Is it possible that my MacBook Pro is causing slow internet speeds?

I usually get speeds from 700-900 Mbps down and 20ish Mbps up. I use Comcast/Xfinity. Around the Christmas holiday I started noticing what looked like my speeds be throttled. I assume Xfinity, however, I've been trouble shooting on my own and with them for a while and I am not sure if it's the Xfinity service or maybe my MacBook. I've never had an issue that points to Mac. But I did recently update to Sonoma 14.2.1 and it does coincide with this issue.

I have done all of the basic trouble shooting (unplugging the modem/gateway, the router, shutting down all devices etc.). I did all of those steps again with them on a call with an agent. They are going to send a tech out but I'd like to rule out this having anything to do with my devices. I am using my Mac mini to connect to the gateway directly (my MacBook Pro does not have an ethernet port) via ethernet. Whether I am plugged directly into the gateway or if I am on WiFi my speeds are equally slow. I was getting 90ish down earlier and if I test right now I'm only getting 9. Ugh. This is probably not a Mac thing but I wanted to get opinions from this discussion board so I can rule them out. I only have Apple devices, 3 laptops, Mac mini, Apple TVs, iPhone's etc. So I don't have a way to test on a non-Apple device. (My son does have a Chromebook however, it does not have an ethernet port either.)

Is it possible that my speeds are being slowed by my devices? Any troubleshooting advice that I haven't already tried?

MacBook Pro

2.6 GHz 6-core intel core i7

16 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

macOS Sonoma 14.2.2

TIA

Posted on Jan 16, 2024 3:46 PM

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

140,261 points

Posted on Jan 16, 2024 4:33 PM

if your get very similar speeds on Ethernet And Wi-Fi chances are you actually did two tests on Wi-Fi.

Packets going to the Internet are sent using the TOPMOST, working interface shown in system preferences > network. Unless Ethernet is TOPMOST, you are not using it for your internet connection.

To get ethernet to the TOP, use the gear icon under the interfaces list and select 'Set service Order', then drag Ethernet topmost. When its cable is not plugged in, it will be not working and passed by and Wi-fi will be used instead.

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Is it possible that my MacBook Pro is causing slow internet speeds?

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