Phone Wi-Fi is much slower than other devices

Symptoms

• Laptop or other devices get fast Wi-Fi speeds on the same network
• Phone speed test results are noticeably lower
• Speed improves when closer to the router
• Only affects Wi-Fi, cellular data speed is normal

Likely causes

• CommonPhone connected to a congested or older Wi-Fi bandThe 2.4GHz band is more crowded and slower than 5GHz, and some phones default to it.
• CommonDistance or obstructions between the phone and routerEven a slightly farther distance or a wall can meaningfully reduce Wi-Fi speed.
• PossibleBackground apps consuming bandwidthCloud backups or app updates running in the background can slow perceived browsing speed.
• PossibleOutdated Wi-Fi driver or phone softwarePerformance bugs in specific software versions can affect Wi-Fi throughput.
• Less commonPhone's Wi-Fi hardware supports a lower maximum speed than newer devicesOlder phones may simply have slower Wi-Fi chips than newer laptops or phones.

What to do

1. Check which Wi-Fi band the phone is connected to in the network details and try connecting to the 5GHz band if available.
2. Move closer to the router and rerun a speed test.
3. Close background apps or pause cloud backups during the speed test.
4. Restart the phone and the router.
5. Check for a software update on the phone.
6. Compare the phone's Wi-Fi speed test at the same time and location as another device for a fair comparison.
7. Forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi network to refresh the connection.
8. If the phone is significantly older than other devices, its Wi-Fi hardware may simply have a lower maximum speed.

When to call a pro

If Wi-Fi speed stays much lower than other devices even close to the router on the same band, a technician can check the phone's Wi-Fi hardware.

Safety