Why is my Wi-Fi slow on my computer but fast on my phone?

Short Answer: WiFi adapter driver, antenna issue, or placement — not your internet connection.

Detailed: If your phone gets 100 Mbps but your laptop gets 10 Mbps in the same room, the problem is your computer.

Cause	How to test	Fix
Old WiFi adapter (WiFi 4 vs WiFi 6)	Check adapter properties in Device Manager	Upgrade to USB WiFi 6 adapter ($20–30)
Driver issues	Right-click Start → Device Manager → Network adapters	Update driver (or roll back if recently updated)
Antenna disconnected	Laptop WiFi works only inches from router	Open laptop, reconnect internal antenna (tiny wires)
Power saving mode	WiFi slows down on battery	Control Panel → Power Options → High Performance
2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz	2.4 GHz is slower but longer range	Switch to 5 GHz (faster, shorter range)

Step-by-step:

1. Run a speed test on your phone next to your computer

2. Run the same test on your computer

3. If computer is much slower → computer problem

4. Update WiFi driver (Device Manager → Network adapters → right-click → Update driver)

5. Forget and reconnect to your WiFi network

6. Change power plan to "High Performance"

Advanced test: Connect computer directly to router with an Ethernet cable. If speeds are fast, the problem is WiFi. If still slow, it's software or router.