 2026.