When I ran an Internet speed test on my smartphone, Mac, and Windows laptop, I was disappointed to see that every device had good speed from the WiFi except my Windows laptop. In my quest to resolve this issue, I discovered that by enabling and disabling a few secret settings, Windows 11’s WiFi speeds can be significantly increased.
Today, I am sharing the best WiFi settings for Windows 11, which will make your WiFi approximately twice as fast. So, make sure to follow the entire guide and have a good internet connection on your PC.
Best WiFi Settings For Windows 11
Follow these steps to optimise the WiFi speed on your Windows 11 PC/Laptop.
Update Wi-Fi Drivers
Step 1: Click the Windows search bar, type “Device Manager,” and open it.
Step 2: Expand Network Adapters and find your Wi-Fi device (e.g., Intel, Broadcom, Realtek).
Step 3: Right-click your Wi-Fi device, select Update driver, and then click Search automatically for drivers.
If the best driver is already installed to the latest version and your performance is still poor, visit your laptop’s manufacturer site (or Wi-Fi card maker, for custom PCs) to download and install the latest driver manually.
Optimize Network Adapter Settings
Step 1: Go to Device Manager again, right-click on the WiFi adapter, and then click on Properties.
Step 2: Go to the Power Management tab. Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
Step 3: Now go to the Advanced tab.
Step 4: Under Property, select Preferred Band. Under Value, set it to 5GHz or 6GHz, depending on your router’s support.
Step 5: Again, under Property, click on Throughput Booster. Under Value, select Enabled.
Step 5: Again, under Property, click on Roaming Aggressiveness. Under Value, set it to Highest.
Finally, click on OK, and you are all set. Now, your WiFi might disconnect for a moment or so, but it is nothing to worry about.
Limit Windows Update Bandwidth
Windows 11 just updates automatically and very frequently. However, sometimes these updates could take a lot of WiFi resources, and you can limit them. Here is how:
Step 1: Click on Menu in the Taskbar and then click on Settings.
Step 2: Click on Windows Update from the left tab.
Step 3: Now, click on Advanced options, then click on Delivery optimization.
Step 4: Here, click on Advanced options again.
Step 5: Under Download settings, you can limit how much bandwidth the Windows update uses based on speed or percentage. Make sure you limit the use of both foreground and background updates.
Manage Known Wi-Fi Networks
Step 1: Click on Menu in the Taskbar and then click on Settings.
Step 2: Click on Network & Internet from the left tab.
Step 3: Go to Wi-Fi and click on Manage Known Networks.
Step 4: Forget unused networks. Remove networks you don’t actively use to prevent automatic connections that can interfere with Wi-Fi performance.
Step 5: Select your active connection and turn off “Metered connection” if enabled.
Use Custom DNS
Step 1: Click on the Windows icon on the Taskbar.
Step 2: Click on Settings.
Step 3: Now, click on Network & Internet from the left menu.
Step 4: Here, click on WiFi.
Step 5: Click on the connected WiFi network.
Step 6: Click on Edit next to DNS server assignment.
Step 7: Select Manual from the drop-down menu.
Step 8: Turn on the toggle for IPv4.
Step 9: In the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS, you can use the following DNS:
Google’s Public DNS:
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
Cloudflare’s DNS:
1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1
These are some great WiFi settings for Windows 11 that should speed things up.
Run Key Network Optimization Commands
Step 1: Search for “cmd” in the Taskbar, right-click on it, and click on Run as Admin.
Step 2: Enter the following commands one by one:
netsh int tcp set global autotuning=normalnetsh int tcp set global rss=enablednetsh int tcp set global congestionprovider=ctcp (If supported, Windows 11 now uses CUBIC by default, so this might not apply.)
Step 3: Flush DNS cache with:
ipconfig /flushdnsChange Power Settings
Step 1: In the search bar, type Control Panel, and hit Enter.
Step 2: Under View Type:, select Large icons from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Now select Power Options.
Step 4: Click “Change plan settings” next to the selected power plan.
Step 5: Now, click “Change advanced power settings.”
Step 6: Expand the Wireless Adapter Settings, then select Power Saving Mode.
Step 7: Choose Maximum Performance from the drop-down menu.
Note: If you have a laptop, you will get a Plugged in and Battery option. So, make sure to select Maximum Performance for both settings.
Click on Apply and OK. Restart your PC, and the issue should be resolved.
Set the Background Intelligent Transfer Service to Manual
Step 1: In the search option in the Taskbar, search for “Services” and hit Enter.
Step 2: Now, scroll down and locate Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
Step 3: Right-click and click on Properties.
Step 4: Under Startup type, use the drop-down menu and set the option to Manual.
Click on Apply and OK.
That is all!
Now, simply restart your PC and you should be equipped with the best WiFi settings for Windows 11. These settings can help your PC get faster WiFi speeds.
Network Reset
This is the last step, and you should only take it if your laptop is really struggling with WiFi speeds. This erases all the network settings, and your saved WiFi info will be erased, so make sure to save your passwords. Here is how to do it:
Step 1: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and click on Network reset.
Follow the prompts to reset your network settings.
Summary: Best WiFi Settings for Windows 11
| Setting | What to Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Update Wi-Fi Drivers | Ensures the best performance and bug fixes | Uncheck “Allow computer to turn off device” in the Power Management tab |
| Run CMD Optimisation Commands | Enable 5/6GHz band, Throughput Booster, Roaming Aggressiveness (Highest) | Unlocks full speed potential |
| Disable Power Saving | Use Advanced Options under Delivery Optimisation | Prevents disconnections & throttling |
| Limit Windows Update Bandwidth | Optimise Adapter Settings | Keeps updates from hogging bandwidth |
| Forget Unused WiFi Networks | Manage Known Networks & turn off Metered Connection | Prevents interference and auto-switching |
| Use Custom DNS | Set to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) | Reduces latency and improves reliability |
| Run CMD Optimization Commands | Use netsh and ipconfig /flushdns | Tweaks TCP settings for better performance |
| Set Power Plan to Max Performance | Change wireless adapter setting in Power Options | Ensures WiFi stays at full power |
| Set BITS to Manual | Change in Services app | Prevents background data transfer from slowing you down |
| Network Reset (Last Resort) | Reset via Settings > Network & Internet | Fixes deep issues by restoring defaults |
Closing Thoughts
So that was all about the best WiFi settings for Windows 11. Make sure that you implement these settings, and you should be seeing good internet speeds on your Windows PC. We hope this guide helps you get better internet on your PC. In case of any issues, feel free to reach out to us.
Must Read:
2.4GHz vs 5GHz WiFi: Which One You Should Choose
FAQs
A: This often happens due to outdated Wi-Fi drivers, aggressive power-saving features, background system updates consuming bandwidth, or suboptimal adapter and DNS settings. Applying the fixes in this guide addresses these common issues for faster speeds.
A: Updating your Wi-Fi drivers, switching to the 5GHz or 6GHz band, enabling throughput booster, setting Roaming Aggressiveness to highest, and using Google or Cloudflare DNS usually provides the biggest improvements.
A: Yes! By capping how much bandwidth Windows updates use (both in the foreground and background), you ensure more bandwidth stays available for browsing, streaming, and downloads on your PC.
A: Yes, but use network reset as a last resort. It will erase all your saved Wi-Fi networks and custom settings, so make sure to back up your Wi-Fi passwords. After the reset, reapply the recommended optimizations for the best results.
