An Ethernet connection is faster and more stable than Wi-Fi. However, there are cases where hardware limitations or software throttling can cause your Ethernet speed to drop. If you encounter this problem, here are some practical steps to troubleshoot and speed up the connection.

Check the speed of your Internet connection

If the problem isn’t with your Internet connection, Ethernet and Wi-Fi shouldn’t be slow at the same time. To check if a slow internet connection is causing the problem, do a speed test when connected via Ethernet, then repeat the test via Wi-Fi. If both results are slow, the problem is likely with your Internet connection. So, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

You can also ask your neighbors using the same provider if they are experiencing similar slowdowns. If so, this is an ISP issue and you should report it. However, if Wi-Fi delivers the expected speed but Ethernet remains slow, the problem is with your Ethernet connection.

Inspect the Ethernet cable and connectors

A damaged or outdated Ethernet cable that can’t handle the maximum data speeds provided by your ISP can also slow down an Ethernet connection. Check your cable for signs of wear, such as fraying or exposed wires. Even minor damage can impact performance. It is therefore necessary to replace the cable if you notice that the wire has been damaged.

You can also try using another Ethernet cable to see if the speed improves. If so, your original cable is causing the problem and needs to be replaced.

Ethernet cables are divided into different categories, each with a maximum data transfer rate. If you are using a low category cable, such as CAT 4 cable (the category is often printed on the cable), which supports a maximum speed of 16 Mbps, this is the maximum speed you will get. If your cable is obsolete, buy a CAT 6 cablewhich supports speeds of up to 1Gbps (or sometimes even higher in the real world).

Also check the connectors on your Ethernet cable. Dirty or corroded connectors can slow down your connection. If the clip that holds the connector in place is damaged, it can cause the connection to loosen and reduce your speed. For this reason, you should replace any faulty Ethernet cable connector.

Additionally, if you’re using a long cable, consider moving the router closer to your device to minimize the distance, which could improve your internet speed.

Evaluate your router for potential problems

Your router may also be causing a slow Ethernet connection. To determine if your router is causing the problem, connect another device to your router using the same Ethernet cable and to the same port on the router. If internet speed improves, the problem is likely due to misconfigured settings on your original device, rather than the router itself. In this case, continue to the next section to resolve the issue.

However, if the connection remains slow on the second device and other devices and you have confirmed that neither Internet nor cable is the problem, your router is likely the culprit.

The first router troubleshooting step you should try is a reset. Unplug your router from the power source, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. If restarting router doesn’t helpMake sure your router firmware is up to date, as outdated firmware can slow down your connection. Check the manufacturer’s website for available firmware updates.

Next, check the Ethernet port you are using. If the cable is plugged into an Ethernet port with a speed limit of 100 Mbps, you won’t get faster speeds even if your internet plan supports higher bandwidth. Upgrade to a Gigabit port (10/100/1000), which can handle higher speeds and will likely increase your Ethernet connection. Newer devices may even have 2.5 or 10 gigabit Ethernet ports, if there is one available, use that instead.

If your router doesn’t have a Gigabit port and you need speeds above 100 Mbps, upgrading to a router that supports faster connections is your best option.

Adjust speed and duplex settings

Speed ​​and duplex settings control the data transfer rate of your Ethernet connection. If the value is lower, it may slow down your connection and cause connection issues. Although the auto-negotiation setting attempts to provide optimal connection speed, it can sometimes slow it down. In such cases, you must manually adjust the speed to the highest supported value.

To fix this in Windows 10, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet, then click “Change adapter options”. Right-click on your Ethernet connection, select “Properties” and click the “Configure” button.

In Windows 11, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings, then click “Change” next to More adapter options. In the Ethernet Properties window, click “Configure”.

Go to the “Advanced” tab, find the “Speed ​​& Duplex” option and select “1.0 Gbps Full Duplex” or the highest speed your connection supports.

After that, restart your router and you should notice a significant improvement in Internet speed.

However, if changing the duplex setting doesn’t solve your problem, remember to change it back to “Auto-negotiate” most often, it’s best to leave this setting on automatic.

Examine router settings for connection limitations

If you are the administrator of your router and have not configured QoS or bandwidth management settings, you can skip this step. However, if someone else is managing the network, you might experience slower speeds because they might have set a low priority for your device or limit the bandwidth your device receives.

For example, if your parents manage the network, they could be limit your connection during specific activities via parental controls.

To resolve this issue, ask the administrator if such restrictions are in place and ask them to remove them. To access the router interface as administrator, enter the IP address of your router in a browser, log in using the appropriate credentials and check settings such as QoS, bandwidth management and similar settings. If a restriction is in place, remove it.

Other things you can try

If none of the previous solutions work, here are some additional steps you can try:

• Clear network cache to resolve any DNS-related issues. You can also try switching to a different DNS server to see if that improves your connection.

• If you think your built-in Ethernet port is underperforming, consider installing a dedicated Ethernet card, which can increase your connection speed.

• If the slow speed started after changing your network or router settings, reset your router to factory settings and check for improvements.

• Outdated drivers can also slow down your connection, so if you haven’t done this updated network drivers In a while, it will be time to do so.

• Finally, VPNs or proxies can affect internet speeds, and Ethernet connections are no exception. If you have one enabled, turn it off and see if your connection improves.

Here are some ways you can use to increase your Ethernet speed. If none work and the problem persists on multiple devices, the problem is likely hardware related. In this case, contact your ISP to report the problem. If this problem persists and you think your ISP is unreliable, it may be worth considering changing providers.

Additionally, if a slow internet plan turns out to be the cause of the slowdowns, consider upgrading your plan for better performance.