Increase Bandwidth on Windows 10: Step-by-Step

This guide walks you through practical ways to increase bandwidth on Windows 10, helping you get faster downloads, smoother streaming, and lower latency. You’ll adjust network settings, disable bandwidth-hogging features, and optimize your connection—no extra software required.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access to your Windows 10 PC
• Your router’s login credentials (usually on a sticker on the router)
• An Ethernet cable (optional, but recommended for testing)

Step-by-Step

1. Restart your router and modem. Unplug both for 30 seconds, plug the modem back in, wait for it to sync, then plug in the router. This clears temporary glitches and renegotiates your connection speed.
2. Disable bandwidth-limiting features in Windows. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc (Pro/Enterprise only) or regedit (all editions), and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > QoS Packet Scheduler. Set “Limit reservable bandwidth” to Enabled and change the value to 0. If using regedit, go to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Psched and create a DWORD named NonBestEffortLimit with value 0. Reboot.
3. Turn off background apps. Go to Settings > Privacy > Background apps and toggle off apps you don’t need running in the background. Also check Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks and set your connection to Metered off (if it’s on, it can throttle updates).
4. Disable Windows Update delivery optimization. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Delivery Optimization and turn off “Allow downloads from other PCs.” This stops your PC from uploading updates to others, which can eat your upload bandwidth.
5. Adjust network adapter settings. Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your adapter, and select Properties. Under the Advanced tab:
   • Set Energy Efficient Ethernet to Disabled.
   • Set Green Ethernet to Disabled.
   • Set Interrupt Moderation to Enabled (if available).
   • Set Receive Buffers and Transmit Buffers to the maximum value.
6. Disable IPv6 if you’re not using it. In Network Connections (right-click the network icon > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings), right-click your adapter, select Properties, and uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6). This can reduce overhead on some networks.
7. Change your DNS server. Open Network Connections, right-click your adapter, select Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and click Properties. Choose “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google). Click OK.
8. Optimize your router settings. Log into your router (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Enable Quality of Service (QoS) and prioritize your PC’s MAC address. Also make sure your router’s firmware is up to date, and try changing the Wi-Fi channel to a less congested one (e.g., 1, 6, or 11 for 2.4 GHz).
9. Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. A wired connection always gives you more stable and often higher bandwidth. If you must use Wi-Fi, move closer to the router and avoid obstacles.
10. Scan for malware. Run a full scan with Windows Defender (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection). Malware can consume bandwidth in the background.

Common Mistakes

• Changing settings without rebooting. Many network tweaks only take effect after a restart.
• Disabling IPv6 if your ISP requires it. Some networks break without IPv6—test after disabling.
• Setting QoS incorrectly. If you prioritize the wrong device, you can slow down your own PC.
• Forgetting to check for other devices. A neighbor or family member streaming 4K can eat your bandwidth—check your router’s connected devices.

Tips

• Use a speed test (like Speedtest.net) before and after each change to see what actually helps.
• Keep your network drivers updated—go to your adapter manufacturer’s website for the latest driver.
• If you have a dual-band router, connect to the 5 GHz band for faster speeds at shorter range.
• Close unnecessary browser tabs and apps that use data (like cloud sync clients).

Troubleshooting

• If your internet gets slower after a change: Revert the last change you made. For the QoS policy, set it back to “Not Configured.”
• If you can’t access gpedit.msc: You’re on Windows 10 Home—use the regedit method or skip that step.
• If your adapter doesn’t have advanced settings: Some drivers don’t expose them. Update the driver or check the manufacturer’s utility.
• If you still see low bandwidth: Test with another device. If it’s also slow, the issue is with your ISP or router, not Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling IPv6 really increase bandwidth?

It can reduce overhead slightly, but the effect is usually negligible. Only do it if you’re not using IPv6-dependent services.

Will changing DNS speed up my internet?

It can speed up webpage loading by reducing DNS lookup times, but it won’t increase your raw bandwidth.

Is it safe to set “Limit reservable bandwidth” to 0?

Yes, that’s the recommended setting. Windows reserves 20% by default for QoS, but setting it to 0 doesn’t break anything—it just allows apps to use the full bandwidth.

Why is my Wi-Fi slower than Ethernet?

Wi-Fi is subject to interference, distance, and signal degradation. Ethernet provides a direct, stable connection with full speed.

Can I increase bandwidth beyond my ISP’s plan?

No, these tweaks optimize your local network and Windows settings, but your maximum bandwidth is capped by your internet plan.

Will these steps work on Windows 11?

Most steps are similar, but some menu paths have changed. The general principles apply, but you may need to adapt the navigation.

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