How To Increase Upload & Download Speeds

{"menuItems":[{"characterization":"Hit \"Go\" beneath to test your Net speed","anchorName":"#test"},{"label":"Alter your broadband provider","anchorName":"#change-your-broadband-provider"},{"label":"Why is my upload speed so tedious?","anchorName":"#why-is-my-upload-speed-so-slow"},{"label":"How to increase your upload speed","anchorName":"#increase-speed"},{"label":"Lesser line","anchorName":"#lesser-line"},{"label":"Find a new broadband provider","anchorName":"#compare-bb"},{"characterization":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}

Your upload speed is the speed at which your broadband connection can send data over the Net. Upload speed can lag behind download speed in the U.k., and increased home-working means that having a decent upload speed is vital for anyone video-conferencing via platforms similar Zoom, Teams and Skype. Your upload speed determines whether others can run across and hear you properly during calls. The telecoms watchdog Ofcom says that the average upload speed in the UK is just under 10Mbps.

Bank check your download and upload speed with our broadband speed checker, then follow our tips for increasing your upload speed.

Hit "GO" below to test your Cyberspace speed

Change your broadband provider

There are several causes of slow upload, merely a mutual factor is that your broadband supplier isn't able to offering decent upload speeds in your area. If your upload speed's sluggishness is considering of your provider and package, you may find that unlike providers perform ameliorate in certain areas of the country. So it could exist worth switching.

TV and broadband bundles from £39.99 a month

Looking for a new Tv and broadband bundle? Bank check out what BT has to offer and get yourself a deal today! T&Cs apply

Ultrafast broadband

Go ultrafast broadband speeds from Virgin Media using DOCSIS® 3 technology.

Find the most suitable broadband for your business

Check out Virgin Media's broadband offer and be sure your company stays always connected. T&Cs utilise.

Why is my upload speed and so slow?

Here are the typical factors that tin can bear upon your upload speeds:

Your connection bandwidth. This is a fundamental factor in whether you tin can access decent upload speeds and is largely determined by your provider. So, as we've said above, if your uploads are irksome, it may just exist a case of switching providers. Even if your connexion is generally quite good, your supplier may exist doing something called "throttling", which is when information technology deliberately reduces your bachelor bandwidth in order to manage lots of users' traffic.
Too many devices on a single network. As a general rule of thumb, the more than devices logged in to the same broadband connectedness, the more of your connection's bandwidth is existence used up, slowing down both your download and upload speeds. So if 3 or 4 users in a single household all want to stream ultra-high definition movies or play bandwidth-heavy online games at the aforementioned time, this can wearisome downward everyone'southward connection.
Malware on your computer. This could besides be slowing downward your device's ability to upload at a decent speed. You lot may have inadvertently downloaded malware, or malicious software, in an e-mail zipper or when downloading a file from an untrustworthy website.
Outdated device drivers. Drivers are pieces of software that allow your computer to control hardware like network adapters, printers and keyboards. Outdated drivers can prevent your device from uploading data to its total potential.

How to increase your upload speed

Try using a wired connexion. If you're currently using a Wi-Fi connection, try connecting to the Internet with an ethernet cable to your figurer. Wired connections can offering both faster upload and download speeds.
Articulate your temporary files. Clearing your web history, caches and cookies can increase the overall speed of your figurer, and this in plough volition increase your upload speed.
Remove other devices from your network. Try removing any devices that you don't immediately need connected to the Net. This can include wireless printers and mobile phones too.
Remove malware. You should brand sure you don't have any computer viruses. You tin do this by downloading antivirus software and by making sure that information technology's working properly. There are a range of both free and paid-for antivirus software packages that tin can offer strong protection.
Alter your DNS settings. Domain name servers (DNS) are computer programs or servers that assistance "betoken" your web browser to different websites. They accept different speeds and y'all tin can alter your DNS by finding the fastest ones and entering the codes manually in your Internet settings. You can also download tools to help go the fastest ones. Two reliable tools are Google DNS and OpenDNS, but there are also some professional level ones that y'all take to pay for.
Update device drivers. If your device drivers are outdated it can really tiresome you down. You can update them by clicking "update device drivers" in your network adapter's options menu.
Upload at off-peak times. This i isn't particularly helpful if y'all need to upload data chop-chop now, but off-peak times have much quicker speeds, and this is something to consider when choosing the time you upload something.

Bottom line

The checks we've mentioned should help you quickly work out whether the issue is your device, your network set-upward or your broadband provider. If it's the provider, you tin can compare other options through Finder.

Discover a new broadband provider

If yous've had enough of your electric current broadband provider, use our comparing to find a better one, based on what'south available in your postcode.

Compare broadband plans and find the all-time deal.

Your information is secure.

Oft asked questions

We show offers we can rails - that'southward not every production on the market place...nonetheless. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no item society. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's neat about a product when we highlight it. This is discipline to our terms of utilise. When you make major fiscal decisions, consider getting independent fiscal advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what'southward right for you.

Nick Renaud-Komiya has been a writer and reporter for nine years, covering a range of consumer issues from energy suppliers to cyberbanking and mortgage issues. He enjoys helping people take control of their personal finances and better sympathise their consumer rights. Nick's consumer writing and money journalism has been featured in a range of outlets including MoneySavingExpert.com, The Sunday Mirror, The Independent and Coin.co.uk. Outside of work Nick enjoys cooking and collecting old David Bowie merch.

More guides on Finder

Methodology for broadband ratings
This is how nosotros came up with our proficient ratings and satisfaction star ratings for broadband providers.
How to improve your broadband speed
Learn how to boost your broadband speed. Our guide provides top tips on faster broadband including updating a router, housekeeping and switching to a faster fibre optic network.