The device you’re using to connect to the Internet could be limiting your speed. Does your computer support the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard? Does it even have an Ethernet port? If it does, what is the port’s capacity?
Smartphones and tablets have maximum Wi-Fi speeds that they are capable of supporting. If you connect using a smartphone that’s more than 3 years old, you may not get an accurate picture of the download and upload speeds you’re getting in your home.
There are way too many devices to provide a comprehensive list here, but the first thing you should do is determine which Wi-Fi standard your device supports. If it’s 3 or more years old, it likely supports the 802.11b, 802.11a/g, or 802.11n standard. If it’s a new device, it probably supports the 802.11ac or 802.11ax (also known as ‘Wi-Fi 6’) standard.
Confused?
Look up your device model number on the manufacturer’s website to find the capacities.
Alternately, in Windows 10, you can look under the Start Menu > View Network Connections > Device Name. The name often shows the speed capability of the connection type. If not, a web search can usually tell you.
For Apple OS X, you can look under the Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report > Network. There you can find details about connection types and their speeds.