Is your Windows PC suffering from slow downloads, laggy video calls, or sluggish web browsing? Many users overlook network performance when optimizing their computers, but with a few practical tweaks, you can significantly boost your network speed and reliability. This guide provides 15 step-by-step tips that every Windows user can follow to enhance network performance, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user.
1. How Can I Check My Current Network Speed?
Before tuning, measure your actual network speed.
Step 1: Open your web browser and visit a speed test site such as www.speedtest.net.
Step 2: Click “Go” and wait for results.
Step 3: Record the download and upload speeds for comparison after tuning.
2. How Do I Update My Network Drivers?
Outdated drivers can cause slow or unreliable connections.
Step 1: Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Expand the “Network adapters” section.
Step 3: Right-click your adapter and choose “Update driver.”
Step 4: Select “Search automatically for drivers.”
3. Can Disabling Background Apps Improve My Network?
Yes, unnecessary background apps consume bandwidth.
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Step 2: Click the “Processes” tab.
Step 3: Right-click unwanted apps and select “End Task.”
4. Should I Change My DNS Server for Faster Browsing?
Switching DNS providers can reduce website lookup times.
Step 1: Press Windows + I for Settings, then go to Network & Internet.
Step 2: Click “Change adapter options.”
Step 3: Right-click your network, select “Properties.”
Step 4: Double-click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).”
Step 5: Select “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
Step 6: Enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google DNS), or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
5. How Do I Turn Off Metered Connection?
Metered connections restrict background data usage, which may slow updates.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Click your network, then toggle off “Set as metered connection.”
6. What Is QoS and Can It Help?
Quality of Service (QoS) prioritizes network traffic.
Step 1: Log in to your router (see its manual for the IP address and password).
Step 2: Find the QoS settings.
Step 3: Enable QoS and prioritize your PC’s MAC address or applications.
7. Should I Disable Windows Auto-Tuning?
Disabling TCP Auto-Tuning can help with compatibility issues.
Step 1: Type “cmd” in the search bar, right-click Command Prompt, choose “Run as administrator.”
Step 2: Type
`netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled`
Step 3: Restart your PC.
8. Can I Optimize Windows’ Network Stack?
Adjust TCP/IP settings for better throughput.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2: Type
`netsh int tcp set global chimney=enabled`
Step 3: Type
`netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled`
Step 4: Restart your PC.
9. How Do I Prevent Bandwidth-Hogging Windows Updates?
Step 1: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Step 2: Select “Advanced options.”
Step 3: Click “Delivery Optimization.”
Step 4: Set “Allow downloads from other PCs” to “Off.”
10. Can Disabling Large Send Offload (LSO) Help?
LSO can sometimes cause performance issues.
Step 1: Open Device Manager.
Step 2: Expand “Network adapters.”
Step 3: Right-click your adapter, choose “Properties.”
Step 4: Click “Advanced” tab, find “Large Send Offload.”
Step 5: Set to “Disabled.”
11. Should I Use Ethernet Instead of Wi-Fi?
Wired connections provide faster, more stable speeds.
Step 1: Plug in an Ethernet cable from your router to your PC.
Step 2: Windows will auto-switch to wired mode.
12. How Do I Reset My Network Settings?
Corrupted settings can slow your connection.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
Step 2: Click “Network reset.”
Step 3: Click “Reset now” and restart.
13. Can System Optimization Tools Help?
Yes, tools like Glary Utilities can optimize your network and entire system.
Step 1: Download and install Glary Utilities.
Step 2: Open the program and select “1-Click Maintenance.”
Step 3: Check “Network Optimization” and “Registry Cleaner.”
Step 4: Click “Scan for Issues,” then “Repair Problems.”
Benefit: Glary Utilities cleans up network-related junk, optimizes settings, and ensures your system runs smoothly with minimal network conflicts.
14. Is It Important to Secure My Network?
An unsecured Wi-Fi can be used by neighbors or strangers, draining bandwidth.
Step 1: Log into your router settings.
Step 2: Set a strong Wi-Fi password and enable WPA3 or WPA2 encryption.
15. Should I Regularly Reboot My Router?
Yes. This clears its memory and can resolve speed drops.
Step 1: Unplug your router, wait 10 seconds, plug it back in.
Step 2: Wait for it to fully reboot.
Summary
Optimizing your Windows network performance doesn’t require advanced knowledge—just a few simple tweaks and the right tools. By following these 15 essential tips, every Windows user can enjoy a faster, smoother, and more reliable connection. For ongoing optimization, consider using Glary Utilities; its comprehensive suite of tools can make maintaining your Windows network and system effortless.