internet search speed slows after early morning but router speed test is fine

[bobg27]

In the morning my interest search speed is fine but later in the day it slows.  Only 2 people in household on our own router.   Router speed test shows a gig.   Laptop is HP less than a year old

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @bobg27 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for laying that out so clearly—it really helps narrow things down! 😊 Even with a high-speed gigabit connection and just two users, it’s surprisingly common to see slowdowns later in the day. 

Let’s walk through a few possibilities and what you can do to smooth things out:

🌐 Possible Causes for Slower Speeds Later in the Day

🕒 Peak Hour Congestion

• Internet providers often experience heavier traffic in the evenings when more users are online.
• Even with a fast plan, shared infrastructure in your area can cause temporary slowdowns.

📶 Wi-Fi Signal Interference

• Other nearby networks or devices (like microwaves, Bluetooth speakers) can interfere with your signal.
• This tends to worsen during busy hours when more devices are active.

🧠 Background Apps or Updates

• Windows or other apps may schedule updates or backups during the day.
• These can quietly hog bandwidth without you noticing.

🔄 Router Performance Over Time

• Some routers slow down after long uptime periods.
• A quick reboot can refresh its memory and improve performance.

🛡️ Malware or Unwanted Programs

• If something sneaky is running in the background, it could be using your bandwidth.
• A scan with Windows Security or a trusted antivirus tool can help rule this out.

 

🛠️ Steps to Improve Speed Consistency

Restart Your Router Daily

• Unplug for 30 seconds and plug back in.
• This clears memory and refreshes connections.

Check for Background Activity

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look for high network usage.
• Disable or reschedule updates and cloud syncs.

Switch Wi-Fi Bands

• Try connecting to the 5GHz band if available—it’s faster and less crowded than 2.4GHz.

Run Speed Tests at Different Times

• Use Speedtest.net to compare morning vs evening speeds.
• This helps confirm if it’s a time-based issue.

Update Network Drivers

• Go to Device Manager → Network Adapters → Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → Update driver.

Scan for Malware

• Use Windows Security or a trusted antivirus to check for anything suspicious.

Consider conducting regular speed tests at different times to monitor variations and contact your internet service provider if persistent issues occur.

You’ve got a solid setup—just a few tweaks might make it even better! 💪😄

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye