Why Is My Download Speed Only 1Mbps? – Fix in Minutes

Why is my download speed only 1Mbps? Is this question bugging you when your internet provider promised you a much faster speed?

Let’s share with you how we were able to speed up our internet connection in no time.

The average internet speed in the US is around 40 to 50 Mbps. If you’re getting just 1Mbps, then you’re definitely on the slow side. 

However, there’s something else you need to know. Sit back, and we’ll tell you all about it.

If your current download speed is only 1Mbps, we can help you speed that up. If you’re using a dual-band router, you can connect to 5G WiFi and check if that improved your speeds. Using a VPN also helps speed up your connection.

Securing your computer directly to your router via an ethernet cable will also speed it up.

Why Am I Only Getting 1Mbps Download Speed

There are a few things you need to consider if you’re only getting 1Mbps download speeds.

We recommend that you check your internet plan and the speeds your ISP is offering you. If you’re paying for more, you certainly deserve faster internet.

Here are some of the problems that you’re going to face if you’re suffering from slow internet:

1. Confusing Bits to Bytes

Your ISP will tell you the speed of your connection in bits per second.

Download speeds are described in bytes per second, so there is a difference in the units. You’ll be able to figure out if your ISP is delivering on its promise.

2. Congested Network

Too many connections to your router can certainly slow your overall internet speeds.

3. Outdated Firmware

Your router controls how your devices connect to the internet. If its firmware is not updated, it can cause slow internet speeds for all your devices.

4. Wireless Network Unstable

WiFi isn’t really the best way to connect your devices to the internet. If you want a faster, more reliable connection, you want to connect your computer to your router using an ethernet cable.

Now that you have a better understanding of the issue let’s proceed to the troubleshooting guide so you can improve your download speeds in just a few minutes.

How to Fix Internet Download Speed 1 Mbps Only

If you think you’re suffering from slow internet, you want to look at your current plan. Remember that ISPs rate their internet speeds using bits per second.

You’ll need to convert that into bytes per second, so you have a much clearer picture of your download speed.

To convert, 8 bits is 1 byte. However, as a general rule of thumb, 10% of your internet speed in bits should be your download speed in bytes.

In your case, if your advertised internet speed is more than 10Mbps, your download speed should be more than 1Mbps.

In the case where you believe your download speed should be more than 1Mbps, here are some of the fixes that you can do with your network:

Solution #1: Reduce Your Connections

The first one you need to look at is congestion. Too many devices connected to your router will surely slow it down.

With more devices able to connect to the internet, your connections can spike up quickly.

This is something to look out for if you have a connected smart home with lots of devices that needs an internet connection.

Here’s how to reduce the number of connections on your router:

1. Switch off devices like your TV and game console when not in use.
2. Log in to your router’s dashboard.
3. Go to the Wireless tab or menu.
4. Select Access or Connection Management.
5. Ban unwanted devices that are connected to your WiFi

Pro Tip: You can also change your WiFi password to limit the number of WiFi connections.

Solution #2: Connect to the 5 GHz WiFi Frequency

Now that you’re certain you can still speed up your internet speed on your end, one of the things you can do is connect to your router’s 5G WiFi.

It offers a faster and more stable connection at shorter ranges which is perfect for gaming and streaming.

Here’s how to activate your router’s 5G WiFi:

1. Log into your router’s dashboard by accessing it via a web browser.
2. Go to the Wireless tab.
3. Scroll down to Wireless Settings.
4. Select the 5 GHz band to activate it.

Note: You can also use the dual-band option so devices that could not connect to 5G WiFi can still use 2.4G.

Solution #3: Use a VPN

Connectivity issues can also cause your internet and download speeds to slow down. There are instances when connections to certain websites and services can be affected.

The best way to circumvent this would be to use a VPN. It doesn’t only keep you safe, but it also changes your connection speeding it up.

Here’s how to use your VPN:

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Find the nearest server to your location.
3. Connect to the server.
4. Check if your speeds have improved.

Tip: Remember to connect to your router first before opening your VPN app.

Solution #4: Set Up QoS on Your Router

This is a solution that you want to use if, according to your internet speeds, you should be getting 1Mbps of download speeds.

Your router’s QoS or Quality of Service feature enables you to prioritize certain connections or devices.

This means that you can assign the bulk of the bandwidth to your computer, so it doesn’t get affected by other users.

Here’s how to use QoS on your router:

1. Login to your router’s dashboard.
2. Access the QoS feature by going to Advanced Settings.
3. Choose Setup QoS rule, then Add Priority.
4. Select the MAC address of your device.
5. Set it to High Priority.

Note: Some routers will allow you to specify a bandwidth limit so you can enjoy most of it for your activities.

Solution #5: Update Your Router’s Firmware

Your router’s software can also affect your internet and download speeds.

Outdated firmware, especially the factory default ones, is not optimized and will generally offer slow speeds.

If you’re setting up a brand new router, make sure that you update its firmware right away so you won’t have to suffer from issues like slow download speeds.

Here’s how to update your router’s firmware:

1. Log in to your router’s dashboard via a web browser.
2. Go to your router’s Advanced menu.
3. Select Firmware update.
4. Choose Download and Install.

Tip: Some router models will require you to download the latest drivers on their support page and upload them to your device.

Still Getting Low Download Speed?

You can also choose to use a wired connection to optimize your speeds.

However, if your plan only offers 10Mbps which equates to around 1Mbps download speeds, you can upgrade it so you can enjoy faster downloads.

Contact your internet provider and ask around whether you need to get a new plan or simply improve your setup.

Read Next: Does Download Speed Affect Ping?

Bottom Line

If you’re still asking why is my download speed only 1Mbps, you’ll need to go ahead and work on these solutions.

You’ll be enjoying much faster internet and download speeds in no time.

As long as you’re not limited with your bandwidth, these troubleshooting steps should help you achieve your goals of having faster download speeds.