TP-Link Router Not Getting Full Speed? [10 Solutions]

TP-Link routers are known to offer strong coverage and fast internet. However, there are times when the router may disappoint you. Many TP-Link router owners report they are not getting the full speed internet for which they are paying. If you happen to be one of them, worry not! There are solutions to improve the internet speed on TP-Link routers.

If you are not getting full speed on your TP-Link router, probably you are a little distance away from the device. To enjoy the maximum, you need to be as close as the router. Other reasons for not getting the maximum speed include bad ethernet cable, incorrect router settings, and problems with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Also Read:
How to Fix if Tp-Link Wi-Fi Is Not Showing Up?

Let me now take you through actionable steps to improve the internet speed on your TP-Link router.

10 Ways to Fix TP-Link Router Not Getting Full Speed Issue

In this section, you will find a curated list of effective solutions to fix internet speed issues with your TP-Link router. Simply, apply the solutions one by one until the problem is fixed.

To check the internet speed, you can use speedtest.net.

1. Check the Cable and Connections

A faulty cable or loose connections can severely impact your internet speed. You should therefore carefully inspect all the cables for any damage. Also, make sure that no cable is bent at any place.

The next thing you need to check is if there are any loose connections. Check if the ethernet cable or any other cable is loosely connected. For this, remove all connections one by one and insert them again, with slightly more force this time.

After reconnecting all the cables, reboot your router and modem and check your internet speed. Don’t know how to do it? We have mentioned all the details in the next solution.

2. Reboot Your Router and Modem

A temporary glitch could be resisting the device from getting full speed. Try rebooting the router and the modem to fix it.

Disconnect the modem from the router and remove the power cable for both devices for at least 2 minutes. Plug the cables and again and then connect your router to the modem. Now, run an internet speed test to check if the speed has improved.

3. Use Cat6 or Above Ethernet Cable

If you are still not getting the full internet speed (as per your plan) with your TP-Link router, probably an ethernet cable replacement is needed. Ordinary ethernet cable can only give you limited internet speed, no matter how good your plan is.

To achieve the maximum speed, TP-Link recommends using Cat6 or above ethernet cable. If you don’t have this ethernet cable, try the Cat5e cable.

If you were using not using Cat5e or Cat6 ethernet cable before, you are going to see a jump in your internet speed.

4. Get a Gigabit Router

Some TP-Link routers only support 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN ports. It means that even if you have a 1 Gbps plan, the maximum speed you can get is 100 Mbps. To get a higher internet speed, you need a Gigabit router.

Check the specifications of your TP-Link router. If it only has 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN ports, get a new router.

5. Check the Negotiation Speed

Setting a lower negotiation speed can negatively impact your internet speed. It’s nothing but the maximum data transfer between two connected devices.

1. Connect to your Wi-Fi network and Go to tplinkwifi.net.
2. Go to Basic > Network Map.
3. Click on the TP-Link router icon.
4. Reach the bottom of this page and check the Negotiation Speed.
5. If the Negotiation Speed is not 1000Mbps, go to the Advanced tab.
6. Go to System Tool > System Parameters.
7. Click the dropdown next to Internet Port Negotiation Speed Setting and select 1000Mbps Full Duplex.

6. Disable QoS and Parental Controls

If you are not still not getting the full internet speed, disabling QoS and Parental Controls might help. This method is recommended by TP-Link to fix internet speed-related issues.

Steps to disable QoS:

1. Connect to your Wi-Fi network and Go to tplinkwifi.net.
2. Go to Advanced > QoS.
3. Uncheck the QoS option. If it’s already unchecked leave it.

If you can’t find QoS within the Advanced tab, follow these steps:

1. In your browser, type http://tplinkwifi.net or http://192.168.0.1 and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to the Basic tab.
3. Click HomeCare from the left panel.
4. Tap on QoS.
5. Click Application Priority.
6. Under Total Bandwidth, select Set manually.
7. Set Upload Bandwidth and Download Bandwidth to 1000 Mbps.
8. Tap on Device Priority and make sure Priority is disabled for all devices.

7. Check for Issues with the Router

There might be an issue with your router, either incorrect settings or some physical issues. To verify this, remove the router and directly connect the ethernet cable from the modem to your PC and run an internet speed test.

If you are getting the full speed, there might be an issue with your router. Try resetting your router. However, if the issue persists, contact your ISP.

8. Update Your Router’s Firmware

Try updating your TP-Link router’s firmware to check if it can fix the issue.

To update your router, follow these steps:

1. Go to http://www.tp-link.com/us/.
2. Tap on SUPPORT and click Download Center.
3. Select your router and download the latest firmware.
4. Extract the downloaded ZIP file.
5. Open the TP-Link web management page by going to http://tplinkwifi.net or http://192.168.0.1.
6. Go to System tools > Firmware Upgrade (or Firmware).
7. Click Browse/Choose File.
8. Select the extracted firmware file and click Open.
9. Click Upgrade.

After the latest firmware is installed, your router will reboot automatically.

9. Reset Your Router

If updating the router didn’t help, try resetting the device. It will fix if the issue was occuridng due to incorrect router settings or software bugs.

Note:
After resetting the router you’ll need to set up the device again.

To reset your TP-Link, locate the reset button (usually present on the rear side) and press it for 10 seconds. Release the button. Connect your PC to the network (password should be at the bottom of your router) and go to tplinkwifi.net to set up the device.

10. Contact Your ISP

If none of the above solutions worked in your favor, probably your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is facing technical issues. Contact your ISP to get it resolved.

We hope this guide was helpful to you. If you have any questions or queries, write them in the comments below.

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