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Quick Answer

Run a speed test (fast.com) to check your baseline. If you are on Wi-Fi, move closer to your router or plug directly into it with an Ethernet cable to rule out wireless interference.

How to Troubleshoot Slow Internet or Network Performance (User-Level Steps) ​

Applies to: Windows 11, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Microsoft 365
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-05-17

Summary ​

This article walks you through user-level diagnostic and fix steps for slow internet or network performance on your Windows 11 PC. These methods do not require admin rights and cover the most common causes of slowness that you can resolve on your own before contacting IT.

Prerequisites ​

  • Windows 11 (any edition).
  • Access to a web browser (Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome).
  • No admin rights are required for any step in this article.

Instructions ​

1. Run a Speed Test to Establish a Baseline ​

Before troubleshooting, measure your current connection speed so you have a reference point.

  1. Open Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
  2. Navigate to https://www.speedtest.net or type speed test into the Google or Bing search bar (a built-in test appears at the top of results).
  3. Click Go (or Run Speed Test) and wait for the test to complete.
  4. Note the three key metrics:
    • Download speed — How fast data arrives at your PC (most important for general browsing).
    • Upload speed — How fast data leaves your PC (important for video calls and file uploads).
    • Ping (latency) — How responsive the connection is (important for real-time apps like Teams).
  5. Compare results to your expected speeds:
    • Office Wi-Fi: Typical corporate networks range from 50–500 Mbps download.
    • Home broadband: Check your ISP plan for expected speeds.
    • Ping: Under 30 ms is excellent, 30–100 ms is acceptable, above 100 ms may cause noticeable lag.

Verification: If speeds are close to expected values, the issue may not be your internet connection — skip to Method 5 (Browser Troubleshooting). If speeds are significantly lower, continue with the steps below.

2. Switch from Wi-Fi to a Wired (Ethernet) Connection ​

Wi-Fi is convenient but introduces variables like distance, interference, and congestion. A wired connection eliminates these factors.

  1. Locate an Ethernet cable (usually a blue or grey cable with a rectangular clip on each end).
  2. Connect one end to your PC's Ethernet port and the other end to the nearest network wall jack or docking station port.
  3. Windows should automatically detect the wired connection. Look for a Network icon in the system tray that shows a wired connection (small monitor icon instead of the Wi-Fi fan icon).
  4. Run the speed test again (Method 1) and compare results.

Verification: If wired speeds are significantly faster, the issue is with your Wi-Fi connection — consider relocating closer to the access point, removing physical obstructions, or reporting a potential Wi-Fi coverage gap to IT.

3. Disconnect from VPN (If Not Required) ​

VPN connections route your traffic through a remote server, which can add latency and reduce throughput — especially if the VPN server is geographically distant or overloaded.

  1. Check if you are connected to a VPN by clicking the Network icon in the system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar).
  2. If a VPN connection is active, look for a label like Connected under your VPN name.
  3. Click the VPN connection and select Disconnect.
  4. Run the speed test again and compare results.

Verification: If speeds improve dramatically after disconnecting VPN, the VPN server may be experiencing high load. Reconnect only when you need to access internal resources. If your organization requires always-on VPN, report the performance issue to IT with your speed test results.

4. Flush DNS Cache and Reset Network Settings ​

Corrupted DNS cache entries can cause slow or failed page loads. Flushing the cache forces your computer to fetch fresh address records.

  1. Click the Start button and type Command Prompt.
  2. Open Command Prompt (no admin rights needed for these commands).
  3. Type the following command and press Enter:
    ipconfig /flushdns
  4. You will see the message: Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.
  5. Optionally, release and renew your IP address by running these two commands in sequence:
    ipconfig /release
    ipconfig /renew
  6. Close Command Prompt and test your connection again.

Verification: Try loading a website that was previously slow. If the issue was a stale DNS entry, pages should now resolve faster.

5. Clear Browser Cache and Disable Heavy Extensions ​

A bloated browser cache or poorly coded extensions can make browsing feel slow even when the network is fast.

  1. In Microsoft Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Clear browsing data dialog.
  2. Set the Time range to All time.
  3. Check the following:
    • Cached images and files
    • Cookies and other site data (note: this will sign you out of most websites)
  4. Click Clear now.
  5. Next, disable extensions temporarily to rule them out:
    • Click the Extensions icon (puzzle piece) in the toolbar, then Manage extensions.
    • Toggle off all non-essential extensions.
    • Reload the slow website and check if performance improves.
  6. If an extension is causing the slowdown, re-enable them one at a time to identify the culprit.

Verification: If browsing speeds improve after clearing cache or disabling extensions, the network itself was not the problem.

6. Close Bandwidth-Heavy Applications ​

Applications running in the background may consume significant bandwidth without your awareness.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click the Network column header to sort processes by network usage (highest first).
  3. Identify any applications consuming abnormally high bandwidth. Common culprits include:
    • OneDrive — Syncing a large number of files.
    • Windows Update — Downloading updates in the background.
    • Teams — Active video calls or large file transfers.
    • Cloud backup tools — Uploading files to cloud storage.
    • Streaming apps — Music or video streaming in the background.
  4. If you identify a non-essential application using significant bandwidth, right-click it and select End task.

Verification: Run the speed test again. If download/upload speeds improve, the closed application was consuming your available bandwidth.

7. Restart Your Network Equipment and PC ​

A simple restart often resolves temporary network issues caused by memory leaks, stale connections, or firmware glitches.

  1. Restart your PC: Click Start > Power > Restart (not Shut down — Restart clears more temporary state).
  2. If on home Wi-Fi or a personal hotspot:
    • Unplug your router and modem from power.
    • Wait 30 seconds.
    • Plug the modem back in first and wait for its lights to stabilize (about 60 seconds).
    • Plug the router back in and wait for Wi-Fi to become available.
  3. If on a corporate network: Do not restart network equipment. If the issue persists after restarting your PC, report it to IT.
  4. Once your PC and network are back up, run the speed test one more time.

8. Gather Information for IT Support ​

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, collect diagnostic data before contacting IT — this dramatically speeds up their investigation.

  1. Speed test results: Take a screenshot of your speed test showing download, upload, and ping values.
  2. Connection type: Note whether you are on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and your physical location (building, floor, room).
  3. Network diagnostics: Open Command Prompt and run:
    ping 8.8.8.8 -n 10
    This sends 10 test packets to Google's DNS server. Screenshot the results — IT will look at the response times and whether any packets were lost.
  4. Affected applications: List which applications are slow (all apps vs. only Teams vs. only browser).
  5. Time pattern: Note if the slowness is constant or only occurs at certain times of day (e.g., 9-10 AM when everyone is logging in).
  6. Submit a ticket to IT with all of the above information.

Troubleshooting ​

DANGER

If multiple people in your area are experiencing the same slowness simultaneously, the issue is likely a network infrastructure problem (switch, access point, or ISP) rather than your individual PC. Report it to IT immediately and mention that it affects multiple users — this raises the priority.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Speed test shows normal speeds but browsing is slowBrowser cache or extension issueClear browser cache and disable extensions (see Method 5).
Wi-Fi speed is slow but Ethernet is fastWi-Fi interference or distance from access pointMove closer to the access point, switch to 5 GHz band if available, or use a wired connection.
Speed is slow only on VPNVPN server overloaded or distantDisconnect VPN when not accessing internal resources, or contact IT to try a different VPN server.
Ping is high (above 100 ms) but download speed is acceptableNetwork congestion or routing issueClose real-time apps (Teams video), try a wired connection, and report to IT with ping test results.
"No internet access" icon appears but pages partially loadDNS resolution failureFlush DNS cache (see Method 4). If the issue persists, try setting your DNS to 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 in your network adapter settings.
Only one application is slow (e.g., Teams only)Application-specific issue, not networkRestart the slow application, clear its cache, or check the service status page (e.g., Microsoft 365 Service Health).