If you’ve ever been kicked out of a Zoom call or suffered lag during a live show, you know all the frustration of a . Maybe you’ve noticed slow , consistently glitchy Zoom calls or sudden drops in connectivity. While there are many reasons for a lagging Wi-Fi connection, there’s also a real possibility that your slow speeds are something your internet provider is doing on purpose. That’s right: Your internet provider could be intentionally throttling your internet connection.
Before we dive into internet throttling and how to stop it, let’s run down the list of other factors that may be contributing to your slow speeds. First, try the tried-and-true method of restarting your modem and router or .
There may also be some long-term solutions to your woes. It might be . A () or can offer reliable speeds and better coverage throughout your house.
Suppose your equipment is already upgraded and your Wi-Fi setup optimized. If your household has higher-than-average internet usage, the next best solution may be upgrading to a faster .
But if you’ve already run down the list of solutions and nothing is working, then the issue might be something your is intentionally doing: bandwidth throttling.
Wait, isn’t internet throttling illegal?
in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, along with other rules about regulating the internet as a utility. That means, in some states, the practice might still technically be illegal. That said, ISPs can still get around that legal ruling pretty easily. 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 prior notice about slowing your internet speeds, they can legally do so.
A proven way to avoid internet throttling is using a . Providers need to see your to slow down your internet, and a good VPN shields that identity, though this comes with some limitations and downsides, which we’ll discuss below.
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Troubleshoot your slow internet connection
So your Wi-Fi is slow, and you think your service provider is throttling your connection.
Let’s troubleshoot your internet connection first to absolutely rule out other possibilities: Restart your router, check that the router is centrally located in your home, reposition its antennas and double-check your network security. If your laggy internet is due to your router being too weak to reach every room in your house, you can spend as low as $15 on a . CNET recommends the for its affordability, easy-to-use controls and capability to support Wi-Fi 6 speeds.
If you’ve run through the laundry list and your Wi-Fi is still chugging slowly, move on to the next step.
Test your internet speed
Once you’ve ruled out any simple explanations for your Wi-Fi troubles, it’s time to get a more . There are to do so.
By starting with a simple internet speed test through or , you can check your connection and gauge whether your ISP provides consistent performance, no matter the content you’re accessing. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis)
This measurement isn’t perfect, but it’s a good starting place.
Make sure you run the speed test at different hours of the day — that’s a good way to gauge if your speeds are seriously impacted during peak internet usage hours.
Additionally, try testing your internet connection while connected with an Ethernet cable. , so if your speeds are still pretty slow with an Ethernet connection, move on to the next step.
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Find a reliable VPN
Compare your speed with the VPN
Next, test your internet speed again using a service like or .
Compare the results with the same test when your VPN is active.
Using any VPN should cut your speed considerably, so the speed tests should show a discrepancy, with the VPN-active speed being notably slower than the VPN-inactive speed.
But a VPN also hides the that providers use to identify you, so if your speed test with the VPN is faster than without the VPN, that may mean your ISP is targeting your IP address for throttling.
Fix your internet
OK, this is the hard part because knowing where to start could be tricky. Even if you find out your provider is throttling your internet, there may not be much you can do. , making finding a better provider difficult. But here are a few hopefully useful suggestions:
- If you do have options, consider in your area. Not only will you potentially put speed throttling to rest, but you may end up with faster speeds and a . Check out our and .
- Use your VPN to maintain more consistent speeds. A VPN can’t solve a bad connection or other reasons behind your slow service, but it can mitigate throttling from unscrupulous ISPs.
- and threaten to switch providers if they don’t stop throttling your internet. This might seem old-fashioned and doesn’t guarantee lasting results, but some providers have responded positively to such tactics.
What’s the bottom line on internet throttling?
It’s never a complete guarantee that your ISP won’t throttle your speeds down the line. If you’ve exhausted all the ways to improve your speeds and are still not noticing a significant change, we recommend available in your area. To learn more, .
Bandwidth throttling FAQs
What is bandwidth throttling? Is it legal?
If you’re noticing a long buffering time when trying to stream your favorite television show, you might be experiencing bandwidth throttling.
This happens when your ISP purposely slows down your internet speeds by controlling your bandwidth.
in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently, along with other rules about regulating the internet as a utility. That means that although in some states, the practice might still technically be illegal, it is legal in other states. Plus, ISPs can easily get around 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 prior notice about slowing your internet speeds, they can legally do so.
Why do ISPs throttle bandwidth?
There’s no exact answer to why ISPs limit some people’s connections and not others.
If a network is congested and you’re using a lot of internet bandwidth, your provider might slow down your service to encourage you to pay for more data.
Or, if you have a data cap and notice a laggy connection, your ISP might be limiting your service when you’re near the end of the cap. DSL, cable and fixed wireless connections are more susceptible to network congestion. If available, we recommend going with a fiber connection. .
How can I check if my ISP is throttling my bandwidth?
If you’ve checked your internet speed through an Ethernet connection and your results haven’t improved, you might want to check if your provider is to blame.
A simple connection speed test, like the one through , can show if your ISP is providing consistent performance no matter the content you’re accessing.
How do I stop my ISP from throttling my bandwidth?
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a good solution to help 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.
Besides using a VPN, consider switching to a new provider for faster speeds and, possibly, a better deal.