How to remove Internet speed limit on a laptop: 7 working methods

Have you noticed that the Internet on your laptop is slower than on other devices on the same network? File download speed barely reaches 10 Mbit/s, although the provider promises 100+? The reason may lie not in the tariff or router, but in software or hardware limitations the laptop itself. Manufacturers, operating systems, and even some applications sometimes artificially throttle bandwidth, ostensibly to save energy, stability, or security.

In this article we will analyze all possible sources of restrictions - from Windows settings to network card drivers, and we’ll also show you how to fix them without risk to the system. Important: Some methods require administrator rights or BIOS access, so Before making any changes, create a system restore point (instructions below). We also tested the solutions on laptops Lenovo ThinkPad T14, HP Pavilion 15, Dell XPS 13 And MacBook Pro M1 — the results are summarized in a comparison table at the end of the article.

1. Real speed check: diagnostics before changes

Before you change anything, make sure that the problem is with the laptop and not with the network. Connect it to the router via cable Ethernet (if possible) and run tests:

• 📊 Speedtest.net — measure the speed on a website or application. Compare with the provider's data.
• 🔧 Command line: run ping 8.8.8.8 -n 20 and check the connection stability (packet loss >1% is a sign of problems).
• 📱 Test on another device: Connect your smartphone or tablet to the same network. If the speed there is normal, the laptop is to blame.

If the speed via Wi-Fi is significantly lower than via cable, the problem may be in the adapter settings or drivers. If the limitation is also observed on Ethernet, system settings are to blame (for example, bandwidth limitation in Windows).

⚠️ Attention: If your laptop is connected to a corporate network (for example, in an office or university), the speed limit can be set by the administrator via Group Policy or proxy server. In this case, independent intervention violates safety rules.

2. Windows limitations: how to remove the speed limit in the OS settings

Windows 10 and 11 reserve up to by default 20% throughput for system tasks (updates, background services). This can be disabled:

1. Open Control Panel → Network Connections (or click Win + R, enter ncpa.cpl).
2. Right-click on the active connection (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) → Properties.
3. Click Customize next to the name of the network card → tab Additionally.
4. Find the parameter Flow Control or Speed & Duplex and set the value Auto (if it is fixed, for example, 100 Mbps Full Duplex).

To completely remove restrictions:

5. Run Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
6. Go to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network Connections → QoS Packet Scheduler.
7. Double click on Limit reserved bandwidth → install Included and set the value 0%.

Is QoS disabled (20% reserve)|

Flow Control parameter in Auto mode|

There is no fixed speed in the adapter settings|

Network card drivers updated -->

On laptops with Windows 11 also check the parameter Data Saving in Settings → Network and Internet. If enabled, the system limits background traffic.

3. Network card drivers: updating and configuration

Outdated or crooked drivers are one of the main reasons for slow speeds. Laptop manufacturers (eg. ASUS, Acer, MSI) often supply modified drivers with restrictions to save power.

How to update the driver correctly:

• 🔄 Via Device Manager:
  1. Click Win + X → Device Manager.
  2. Expand Network adapters, find your Wi-Fi/Ethernet adapter (for example, Intel AX200 or Realtek RTL8168).
  3. Right click → Update driver → Automatic search.

⚠️ Attention: Some drivers from laptop manufacturers (especially for Wi-Fi adapters Qualcomm Atheros) contain energy-saving profiles that limit the speed to 50–70 Mbps. In this case, only manual installation of a “bare” driver from the chip manufacturer’s website will help (for example, Intel).

After updating the driver, restart your laptop and check the speed again. If the problem persists, try rolling back the driver to a previous version (in Device Manager → Properties → Driver → Roll Back).

wmic nic get name, manufacturer, speed

4. BIOS/UEFI settings: hidden manufacturer restrictions

Some laptops (especially gaming series MSI GE, ASUS ROG or business lines HP EliteBook) have options in the BIOS that limit the speed of network adapters to reduce power consumption. These settings are often hidden in sections Advanced or Power Management.

How to check and change:

1. Reboot your laptop and enter the BIOS (usually the F2, Del or Esc when loading).
2. Find sections:
   • Network Stack Configuration → disable Network Boot (if you are not using PXE).
   • Power Management → install PCIe Link State Power Management in Disabled.
   • Advanced → Onboard Devices Configuration → check if there is a speed limit on the Ethernet port (for example, 100Mbps instead of Auto).

On laptops with Thunderbolt 3/4 (For example, Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro) Also check if there is a port bandwidth limit in the BIOS. Sometimes manufacturers set by default PCIe x2 instead of x4, which reduces the speed of connected adapters.

5. Software limiters: antiviruses, VPNs and background processes

Many programs actively interfere with network traffic, limiting the speed for “optimization.” Main culprits:

• 🛡️ Antiviruses: Kaspersky, ESET NOD32, Avast can block suspicious packets, reducing speed. Check your settings Firewall or IDP (in Kaspersky this is Protection against network attacks).
• 🌐 VPN clients: Services like NordVPN, ProtonVPN or built-in WireGuard often limit the speed to 50–80% of the original speed. Try disabling the VPN or changing the protocol (for example, from OpenVPN on IKEv2).
• 📥 Download managers: uTorrent, qBittorrent, Internet Download Manager (IDM) can artificially limit speed. Look for options in settings Max Download Speed or Bandwidth Limiter.
• 🖥️ Background updates: Windows Update, Steam, Epic Games or NVIDIA GeForce Experience can “eat up” the channel. Check Task Manager → Network Connections.

To temporarily disable all restrictions:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. On the tab Performance check network load. If it is close to 100%, but the speed is low, someone is “stealing” traffic.
3. On the tab Details sort processes by column Network and complete suspicious ones (for example, svchost.exe with high consumption).

6. Hardware limitations: what to do if the problem is in the hardware

If all software methods have been tried and the speed is still low, the hardware is to blame. Common reasons:

• 📡 Wi-Fi adapter: Old modules (eg Intel Wireless-N 7260) support maximum 300 Mbit/s at frequency 2.4 GHz. The solution is to replace it with Intel AX200/AX210 (up to 2.4 Gbps).
• 🔌 Ethernet port: On many laptops the connector RJ-45 connected via USB 2.0 (maximum 480 Mbit/s), rather than directly to the chipset. Check your model's specifications.
• 🔋 Power Saving Mode: On battery, Windows automatically reduces the adapter's performance. B Control Panel → Power Options select scheme High performance.
• 🔥 Overheating: When the chipset temperature is higher 80°C Many laptops throttle (reduce performance), which can also affect network controllers. Use HWMonitor for checking.

To diagnose hardware limitations:

1. Connect your laptop to the router via cable and check the speed. If it grows, the problem is in the Wi-Fi adapter.
2. Try an external USB adapter (eg TP-Link Archer T3U) - if the speed has increased, the built-in module is to blame.
3. Check if the mode is enabled in the BIOS Legacy Support for the network card (this limits the speed to 100 Mbit/s).

7. Alternative methods: when all else fails

If the standard methods don't work, try these solutions:

• 🔄 Resetting network settings:
  1. Open Settings → Network and Internet → Status.
  2. Click Network reset and confirm.

  This will remove all network adapters and reinstall them with default settings.

• 📦 Clean Boot Windows:
  1. Click Win + R, enter msconfig.
  2. On the tab General select Selective launch and uncheck Load startup items.
  3. Reboot and check your speed. If it has grown, one of the background applications is to blame.

For users macOS (on MacBook Air/Pro):

1. Open Terminal and enter:

   networksetup -setmtu Wi-Fi 1500

   This will reset the setting MTU, which sometimes crashes after updates.

2. Disable Private Wi-Fi Address in the network settings (may conflict with some routers).

⚠️ Attention: On laptops with Killer Networking (For example, Alienware or MSI GS66) problems often arise due to proprietary software Killer Control Center. Removing it and installing standard drivers from Intel/Qualcomm can increase speed by 30–50%.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about limiting Internet speed