Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is slow on the Mac but fast on the phone

When the phone is fast on the same network, the internet connection is not the problem. The difference is in the Wi-Fi link or in the software on the Mac.

Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for the System Settings steps. The Terminal commands work on all current versions.Checked: 29 October 2026

Symptoms

A speed test on the phone shows a much higher result than on the Mac, in the same room.
Pages and downloads on the Mac are slow, but video on the phone plays well.
The Mac was fast on this network before, then became slow.

Likely causes

A different band. The Mac can be on 2.4 GHz while the phone is on 5 GHz or 6 GHz. 2.4 GHz is slower and more crowded.
A weaker signal at the Mac. The Mac can be farther from the router, or behind walls or metal. Apple rates metal as very high interference.
Software on the Mac. A VPN, proxy, content filter or iCloud Private Relay changes the path of the traffic. Apple says that speed tests can show lower results with Private Relay on.
Uploads or downloads in the background. Sync, backups and updates on the Mac share the same link.
Interference near the Mac. USB 3 and Thunderbolt 3 devices and hubs near the Mac can interfere with Wi-Fi.

How to check

Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon. Write down the channel, band and 802.11 protocol.
On the phone, find the same values in its Wi-Fi details, or in the router app.
Show the signal and noise of the current network.
```
system_profiler SPAirPortDataType | grep -E 'Channel|Signal / Noise|Transmit Rate|PHY Mode' | head -4
```
Output Signal / Noise in dBm, the channel with its band and width, and the Transmit Rate.
See which processes use the network now. Press q to stop.
```
nettop -m route
```
Show the network services in their order. A VPN service at the top can carry all traffic.
```
networksetup -listnetworkserviceorder
```
Run Apple's speed test on the Mac. Compare it with the phone.
```
networkQuality
```

How to fix it

If the Mac is on 2.4 GHz, move nearer to the router. A stronger signal lets the Mac use 5 GHz or 6 GHz.
If the router uses a different name for each band, give all bands one name. Apple recommends this.
Move USB 3 and Thunderbolt 3 devices and hubs away from the Mac. Do not put them on top of it.
Pause the apps that sync or back up. Then test again.
Turn off the VPN or proxy for a test, if you can. Then test again.
For a test, turn off Limit IP address tracking. In System Settings > Wi-Fi, click Details next to the network.
Install all macOS updates. Choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.

With Kilobat

Show the band, channel, signal and link rate of the Mac in one line.
```
kilobat wifi status
```
Find which part is slow: Wi-Fi, the router, the internet or DNS.
```
kilobat diagnose
```
See live upload and download for each app. Press q to stop.
```
kilobat status --watch
```
The menu-bar app shows the same live traffic for each app. This is free.

Questions

Is a speed test on the Mac and on the phone a fair comparison?

Only in the same place and at the same time. Run both tests one after the other, next to each other.

Why does the link rate not match the speed test?

The link rate is the speed between the Mac and the router. The speed test also includes the internet connection.

Sources

Apple Support: Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference
Apple Support: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points
Apple Support: About iCloud Private Relay
Apple Support: Use the Wi-Fi status menu on Mac
system_profiler(8), nettop(1) and networkQuality(8), man page installed with macOS 27.2

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with man <name> in Terminal.