WiFi performance on Windows is significantly reduced compared to Linux systems.
WiFi performance on Windows is significantly reduced compared to Linux systems.
I recently installed a 100 mbps fiber connection and it functions perfectly across all devices. The exception is my two laptops running Windows, both using the same Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174A Wi-Fi card. On Pop-OS, I consistently achieve 110-120 Mbps during downloads or speed tests. In Windows, however, both laptops only manage around 25 Mbps. I've tried several fixes: resetting network settings, changing wireless modes, performing a clean boot, uninstalling and reinstalling drivers, but nothing resolved the issue. Also, file transfers are extremely slow, often around 16-17 Mbps. Both laptops use 5 GHz and support AC Wi-Fi, which provides ample bandwidth.
It might be puzzling if its windows are handling background tasks. The main reason I still prefer Windows over Linux is stability and game support. If I switched to Linux, I’d face many more issues with my games, particularly older titles or indie games that lack the resources to run on smaller Linux distributions.
I checked online for similar issues and found others with different results, so you're probably in a better spot. After signing in to Windows, visit the Windows Update section to check for active installations. Also, consider turning off peer-to-peer updates temporarily. Open Task Manager and look at the Performance tab to see if any network card activity or CPU-heavy processes are present.