How To Fix Slow Upload Speed? (Answered!)

Slow upload speeds can be very frustrating, whether you’re trying to upload documents to Google Drive or simply posting something to social media.

While most of us are more concerned with download speeds, upload internet speeds are also important. It is an important factor in how quickly you can send data to others over the internet. With more of us having to make daily Zoom calls, maintaining a decent upload speed is more important than ever.

But knowing you need to fix it and knowing how to do so are two entirely different things. So, what could be the cause of slow upload speeds, and, more importantly, how can they be improved? So, let’s take a quick look at the issues and potential solutions out there.

How To Fix Slow Upload Speed? (Easy Fixes)
How To Fix Slow Upload Speed? (Easy Fixes)

WHY IS MY UPLOAD SPEED SO SLOW?

Slow upload speeds are frequently caused by your internet service provider, and this is the best place to begin to try to diagnose your problem. It could, however, be caused by your router or the software you’re using, among other things.

It can also be determined by the number of internet-connected devices in your home. Many of us now work from home, which can lead to increased competition for bandwidth on your home server.

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However, these aren’t the only reasons your upload speed may be slow. There are a few different things that could be slowing down your upload speeds, but in most cases, there is a simple solution to the problem.

Some factors are unique to your upload speed, while others can have an impact on both your upload and download speeds. So, let’s look at the most common problems and how to solve them.

5 CAUSES OF A SLOW UPLOAD SPEED

A slow upload speed can be caused by a variety of factors, and it can make video calling nearly impossible. Here are six of the most likely causes and what you can do to fix them.

1. Your Router Drivers & Firmware

The firmware installed on your home wifi router is an important factor that can definitely affect your upload speeds. Firmware is simply another name for the software that your router employs, and it functions as the device’s operating system. In the case of your router, however, firmware is specifically designed to be faster than software.

Your router is bound to encounter bugs and vulnerabilities over time, as is the case with any device. While updating your router’s firmware isn’t required, it can help improve your upload speeds if you’re experiencing problems.

The driver for your router is, as the name implies, the driving force behind your router’s hardware. As the operating system to which it is connected improves, you will most likely receive updates for your driver. Keeping this up to date is also critical.

Solution: This is a simple one, and updating your router’s firmware is simple. This may help you improve your overall connection.

Ways To Fix Slow Upload Speed
Ways To Fix Slow Upload Speed

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2. Too Many Devices Connected

The number of devices you have connected to the internet may also affect your upload speeds, depending on the capabilities of your internet in the first place. More importantly, the number of devices actively uploading and downloading content at the same time.

If you want to see who is connected to your wifi, you can download a variety of apps that will show you all of the devices that are connected. They’re simple to use and can assist you in determining whether one of the kids is leaving their Playstation on and consuming all of your bandwidth.

Following on from that, it may be worthwhile to do this if you live in a densely populated area where your neighbors may connect to your wifi network. While this is less likely in housing estates, if you live in a flat or apartment, lovely old Jill at flat 2B could be connecting to your wifi on the sly.

Solution: If you have a large number of devices connected to your router, download an app from the App Store to see which ones are connected. Begin by disconnecting all of them and reconnecting your most important device to see if this improves your upload speeds.

3. Your Router Itself

Another factor that could be causing slow upload speeds is your router. This is especially true if you have an older router, and routers will eventually become obsolete. Older routers may have maximum speeds that they can use and may not be able to handle as many devices as newer routers.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen significant advancements in wireless network connectivity. If you have a two or three-story home, it may be worth considering a mesh wifi network to help increase your overall wi-fi range. As a result, your router could be the source of your problem.

Solution: If your router is particularly old, the best solution is to replace it, as it will most likely perform better. Before you do this, you might want to try restoring your router to factory default settings and restarting it to see if that solves the problem.

4. Malware/Viruses

Although this is extremely unlikely, it is possible that a virus/malware is affecting the speed of your router. While a virus on your router is extremely rare, malware on your laptop is possible.

The most common way a virus will slow down your computer is by running other programs in the background. This may consume some of your internet usage, resulting in slower upload speeds, primarily because other programs are using memory on your laptop.

Solution: Look for antivirus software online and see if that solves the problem. If you suspect your router is infected with a virus, perform a factory reset, which should resolve the issue. This is usually possible with a pinhole reset.

5. Check Your Devices Firewall

Something you may not have expected to cause a problem with both download and upload speeds is the firewall or antivirus software that you have installed on your device.

This may be slowing down the transfer speeds of your laptop or phone because it is likely checking the files as they are uploaded, slowing things down. This is more likely if you use your own firewall rather than the one that came with your laptop or device.

Solution: The simplest way to determine if this is causing your problem is to temporarily uninstall your firewall and see if this resolves the problem. If it does, you may be able to find a firewall that is more compatible with your uploading speeds.

How To Fix Slow Upload Speed?
How To Fix Slow Upload Speed?

HOW TO FIX AND OPTIMIZE SLOW UPLOAD SPEEDS

So, we’ve gone over all of the possible causes of your slow upload speeds above, but they’re not the only things you can try to fix the problem. How else can you compensate for slow upload speeds? Here are some examples of how you can do so.

  • Factory reset your router – The simplest way to improve your internet speed is to simply reset your router. Because it effectively clears your router’s data, many people find that simply doing this is enough to get their wi-fi back up and running.
  • Use a wired connection – As much as I hate to say it, if you can’t find any other problems, this may be your only option. In fact, it’s probably worth experimenting with a wired connection to see if it improves your upload speeds. If it doesn’t, this can help you narrow down the problem even further.
  • Try it at different times – With more and more people working from home these days, if you’ve noticed a drop in upload speeds during the day, try uploading in the evening or early morning instead. Internet service providers may not have anticipated such a dramatic increase in usage.
  • Use a different browser – If you’re having trouble with upload speeds on your laptop, switching to a different browser may be the solution. If you’re currently using Firefox, please switch to Chrome. If you’re using Chrome, consider switching to Firefox or even Opera.
  • It might not be your problem – If you’re only having this problem with one website when you’re online, it could be a problem with the website itself, not with you. This is especially true if the site receives a high volume of traffic, as it may be unable to accommodate all of the visitors.
Fix Slow Upload Speed
Fix Slow Upload Speed

CONCLUSION on Fix Slow Upload Speed

Overall, while our upload speeds will always be slower than our download speeds, they should not be so far behind that they impede your internet usage. In some cases, your internet service provider may be able to assist you in resolving the problem.

Make sure your internet service provider is aware of your issue, and that you have performed a speed test and checked your internet connection beforehand. The more you know, the more likely it is that they will assist you. An increase in your internet plan’s data allowance can help, but it’s not the first thing you should try.

Before you do this, you should probably go through our checklist to see if there’s anything you can do to solve the problem yourself. There are other potential causes of a problem, ranging from your router to its firmware, and it’s just a matter of determining where the actual problem is.

FAQs on Slow Upload Speed

How do I fix my upload speed?

If you want to try to fix your upload speed quickly, the first thing you should do is use a wired connection rather than a wireless connection. Then, try resetting your router to see if that resolves the problem. Finally, you can inquire with your internet service provider to see if there is anything specific causing slow upload speeds in your area.

Why is my upload speed so slow compared to download?

It’s completely normal for your upload speed to be significantly slower than your download speed. Modems are designed in this manner to provide the fastest download speeds possible, as this is what the majority of us rely on and use the most. Even though your upload speed will be slower, it should still be adequate for daily tasks.

Is upload speed important?

That depends on how many different things you intend to upload! Upload speeds will undoubtedly be important for those who work from home, and they will be especially important if you participate in a lot of online video conferences.

CEO and Networketing at Sycamorenet | + posts

I am passionate about networking internet technology and connecting the world. I believe that we can make a difference by providing unique solutions that are reliable and easy to use. I am constantly innovating and expanding our reach to new markets. Our goal is to provide global access to affordable, high-quality internet connectivity. Join us in our mission to connect the world!

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