How To Fix Slow Upload Speed Windows 10

RobotPoweredHome is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my blog, I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The best internet services have a stable down speed and upload speed. While the former is more apparent when we try downloading a large file like a 4k video or the next Warzone update, we often undermine the importance of a good upload speed.

For instance, it became clear to me last weekend how much we need better upload speeds at work or home.

We were trying to hit a deadline for our new project, and our internet connection bailed on us.

As a result, the whole thing took over five hours instead of the usual one and a half, and we worked overtime on a Saturday!

Then I finally came home to enjoy a casual Call of Duty game night with my friends, but the abysmal upload speed on the home WiFi meant I was more of a glitch on the server than a player.

That was when I decided to put my time into exhaustively researching ways to improve upload speed, and this article is the complete result.

To fix slow upload speed, reset the router and ensure its firmware is up-to-date.

Disable any proxy (VPN) settings and scan your system for malware. Also, consider upgrading your router or internet plan for more bandwidth and multiple device support.

Reasons For Slow Upload Speeds

First off, several factors can account for a slow upload speed, but it's nothing beyond your control.

Here is a list of the usual suspects –

Limited bandwidth or data cap for your needs
Too many devices are sharing a single connection
Malware or corrupted files on your system
Outdated network drivers
Disruption by security firewall settings
Active background apps with high network usage
Company-imposed network restrictions on a business asset
The router or modem needs an upgrade or reboot

Why do you Need a Good Upload Speed?

As suggested by the name, upload speeds determine how long a response takes to travel from the client-side (you) to the server-side (the backend, such as hosting on a platform or uploading content).

Hence, any files or data that you send through the internet needs a good upload speed.

For instance, in a work-from-home situation where you spend a lot of time on Teams or Webex meetings, higher upload speeds ensure that others can see or hear your crystal clear.

It also means your system can upload files from a local repository to a cloud server in optimum time.

Again, if you are a content creator, chances are you worship upload speeds.

For example, suppose you finally edited your vlog in 4K about your trip to the Bahamas, and it's ready for a YouTube release.

A good upload time ensures you don't spend hours staring at the progress bar, only to see the upload fail in the end.

The same applies to gamers who stream their content and want to build a Twitch community or students trying to get through an online class.

Moreover, we need a decent upload speed for a smooth web surfing experience. So trying to boost it can only benefit us.

Factory Reset Your Router

Outdated or faulty routers are a leading cause of poor upload speeds. However, before you splurge on a brand new high-end router, you can try rebooting your current one to factory defaults to restore its performance.

I'd suggest you start with turning the router off and waiting for some time. Then, let it cool down and clear its flash memory before turning it on again.

Remember to run speed tests to notice any improvement. Otherwise, you may proceed to restore the router to factory default settings –

Find the Reset button on your router. Usually, it's on the back panel.
Press it down for about 10 to 15 seconds to reset the router. You may need a pin or paperclip to do it.
The router will reset and reboot.

Reverting to the factory settings means you will lose your personalized network settings, including the credentials.

However, you can again configure the router to your preferences.

Use a Wired/Ethernet Connection

WiFi is convenient, but it is slower than a traditional RJ-45 connector. If you observe lower upload speeds on your wireless connection, consider connecting the device through ethernet. You may get an over 100% increase in performance.

However, the restriction of Ethernet cables is its limitation in scope. You cannot switch to wired connections for mobile phones or tablets.

Hence, you may consider switching to the 5GHz channel instead of the 2.4GHz one if you have a dual-band router.

It reduces the range but bumps up the transfer speeds due to higher bandwidth and lower traffic.

Try Uploading at Different Times of the Day

Millennials and older generations may talk about using the internet late at night for higher speeds and avoid the risk of disconnection every time someone decides to call the house.

While dial-up connections are in the past, uploading during particular times of the day still helps.

Daytime hours observe lower upload speeds due to higher traffic on the channels.

You can try connecting during the night after business hours or early morning for better transfer rates.

However, it usually depends on the Internet Service Providers and their capability to handle a significant load.

Upgrade Your Internet Plan

It will be ironic if you are working around the hardware components and software to improve upload speed, while the problem altogether was with your internet scheme and ISP. You cannot gain higher performance on limited bandwidth.

It is best to review your requirements and select a plan that fits your needs and budget.

For instance, if you run a Chromecast, a workstation, and your laptop along with your phone and other smart devices around the house on a 30Mbps speed limit, you may have trouble.

Consider switching to a higher plan like over 100Mbps to 1Gbps with more data cap.

An upgraded internet plan can support more devices on a shared bandwidth without significantly bringing down the upload speed.

Upgrade Your Hardware

Older routers can deliver speeds, but they often lack driver support and cannot support multiple devices.

Similar to most electronic devices, routers need a periodic upgrade if you want optimal performance.

New routers can support multiple devices on both wired and wireless connections.

You can also indulge in a dual-band router that can transmit on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz.

It keeps the internet traffic in check, and you can control the bandwidth each device needs.

Use a Different Browser

Different browsers have unique system requirements. While Chrome is the crown prince of web browsers for stable and fast performance, it is a memory hog.

If the upload speeds seem meager on one browser, say Chrome, consider switching to Edge or Firefox.

Particular programs are also better optimized on a specific browser.

Scan for Malware

Malware and viruses on your laptop are dangerous and detrimental to system performance.

It slows down the computer, runs in the background, and uses CPU and network. Hence, they bring down upload speeds without your knowledge.

Viruses are a threat to your data and privacy. Therefore, it is best to install third-party antivirus software if you believe your system could use some cleansing.

It is improbable that viruses will corrupt the router itself. However, a hard reset can conveniently resolve the issue.

Disable VPN Service

Fast VPN services offer a seamless internet browsing experience and sometimes even improve speeds.

In addition, they are excellent for bypassing restrictions, increasing privacy, and avoiding video buffering.

However, not all VPN services deliver excellence. You can uninstall or disable your VPN service and test the upload speeds for any improvements.

Update System Drivers and Softwares

All the hardware components require periodic updates for maintenance and security. Routers are no exception.

You can check and update the network drivers and keep the firmware updated from Device Manager –

Right-click on the Start Menu and select "Device Manager."
Find the Network drivers under " Network adapters" and right-click on them.
Select "Update Driver."

Clear Background Data

Background apps and parallel transfer processes can often bring down upload speeds.

There is only so much bandwidth available for multiple devices, programs, and threads.

You may get lower speeds during a Windows update or software downloading the latest settings automatically.

It is best to monitor background processes, and here are the steps to follow –

From the Start Menu, search for Resource Monitor, and open it.
Expand the Network option in the Resource Monitor window.
Check the Total (B/sec) parameter. It displays the programs consuming bandwidth.
Right-click on the process consuming the most network and end it, unless you require it.

Change DNS Settings

We unknowingly come across DNS, or Domain Name Setting, more often than we think about it.

It is the phonebook of the internet. It translates the domain names to IP addresses in the backend when we browse.

For instance, we search for Google or YouTube by their domain names, while DNS converts it to their respective IP address to load resources faster.

You can change your system DNS settings to use the Google Public DNS. It is secure and resolves any online streaming issues or low upload speeds.

Here are the steps to configure DNS on your system –

Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run window.
Enter "control" to access the Control Panel (alternatively, right-click on the Start Menu and select it).
Navigate to Network and Internet settings
Click on "Change adapter settings" on the left pane
Right-click on Ethernet and open Properties
Double click on Internet Protocol Version 4 and select "Obtain an IP address automatically."
Enter the following details in the corresponding fields –
- Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
- Alternative DNS server: 8.8.4.4

You can always revert to your original settings whenever you please.

Get a Mesh WiFi System

If you are heavily reliant on WiFi and Ethernet is not a viable option, consider setting up a mesh network.

The core concept is taking the load off a single router and decentralizing it to multiple satellite stations.

It offers better area coverage, supports more devices (some up to 60), and, of course, has higher upload speeds.

However, you will need to upgrade to a mesh router. The arrangement consists of one central unit with smaller plug-in subunits set up like a mesh around the house. Each node gets full bandwidth access.

Final Thoughts

If you run a speed test on your favorite web browser, you can visualize the state of your upload speed.

Having a reference figure helps troubleshoot the problem with your internet and proactively improve it.

Upload speeds generally lag behind the download rates, but there is always room for improvement.

You can also consider using optical fiber for near-lossless transmissions, such as Google fiber.

However, if you exhaust your options without any effect on performance, the problem may lie with your Internet Service Provider.

Therefore, it is best to find another one offering better plans at competitive prices.

You Must Also Enjoy Reading:

How to Make CenturyLink Internet Faster [2021]
What Upload Speed Do I Need To Stream On Twitch?
Xfinity Upload Speed Slow: How To Troubleshoot [2021]
Comcast Xfinity Is Throttling My Internet: How To Prevent [2021]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good upload speed?

Typically, good upload speeds are 5Mbps and higher on a wired connection for a single device.

Can a WiFi booster increase upload speeds?

Repeaters and extenders are affordable and quick solutions to improve upload speeds and right-click network coverage of the existing router.

Is 10 Mbps upload speed good for gaming?

It is considered a high upload speed and suitable for gaming and other bandwidth-intensive activities.

Can low upload speed cause lag?

Low upload speed increases the time required to transmit data from your end to the server. Hence, it means you will experience lag as a result of high ping (latency).