Slow Wi-Fi has two flavors: it's slow for everyone (network issue) or it's slow for you specifically (device/connection issue). Diagnose which before raising a ticket.

1. Test from a phone on the same network

Run speedtest.net on your phone. Then on your laptop. If your phone is fast and the laptop is slow, it's the laptop. If both are slow, it's the network.

2. 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz

Look at the connection details. In Windows, click the Wi-Fi icon → click the network name → Properties — it shows the band you're on.

  • 2.4 GHz maxes out around 50 Mbps in real-world office conditions
  • 5 GHz can deliver 200+ Mbps

If you're on 2.4 and the AP supports 5 GHz, switching saves you in seconds. Forget the network and reconnect — many APs broadcast both bands as the same name and you can pick.

Newer Wi-Fi 6 APs broadcasting on 6 GHz can hit 600+ Mbps but need a Wi-Fi 6E-capable laptop.

3. Check the signal strength

Open a command prompt and run:

netsh wlan show interfaces

Look at Signal. Above 70% is excellent, 50-70 is OK, below 50 starts limiting speed. If you're below 50%, you're too far from the AP — move closer or switch to a different one.

4. Channel congestion

In dense office buildings, 20+ Wi-Fi networks competing on the same 2.4 GHz channel is normal — and brutal for speed. The fix is on the IT side (channel planning), but in the short term:

  • Switch to 5 GHz
  • Move physically further from competing networks (interior wall locations are often better)

5. Driver update

Wireless driver updates often include speed and stability fixes. See [Wi-Fi keeps dropping](/kb/wifi-keeps-dropping) for how to update on Intel cards.

6. Background processes eating bandwidth

Open Task Manager → Performance tab → Wi-Fi. The bandwidth graph shows what your laptop is doing. If it's pinned high and you're not actively downloading, find the culprit:

  • Switch to the App history tab → check the Network column
  • Common offenders: Windows Update, OneDrive sync, Microsoft Store updates, Backblaze backup, Dropbox

Pause large syncs while you need bandwidth for a call.

7. Bandwidth-hungry tabs

A single browser tab streaming 4K video, or YouTube auto-playing in a background tab, eats a lot. Close what you're not actively using.

8. QoS — has Teams been deprioritized?

Some networks have Quality of Service rules that prioritize voice/video. If yours doesn't, calls will choke on saturated Wi-Fi. The fix is infrastructure-side; the workaround is to close other bandwidth-heavy apps during meetings.

When to ticket

Raise a ticket if:

  • Multiple people in the same area report slow speeds
  • Speed is poor across the day rather than spiking during peak hours
  • Your phone is fast but every laptop in the office is slow

Include speedtest results from both phone and laptop, the AP name, and the times you've observed problems.