The internet performs worse on a PC compared to a mobile device.
The internet performs worse on a PC compared to a mobile device.
I rely on my mobile's hotspot for online access. In the morning, my PC connected to the internet was performing well, similar to my mobile. Now it's around 25-30 kbps, which is quite slow. I'm confident I haven't reached the data limit and even tried USB tethering. The issue also affects my Steam downloads of Apex Legends. The expected speed is about 1 Megabyte per second, but I'm seeing only 274 KB/s. Please help! My phone works fine, but my PC doesn't. I've used the Omen network boost and set Steam as top priority.
I've noticed some data packages that limit specific applications. A speed test still displays high performance for Netflix, YouTube, and Steam even though they experience under 1mb downloads.
Check other websites you visit to see if the issue persists. The connection seems stable, so the problem might be with your local network or ISP.
I rely on Airtel and am based in India. Could it be that my ISP is slowing down Steam? Most users aren’t familiar with it here, so that shouldn’t be an issue. However, could it be because many nearby users are also using the same ISP at once? Also, I confirmed through my carrier’s app that I have 11.2 GB of 12 GB remaining, meaning the data cap isn’t a concern.
For this period, they could also limit your access during peak times even if it's not specific to heavy use.
This makes sense. I reside in Canada and previously performed this task for my Xbox when the internet connection was insufficient to reach my room. It functioned adequately for a short time but then began showing slow speeds, plus noticeable lag and instability during gameplay. After some investigation, I discovered a potential problem with the NAT configuration. There are three types: open, moderate, and strict Open is ideal, as everything passes through smoothly. Moderate works, most operations are fine though minor hiccups may occur. Strict is problematic—it halted my online play and even slowed downloads. I attempted fixes like resetting ports or changing static IPs, but nothing resolved the issue. Later, I noticed similar behavior from my router, which had full memory overload, causing it to malfunction. A reset resolved it temporarily. For mobile devices, I haven’t found a clear solution yet. I’m not very experienced with phones, so I’m guessing a similar reset might help. I left the phone’s hotspot unused for months and then tried again later; it worked. Possibly the memory allocated to the hotspot cleared itself after a long break. Since you’re using the mobile hotspot as your main link, this advice may not apply directly, but I’ll keep it in mind for anyone facing a similar situation. The next point applies only if you own a router—I’ll repeat it only if you do. I don’t believe a permanent fix exists yet, but purchasing a new router seems like the best option. Bridging your current one to a new device can help, especially if you have a model with better specs. Personally, I bought a tp-link Archer A10, an older model from them, which was on sale for around $125 USD. If you plan to upgrade, check its memory, CPU cores, range, and other details against your new device. For now, a dual-core, 128MB RAM router should suffice, especially if it supports Wi-Fi 5 (Wi-Fi 6 is newer). Even with multiple devices—like an Xbox, laptops, phones, and TVs—it still performs well. Note that newer routers often handle more connections smoothly. If you’re concerned about speed or stability, consider upgrading to a model with higher capacity and better coverage. I’ve logged my current router info for reference: it’s from 2015, dual-core, dual-band, four antennas, 128MB RAM. Compare these specs with your upcoming purchase. Just keep in mind that CPU cores aren’t critical unless you’re running heavy tasks. For homes larger than 2,000 sqft, a stronger router is advisable. If RAWWW SPEEEEDDS aren’t a concern, your setup should work. Feel free to reach out if you have more questions—I’m still learning how it all connects.