Troubleshooting Slow Website Loading Times on Windows 11: A Diagnostic Guide
Experiencing delayed webpage loading times can be frustrating, especially when the issue appears isolated to a single device. If you’re noticing that new websites take anywhere from 10 to 15 seconds to start loading on your Windows 11 PC—while other devices on your network function normally—it’s worth investigating potential causes and solutions. This article provides a step-by-step overview of common troubleshooting methods to diagnose and resolve such connectivity issues.
Understanding the Issue
In this scenario, the user reports that upon attempting to access new websites, the initial connection is significantly delayed, although subsequent page loads proceed normally. The problem manifests exclusively on the affected Windows 11 machine, with no similar issues observed on other devices. This suggests a localized problem related to configuration, network settings, or system components.
Initial Troubleshooting Steps
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Assessing DNS Configuration
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Observation: The user initially suspected DNS-related delays, possibly due to Cloudflare’s DNS over TLS (DoT) implementation.
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Action: A PowerShell command was used to test DNS response times, revealing sluggishness.
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Solution Tried: Switching back to the Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) DNS servers provided temporary relief but did not resolve the root cause, as delays reappeared.
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Network and Software Adjustments
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Uninstallation of VPN/Tools: Tailscale, a VPN solution, was removed in case it caused interference.
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Browser and Extensions: Attempts were made with different browsers and disabling ad blockers to rule out software conflicts.
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Network Reset: Flushing DNS caches and updating Windows and device drivers aimed to eliminate system-level discrepancies.
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Connection Types: Testing both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections helped identify if the issue was network-specific.
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IPv6 Configuration: Disabling IPv6 was performed, considering potential conflicts with network protocols.
Proposed Next Steps
If the above steps did not resolve the problem, consider exploring the following additional solutions:
- Check Hosts File Entries: Ensure there are no conflicting or malicious entries that could delay DNS resolution.
- Reset Network Settings: Use Windows network reset options to restore default configurations.
- Update Network Drivers: Verify that Ethernet and Wi-Fi drivers are the latest versions.
- Monitor Network Traffic: Use tools like Resource Monitor or Wi
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