Is Your Ethernet Performance Slower Than Wi-Fi? Here's How to Fix It

Ethernet is meant to be faster and more stable than Wi-Fi, so if your wired connection is slower than your wireless one, something isn't right. This is often caused by hardware bottlenecks, system limitations, misconfigured router settings, outdated drivers, or similar issues. Here's how to pinpoint the cause and fix the problem.

Confirm Ethernet Is Actually Slower Than Wi-Fi

Before starting the troubleshooting process, make sure your Ethernet connection is actually slower than Wi-Fi and not just assumed to be. To do this, connect your computer to the internet via Ethernet and run a speed test using a reliable online speed test tool. Then disconnect, switch to Wi-Fi, run the test again, and note the download speeds you get.

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While testing, pause all downloads and close background apps. Also, don't rely on a single result - run multiple tests and compare the average speeds. If possible, test at different times of the day to rule out temporary fluctuations. If Ethernet consistently performs worse, you can then move on to troubleshooting.

Check If It's Device-Specific or a General Issue

After confirming that your Ethernet connection is slower, the next step is to determine whether the issue is limited to a specific device or affecting the entire network. This helps you determine whether the issue is due to hardware problems - such as a faulty or low-end cable or router limitation - or software issues like misconfigured settings or outdated drivers.

To check, run the same Wi-Fi and Ethernet speed tests on another device at home and compare the results. If Ethernet is slow on both devices, you should focus on hardware fixes or router-related adjustments. If the issue only occurs on one device, it's likely device-specific and may require software-related fixes.

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Rule Out Physical Bottlenecks

If you think your Ethernet cable or router might have a hardware issue or limitation, first ensure there are no physical bottlenecks in the setup.

Start by checking if you're using an older Ethernet cable that may limit your connection speed. For instance, Cat5 cables are limited to 100 Mbps, which may be why your Ethernet connection feels slow. If you're using a lower-grade cable, upgrading to a Cat6 cable can help deliver higher speeds that better match your internet plan.

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Next, make sure your router supports Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) and that you're plugged into a LAN port that actually delivers those speeds. Try different Ethernet ports on the router, as some may be limited. Also, remove any intermediate devices like switches, extenders, or adapters, since they can reduce overall speed if they're not Gigabit-capable.

Finally, verify that your computer's Ethernet adapter itself supports Gigabit speeds, as older network cards can also become a hidden bottleneck.

Tweak Router Configuration

Misconfigured router settings can also reduce Ethernet performance, so you should rule this out. Start by checking QoS (Quality of Service) settings, which prioritize certain devices or traffic. If misconfigured, they can limit Ethernet speeds, so try disabling QoS temporarily to see if the issue resolves. If it does, review the settings for restrictions or consider resetting them.

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Next, make sure your router firmware is fully updated. Also, review or turn off features such as traffic filtering, parental controls, or any bandwidth limits set for individual devices. You can also power cycle the router to eliminate temporary glitches. Additionally, incorrect TCP/IP tuning can impact Ethernet performance, so revert any network tweaks you may have applied.

Make Sure Network Adapter Speed Isn't Limited

If the issue is limited to a single device, first check whether your network adapter is configured to run at a reduced speed. To view the current link speed, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet, select your network, and check the Link Speed (Receive/Transmit). If it shows a low value like 100 Mbps despite a faster connection, you may need to adjust the settings.

To change the limit, press Win + R, type "ncpa.cpl," and press Enter. Then right-click your Ethernet adapter and choose "Properties." Click "Configure," go to the "Advanced" tab, and select "Speed & Duplex." If it's set to a lower value, change it to "1.0 Gbps Full Duplex." Finally, click "OK" and restart your connection.

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Update or Reinstall Ethernet Drivers

Outdated or corrupted Ethernet drivers can also reduce network performance, so it's important to rule this out. Start by updating the drivers: open Device Manager, expand "Network Adapters," right-click your Ethernet adapter, and select "Update Driver," then choose "Search Automatically for Drivers." If that doesn't help, you can reinstall the driver.

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Right-click the Ethernet adapter again and select "Uninstall Device." After that, download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website and install it manually.

Turn Off Power-Saving

Although it's rare, Windows power-saving features can sometimes reduce Ethernet performance by putting the network adapter into a low-power state. To rule this out, open Device Manager, expand "Network Adapters," right-click your Ethernet adapter, and select "Properties."

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Then go to the "Power Management" tab, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power", and click "OK."

Reset the Network Adapter

If none of the above solutions work, your final option is to reset the network adapter. This will clear misconfigurations, cached network data, and temporary glitches that may be affecting speed. To do this, open the Settings app, go to Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > Network Reset, then click "Reset Now" and confirm.

Keep in mind that this will remove saved network settings, so you'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks and reconfigure any VPNs or static IP settings afterward.

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The fixes above should help you narrow down the cause, identify the issue, and resolve it. If the problem continues and appears on all devices, it may be due to ISP throttling or another hardware issue you may have missed. In that case, you should contact your Internet Service Provider for further assistance.