Slow internet does stymie your workday, your gambling, and also your doctor’s appointments. Probably you’ve noticed a drop in your post and download speeds. There are many causes of a lag in your Wi-Fi connection, as well as some quick fixes you can try, but there is also a real chance that your slower speeds are beyond your control. Although physically prohibited, your ISP may be purposefully throttling your net connection.
TL, Doctor: If you suspect this is happening to you, get a good VPN.
Determine whether your ISP is truly throttling your velocity.
Before we get into the details of how to stop online slowing, take a look at this list of other possible causes of your slow internet speeds.
Begin with these quick changes:
If that doesn’t function, take into account:
Depending on how many big web users are housed in your home, upgrading to a faster rate rank may be the best option if your gear is already in top form and your Wi-Fi installation is optimized. But if you’ve currently run down the list of options and nothing is working, next the problem might be something your internet service provider is consciously doing: bandwidth choking.
Wait, isn’t online slowing prohibited?
Although officially considered a prohibited process, your ISP may still be able to throttle your internet connection.
The FCC’s judgement on online independence was thrown out in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, along with other laws about regulating the online as a value. That implies that the process may also theoretically be prohibited in some states. Despite that, ISPs is also fairly quickly circumvent that legal decision. For example, throttling is essentially still allowed if your computer program has a data cover or your ISP’s system is overloaded. Also, it may be legal if your ISP gives realize that it is slowing down your internet speed.
The use of a virtual private network is a proven method to stop net choking. Companies need to see your IP address to sluggish down your computer and a great VPN shields that identification. We’ll examine these features below, along with some drawbacks and restrictions.
Fix your slow computer relationship
So your Wi-Fi is slow, and you think your services provider is throttling your relationship.
This first troubleshoot your internet connection to completely eliminate any additional possibilities: reinstall your router, check that it is located close to your home, adjust its transmitters, and double-check network security. If your router is too weak to access a specific room, you can get as little as$ 15 for a Wi-Fi extender or a high-performing mesh network, which we suggest if you want to maximize coverage throughout the entire house.
If you’ve run through the cleaning record and your Wi-Fi is still chugging carefully, move on to the next step.
Test your internet usage.
You can check your link and find out whether your ISP offers regular performance, no matter what content you’re accessing with a straightforward internet speed test from M-Lab or Ookla. ( Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis )
Although this calculation isn’t ideal, it’s a good place to start.
Make sure you conduct the speed test at various times throughout the day as it will help you determine whether your speeds are significantly affected during peak online use times.
Also, consider testing your net connection while connected with an Ethernet cord. Moving on to the next step if your frequencies are also a little slow with an Ethernet network because it is nearly always faster than Wi-Fi.
How quickly is your net relationship? Here’s an easy way to find out.
Get a trustworthy VPN
A VPN is one of the single ways to get around your online provider if they are really throttling your internet speeds. While your ISP may also throttle VPN visitors, the VPN did encrypt that visitors using various protocols. You might have to try a few different Expressvpn to get one that works.
There are many benefits to using a VPN, as well as stability, cost, and server locations, which are all factors to think about when choosing one. Keep in mind that using a VPN will nevertheless substantially decrease your velocity, but you may experience less overcrowding and decline general while using one.
Assess your VPN speed to that of a speed test.
When your VPN is effective, compare the results with the same exam.
The rate tests may reveal a gap, with the VPN-active speed significantly slower than the VPN-inactive rate. As a result, using any VPN will significantly decrease your speed.
But a VPN also hides the Internet address that companies use to determine you but if your acceleration check with the VPN is faster than without the VPN, that may indicate your ISP is targeting your Internet address for choking.
Fix your internet.
- If you do have options, consider switching to a better provider in your area. You could end up with faster speeds and a better deal as well as a potential solution to speed throttling. Check out our top picks for high-speed ISPs in 2025.
- Use your VPN to maintain more consistent speeds. A VPN can help you with slow service issues caused by a bad connection or other factors, but it can stop throttling from unscrupulous ISPs.
- Call your provider and threaten to switch out if they don’t stop the internet from getting throttled. This might seem old-fashioned and doesn’t guarantee lasting results but some providers have responded positively to such tactics and you may be able to negotiate your way out of the throttling.
What’s the bottom line with internet throttling, exactly?
There is never a 100 % guarantee that your ISP will eventually throttle your speeds. If you’ve exhausted all the ways to improve your speeds and are still not noticing a significant change, we recommend switching to a different ISP available in your area. Check out our guide to the top internet service providers near you to learn more.
FAQs for bandwidth throttling
What is bandwidth throttling and is it legal?
If you’re trying to stream your favorite television show for a long time, you might be experiencing bandwidth throttling.
This occurs when your ISP purposefully limits your internet usage by limiting your bandwidth usage.
The FCC’s ruling on net neutrality was thrown out in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently, along with other rules about regulating the internet as a utility. That implies that while the practice may still technically be illegal in some states, it is still legal in others. Additionally, ISPs have a lot of freedom to circumvent that legal ruling. For instance, throttling is technically still allowed if your internet plan has a data cap or your ISP’s network is overloaded. Additionally, if your ISP gives you advance notice that they may temporarily slow down your internet, they may do so.
Why do ISPs restrict bandwidth?
There’s no exact answer to why ISPs limit some people’s connections and not others.
Your provider might sluggish your service to encourage you to pay for more data if the network is congested and you are using a lot of internet bandwidth.
Or, if you have a data cap and notice a sluggish connection, your ISP may be limiting your service once the cap is reached. DSL, cable and fixed wireless connections are more susceptible to network congestion. We suggest using a fiber connection if it is possible. Read our top picks for the top 2025 fiber internet providers. In addition, check out our list of the best providers with no data caps.
How can I find out if my ISP is throttling my bandwidth?
If your results from using an Ethernet connection to check your internet speed haven’t improved, you might want to check if your provider is to blame.
A simple connection speed test, like the one through Ookla or , M-Lab, can show if your ISP is providing consistent performance no matter the content you’re accessing.
How can I stop my ISP from throttling my bandwidth?
A VPN, or virtual private network, can be used to combat internet throttling.
Since VPNs can hide your identity, your provider can’t use your IP address to slow down your connection, helping you maintain more constant speeds.
Consider switching to a new provider for faster speeds and, possibly, a better deal if you don’t already use a VPN. Read CNET’s top recommendations for the best VPNs until 2025.
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