How to Increase Internet Speed in Windows 11

Struggling with slow internet on your Windows 11 machine? You’re not alone. While your connection speed depends heavily on your ISP, your operating system settings can also hold you back. Here’s how to optimize Windows 11 to squeeze out every bit of speed you’re paying for.

1. Disable Background Apps

Windows 11 loves to keep apps running in the background—even ones you don’t use. These eat up bandwidth.

How to fix it:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps
• Click the three dots next to the app > Advanced options
• Under Background app permissions, set to Never

2. Turn Off Metered Connection

Windows slows down updates and background data when metered connection is on—but it can also slow everything else.

How to fix it:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi
• Click on your network > Toggle off Metered connection

3. Update Your Network Drivers

Outdated drivers can bottleneck performance.

How to fix it:

• Right-click Start > Device Manager
• Expand Network adapters
• Right-click your adapter > Update driver

4. Use DNS Servers That Don’t Suck

Your ISP’s DNS might be slow. Switch to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).

How to fix it:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings
• Choose More network adapter options
• Right-click your adapter > Properties
• Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties
• Use custom DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

5. Disable Large Send Offload (LSO)

This feature can delay data transfers on some systems.

How to fix it:

• Press Win + X > Device Manager
• Network adapters > Right-click > Properties
• Under Advanced tab, find Large Send Offload and disable it

6. Flush DNS and Reset TCP/IP

Corrupted DNS cache or TCP/IP stack can cause lag.

How to fix it:
Open Command Prompt as Admin, then run:

ipconfig /flushdns
netsh int ip reset

Restart your PC afterward.

7. Pause Windows Updates Temporarily

Windows 11 updates can hog bandwidth at the worst times.

How to fix it:

• Settings > Windows Update
• Click Pause updates for 1 week

8. Disable Auto-Tuning

Sometimes Windows tries to optimize your connection—but fails.

How to fix it:
Open Command Prompt as Admin, then run:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

9. Check for Malware or Bloatware

Unwanted software can quietly kill your speed.

How to fix it:

• Use Windows Security > Virus & threat protection
• Or run a full scan with something like Malwarebytes

10. Use Ethernet Instead of Wi-Fi

If you’re still relying on Wi-Fi, consider plugging in. It’s faster, more stable, and less prone to interference.

Final Thoughts

Windows 11 isn’t slow by default—but it’s not optimized for speed out of the box either. Use these tips to boost your internet performance without spending a dime.

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Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!