Why Is Your Computer Download Speed Slow But Internet Fast? Easy Fixes

You may feel your computer download speed slow but internet fast and start running internet speed tests online.

But what is the root cause? Is it because of your computer or your internet connection?

I’ve heard lots of complaints about slow internet connections and slow computers. Many people assume these two are one, which could lead to some misunderstandings. There are so many pieces of software out there that claim to speed up and clean up your computer to make it run faster. At least half the time these programs do more harm than good and cost you money.

What my internet speed?

What is my internet speed?

It’s easy to get the answer to “whats my internet speed?” There are dozens, if not hundreds, of sites that will test your internet connection. You can go to the website Gospeedcheck.com and click the “Go” button. This will only take a few minutes to complete. When it's finished, you'll know your ping rate, as well as your download and upload speeds. 

Why my internet speed is not what I’m paying for?

Why is my internet speed slower than what i pay for? You ask.

It's evident that Internet service providers have an incentive to be as positive with their stats as possible, but it's more than simply deceptive marketing. Other factors are at play.

• Hardware issues: Older router or computer

• Distance from the Internet service provider (ISP)

• Your ISP may be throttling your connection

• Network congestion

• Server-related issues

What is my internet speed right now

Related: What should my internet upload speed be?

Computer download speed slow but internet speed fast

This is such an annoying problem. There are various major explanations for this, and some simple testing and diagnostics can be performed to narrow down the problem.

Here are some of the most common reasons why download speeds can be slow even with high-speed internet:

• You’re on a weak wireless connection.

• Your home network is congested.

• The number of users will have an impact on internet speeds.

• Your DNS servers aren't working properly.

• Your internet service may be unavailable or experiencing server problems.

Is your computer slow or your Internet connection?

You’re going to want to identify and address the issue to get back up to speed. Yet it’s hard to know whether to blame your computer or the internet, especially now that so many computer applications rely on internet connectivity.

What is slowing down my internet speed?

So, how do you determine whether it’s your computer or connectivity that’s the problem? If you are having the problem only on one device in a network, you can guess it’s the computer, not the connectivity. Otherwise, think about when you are having slow woes.

Your slow computer

If you notice programs are taking longer to load up, your computer may not be up to the task. Running large applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, or some accounting packages can cause slowdowns. The hardware may be overwhelmed. You may not have enough available storage space. Sometimes your computer’s parts are simply too old and not fast enough.

Even a new computer could be a problem if it’s an inexpensive one. Or perhaps you didn’t get enough random access memory (RAM). Your computer needs RAM to run applications or games; it’s the short-term memory of the computer. This is where the computer loads all the things it thinks it might need soon so that it can process them quickly. Without enough available RAM, the computer has to work harder (and slower) to get the results you want.

No wonder common advice for people dealing with slow computers is to invest in more RAM. If your device is less than five years old, you can often upgrade the RAM inexpensively, or switch to a solid-state drive (SSD). An SSD reads and writes differently than a traditional hard drive, which allows it to access information faster.

Meanwhile, buying a replacement computer may be the answer if your device is more than five years old.

Slow computer vs internet connection

Slow computer symptoms

It’s easy to realize the symptoms of a slow computer. Below are a few signs to look out for.

• The computer takes a long time to boot up

• Once you are on your desktop it takes minutes before you can use it

• General use such as opening your my documents or programs like the word is slow

• Antivirus software and firewalls can cause major problems with connections to the internet and are often diagnosed as problems with your internet connection. This is not always true as it could be a corrupted security suite that is blocking the connection on your computer.

• Pop-ups and programs telling you that you have x amount of problems are normally a form of malware that will slow your computer

• Clicking sounds from the computer can indicate that the hardware (hard drive) is failing. A slow-running computer is one of the first signs of a hard drive failure.

• Your browser sticking on not responding is more likely to indicate a problem with your computer than your internet connection.

There are a few things you can do to speed up your computer and we have written numerous articles on the subject in the past with the one below proving particularly popular and useful in helping to resolve a slow computer issue.

What's my internet speed right now

Your slow Internet connection

You might notice your computer is slow when online. Web pages might take forever to load, or you might be waiting for hours to access YouTube videos.

It’s quite hard to diagnose the symptoms of slow Internet because most people assume it is their computer that is slow understandably. The easiest way to test if it is your connection is to do a speed test on the computer considered slow and a speed test on a computer that is running ok.

Again solutions to a slow internet connection have written about in past articles try our article 

If the lag just happens on only one website, it could be that site’s problem. If not, internet slowness could be due to the poor connection. So how to know if the problem is due to a connection issue? Of course, check your internet speed. A site such as gospeedcheck.com gives you a comprehensive analysis of your connection (upload, download, and ping speed). By which, you are able to compare it against the connection speed you’re paying for. If the 

speed test results show much lower, you should call your service provider to update your plan for better speed performance.

If you’re wondering what is the best internet speed in my area, you can visit https://www.highspeedinternet.com/, type your postcode to check the best providers.

Solve slow Internet

Troubleshooting tips to improve Internet speed

Rebooting your computer or your modem and router seems to be the first and most useful tips when you face slowness. The root of the problem could be you’re on Wi-Fi and your network is shared with many users, causing congestions. 

For instance, if you have four people in your family streaming on their devices at the same time, a slowdown will be expected. You might be in a signal dead zone. In that case, you could look into a Wi-Fi mesh network or extender. 

Ultimately, there are many reasons for a slow computer or internet connection. Don’t get stuck with a tortoise of technology. A managed services provider can find the root cause and get you running faster.