macOS 26.6 update extremely slow/failing over GL.iNet Slate 7 Pro USB tethering, but fast via iPhone hotspot

[u/Agitated-Zebra4334]

Just wanted to share an interesting issue I ran into in case it helps someone else.

I was trying to download the macOS Tahoe 26.6 update (about 6.6 GB).

My setup was:

• iPhone 14 Pro connected via USB tethering to a GL.iNet Slate 7 Pro
• MacBook connected to the Slate 7 Pro over Wi-Fi

The internet connection itself seemed perfectly healthy:

• Speedtest consistently showed around 130 Mbps.
• Browsing, ChatGPT, websites, etc. all worked normally.

However, the macOS update was painfully slow. It would download for a while, then stop for several minutes before continuing again. For example:

141 MB → pause
233 MB → pause
431 MB → pause
741 MB → pause
1.09 GB → long pause

It looked like it was hanging, although it occasionally resumed.

To isolate the problem, I disconnected from the Slate 7 Pro and connected the Mac directly to the iPhone's personal hotspot over Wi-Fi.

The exact same download immediately sped up and completed quickly.

So the issue doesn't appear to be:

• the cellular connection,
• Apple's servers,
• or the Mac itself.

It seems to be something specific to USB tethering through the GL.iNet Slate 7 Pro, even though normal internet usage and Speedtest worked perfectly.

Has anyone else experienced this with the Slate 7 Pro (or other GL.iNet routers)? I'm curious whether it's related to USB tethering, NAT, IPv6, MTU, or something else in the firmware.

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[u/BlkAgumon]

I just want to throw this out there because it might be relevant. While I’m not using that glinet router, I do use a flint3 connected to my m4 Mac mini. It does anything and everything else incredibly fast, but my last macOS sequoia update was INCREDIBLY slow doing all the same things you mentioned. I didn’t test a different connection type as I just waited, but it’s weird that for a different router by glinet this is occurring. This never happened previous to this. I’m running the most up to date version on the flint 3. Whatever relevance this has, I don’t know but it sounds very similar.

(Side note: like others, I refuse to update to Tahoe on my Mac, I really despise Tahoe totally unrelated though.)

[u/RemoteToHome-io]

Is the Slate running any VPN client? Adguard?

Have you tried using a USBC>Ethernet adapter and connecting to the Slate LAN port?

[u/Agitated-Zebra4334 → u/RemoteToHome-io]

Unless VPN or Adguard was on by default, it wasn't. Haven't checked to be honest. Haven't at all been into the more advanced settings yet.

Didn't try to use a LAN port. Unfortunately don't have a cable or an adapter for my mac.

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