Internet extremely slow on new laptop, while other devices run fine

Title: Troubleshooting Slow Internet Speeds on a New Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Experiencing sluggish internet performance on a new device can be extremely frustrating, especially when other connected devices function flawlessly. If you’ve recently purchased a new laptop and find that its internet speeds are dramatically lower than expected—sometimes even dropping to zero—it’s important to systematically identify and address the underlying issues. This article provides a step-by-step approach, based on real-world troubleshooting techniques, to help resolve such connectivity problems on Windows 11 laptops.

Understanding the Problem

In many cases, users report that their new laptops, despite high specifications and proper setup, struggle with internet speeds—often maxing out at a few hundred kilobits per second—while other devices on the same network operate at 12 Mbps or higher. These issues may include frequent disconnections or complete network stalls, which can hinder productivity and overall user experience.

Common Symptoms Include:
– Extremely slow download and upload speeds
– Frequent disconnections from Wi-Fi networks
– Inability to improve speed despite initial setup
– No recent downloads or changes that would impact network performance

Potential Causes

Several factors can contribute to these issues:
– Hardware compatibility or driver problems
– Network adapter misconfigurations
– Interference from security or energy-saving settings
– Router or modem issues
– Software conflicts or misconfigured network settings

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Basic Checks
2. Ensure your internet service provider (ISP) is not experiencing outages.
3. Restart your modem and router to refresh the network connection.

4. Verify that other devices maintain stable internet speeds on the same network.

5. Update Network Drivers

6. Visit the manufacturer’s website or use Windows Device Manager to check for the latest network adapter drivers.

7. For Windows:

   • Open Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager).
   • Locate your network adapter under “Network Adapters.”
   • Right-click and select “Update driver,” then choose to search automatically for updates.

8. Reset Network Settings

9. Perform a network reset to restore all network configurations to default.

10. In Windows 11:

    • Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
    • Follow the prompts to reset, then restart your laptop.

11. Disable Power Saving Features

12. Power management settings can limit network adapter performance.
13. In Device Manager:
    • Find your network adapter.
      –