Fix: ‘Ethernet capped at 100mbps’ issue on Windows PC

Do you want to know how to Fix ‘Ethernet capped at 100mbps’ issue on Windows PC? Most Ethernet connections have speeds between 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps. Even if your ISP promised you a Gigabit fiber connection, if your network equipment doesn’t support a 1.0 Gbps (Gigabit) connection, you may only see a 100 Mbps cap when you look at the Details window of your Ethernet adapter in Windows 11 or Windows 10 or when you test your internet speed. When downloading or streaming content on Windows 10, a slow ethernet connection can be very frustrating.

Most people prefer to use Wi-Fi as their main way to connect to the internet at home today. Wi-Fi is fast and, most importantly, easy to use, so there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s clear that an Ethernet connection is still the best way to connect to the internet. No matter what anyone says, an Ethernet connection is your best bet if you want speeds that are reliable and range from 100Mbps to 1Gbps. Now, there are times when people with a Gigabit fiber connection can’t get the 1Gbps speed they pay for because the maximum speed of Ethernet cable internet is 100Mbps. Here are the many ways to Fix ‘Ethernet capped at 100mbps’ issue on Windows PC. If you want to know more information about this Visit Official Microsoft Support site.

Check Ethernet Cable

1. Check Ethernet connections: Ensure all Ethernet connections are in good order.
2. Possible cable issue: If connections appear fine, the problem may be with the Ethernet cable itself.
3. Ethernet cable classification: Cables are categorized based on their data transfer capabilities.
4. Commonly used cables: Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6 are the most commonly used Ethernet cables for home and office networks.
5. Less commonly used cables: Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat8 are other Ethernet cable options.
6. Speed limitations of Cat5: If using a Cat5 cable, the maximum data transfer speed is limited to 100 Mbps.
7. Upgrade to Cat5e: To overcome the speed limitation, replace the Cat5 cable with at least a Cat5e cable, which can transfer data up to 1000 Mbps.
8. Identifying cable type: Examine the sheath of the cable to identify its type.
9. Look for text on the sheath: Check for text indicating whether it is Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, or another type.
10. Lack of text on sheath: If no text is present, determining the cable type may be challenging. Differences between types are typically minor, such as thickness and internal wiring.

Check Ethernet Adapter Settings

Fix ‘Ethernet capped at 100mbps’ issue on Windows PC: If you’ve ruled out all of the physical causes of the error, it’s time to look at the software. Your connection speed could be limited to 100 Mbps because of how your computer’s Ethernet adapter is set up. There are a number of settings that need to be looked at. Follow the steps below to make sure your adapter settings are set up correctly:

1. Use Windows Search to find and open the Settings app.
2. Choose “Network & Internet” from the list on the left, then “Advanced network settings” on the right.
3. Click on “More network adapter options” under “Related settings.”
4. In the new window called “Network Connections,” right-click your Ethernet adapter and click “Properties.” Users of Windows 10 can open the “Network Connections” window by clicking “Change adapter options” after step 2.
5. To open more properties, click the “Configure” button in the new Properties window.
6. Open the “Advanced” tab at the top and choose “Speed & Duplex” from the “Property” box.
7. Make sure that its right-hand value is set to “Auto Negotiation.” This setting will make sure that your computer gets the fastest speed it can get with your broadband plan and Ethernet cable. Note that you shouldn’t choose any other value, like “1.0 Gbps Full Duplex,” since “Auto Negotiation” is the best setting.
8. Move on to the other settings that could be slowing down your Ethernet speed. Make sure that the following settings are set to “Disabled“: “Energy-Efficient Ethernet,” “Gigabit Lite,” “Green Ethernet,” and “Power Saving Mode.”
9. Click “OK” and give your adapter a few seconds to set up the new settings. After a few seconds, it will turn itself off and then back on again.

Replace RJ45 Connectors

1. Switching from a lower bandwidth cable like Cat5 to a higher one like Cat5e or Cat6 should ideally fix the issue of capped Ethernet speeds. But if you’re still experiencing intermittent speed drops on your Gigabit connection, it’s possible that the RJ45 connectors at the ends of the Ethernet cable are the culprits.
2. Often, home setups involve routing the Ethernet cable internally within the walls. This is both for achieving a cleaner look as well as protecting the cable from damage. The default RJ45 connectors that are pre-applied to the cable ends are often too big and need to be removed before routing the cable through the walls. This inevitably requires “re-crimping” or reconnecting new connectors to the cable ends once they come out at the other end.
3. It is at this stage that issues will creep up. Either the new RJ45 connector used is incompatible with the cable’s internal wires, or the re-crimping process is wrong. If even one of the internal wires is not connected properly to the connector’s metal contacts, your connection speed will drop to 100 Mbps.
4. Hence, consider replacing your RJ45 connectors with shielded, high-quality ones. It’s advisable to do this only after you’ve already replaced the cable itself and the issue still persists.

Update Ethernet Drivers

Most users should be able to fix the slow speed problem by correctly setting up the settings in the last section. But if you still can’t fix it, you could try updating the drivers for your Ethernet adapter. Drivers that are too old can often cause a number of problems, one of which is that the Ethernet speed is capped.

1. Right-click the Windows icon and choose “Device Manager.”
2. Right-click the name of your Ethernet adapter under “Network adapters,” then click “Update driver.” Most likely, “Realtek,” “Broadcom,” or “Intel” will be in the name of your network adapter.
3. Select “Search automatically for drivers” and let Windows look for the latest network drivers for your adapter.
4. If new drivers are available, they will be put in automatically. If not, you will see the message “The best drivers for your device are already installed.”

Ensure Proper Cable Connections

1. When you connect Ethernet cables to your computer or router, notice an audible click or snap once the cable is firmly in place.
2. Sometimes the Ethernet cable is not fully connected, or the “clip/tab” on the cable connector (RJ45 connector) becomes loose or breaks entirely.
3. This can cause the connection between the connector and the computer/router to become less stable.
4. A loosely-connected cable can cause a speed drop for a high-speed 200 Mbps/300 Mbps or faster connection where the network will default to 100 Mbps.
5. To fix this, disconnect the Ethernet cable from both your router and computer and reconnect it after around 30 seconds.
6. Ensure that the cable is tightly connected at both ends.
7. Even with a broken clip, you can push the cable all the way into the LAN port to eliminate a loose connection as the source of the capped speed.

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