Hey everyone, I've got a frustrating issue with my new Windows 11 PC. It seems like my download speed is stuck around 2.5mb/s when I'm using browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. However, if I use a VPN (even a free one), I can bypass this limitation and get speeds between 35-50mb/s, which is great. My internet connection is 1gbps, and I'm connected directly to the router via a CAT6 cable, with the Ethernet driver showing speeds of 1000/1000.
Interestingly, my old PC, which is on the same connection, can download files at about 125mb/s using the same browsers and sites. Here's a list of what I've already tried:
- Disabled Wi-Fi to rule that out
- Ensured my connection isn't metered
- Tweaked some TCP settings and flushed DNS
- Restarted my PC multiple times
- Checked and swapped cables
- Disabled firewalls and antivirus programs
- Verified that all my Windows updates and drivers are current
- Removed power saving options
- Even tried a little ritual to the tech gods!
I'm pretty stumped since I usually resolve these types of problems myself. It seems like there's some setting in Windows 11 that's throttling browser speeds, but I can't figure out what it is. Any help would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Have you tried updating your network drivers again? Sometimes after a major Windows update, they can revert to older versions which might not work well. Additionally, check if your browser settings have any limiters set up, or if there’s a specific add-on that's causing issues. It's pretty rare, but if it’s a new PC, I’d also recommend looking into any hidden settings in your BIOS that could be affecting performance.
It sounds like a frustrating issue! Since you mentioned that everything works well outside of the browsers, it's worth checking the Internet Options in the Control Panel. Sometimes, specific settings there can affect how browsers operate. You might also want to run a speed test on your phone connected to the Wi-Fi (while disabling mobile data) to compare speeds. Let me know if that sheds any light on the problem!

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