Why is Windows 10 throttling internet download speed?

Question

My Dell 7386 laptop with an Intel AX200 has much slower download speeds than are available on two different Samsung Galaxy S10e cellphones. All devices are connected via Wi-Fi to a TP-Link AX6000 router. The router's connection to the ISP tests out at a 501 Mbps download speed and a 500 Mbps upload speed. The S10e cell phones test out at a download speed of 472.8 Mbps and 482.8 Mbps, and upload speeds of 147.3 Mbps and 168.8 Mbps. The laptop tests out at a download speed of 113.3 Mbps and an upload speed of 296.5 Mbps. They are all connected to the router on the 5 GHz radio using the AX protocol. All devices are in the same room, with the laptop being a couple of feet closer to the router than the cell phones. Shifting positions of the devices in the room has no impact on the speed tests. The AX200 has driver version 21.90.3.2. Both the router and the AX200 show the laptop is connected to the router at an average speed of 865.7 Mbps. Given these parameters, it would seem the issue is with Windows 10 Home. All current Windows 10 updates are installed. Any recommendations for resolving this problem?

Answer 1

Not sure which update worked, but I did an Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver update and a Dell Inspiron 7386 System BIOS - 1.10.0 update, and my download speed is now 508.3 Mbps and my upload speed is now 310.9 Mbps.

Answer 2

Get an Ethernet cable and connect the laptop using wires. I sure would not use WiFi for a device capable of Ethernet in the same room as the router. The throttling is not likely Windows 10 but that is irrelevant if you use Ethernet.

Answer 3

I have similar Issue... (with desktop pc though) I have the issue 1,5 year now after some windows update..
I have made every change on every forums i have seen..
at speed test net i have normal upload speeds like i have on my android phone (around 20 to 40mbps/up)
but on other sites like testmyspeed, restream/testspeed i can't go more than 4mbps/up
I tried 3 more network cards both wired and wireless
i tried to make my mobile hotspot still the exact same issue
mobile on the same sites at the same time work as it should even with data plan or with the same modem/router that pc uses with wifi
the problem is only on my windows 10 pc. i tried on 3 different pc's 2 with completely different hardware all of em are pure fresh windows 10 installations.
What is more strange is that sometimes the problem goes away by itself. yesterday i tried everything again.. i updated bios and all drivers changed cables etc at the start of the day everything were ok for awhile but at late night till 7am when i was trying everyhing yet again i was capping at 1,5/upload (!!) I even updated windows with a beta manual update...same issues.....now without messing anything 18:15 pm that is considered an hour that many people use the internet my upload capping at 20mbps/upload like the problem gone away..but im sure its not gonna last!!
so Im starting to suspect that its not only pure windows 10 issue but how isp handle the data that recieve from windows 10 and how handle that data/packets..maybe at times when more people are online and use the network the isp have some different packet handle or something? If it was only by windows 10 issue alone then how so many streamers on twitch and youtube can stream without any issues? I wonder now if go to windows 11 the problem will go away and stay away... although this gonna be a dealbreaker cause im using many programs/games that run not good or at all at windows 11......