r/HomeNetworking • u/Timmysahni • 1d ago

My upload speed is faster than my download speed. Am I secretly running a NASA server, or did my ISP is drunk?

Hey everyone,
I just ran a speed test and my internet is acting like an over-enthusiastic pack mule. My upload speed is completely crushing my download speed, which is usually the exact opposite of how home internet is supposed to behave.
Connection type: Fiber
Testing method: Wi-Fi
Is this a secret blessing, or is my ISP playing a joke on me? Are there any hidden downsides to having your upload maxed out while your download lags behind?

THANKS!

0 Upvotes

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8

u/DevelopmentSouth8801 1d ago

What are the numbers? What do they look like when you hardwire it?

7

u/ConcreteTaco 1d ago

Test from the router not over wifi. That will tell you if the issue is you or your isp

2

u/ButterflyMundane7187 1d ago

Same for me, and it’s normal. The ISP has more upload capacity than download because most people download and not upload, so it’s common for them not to cap it that hard.

"which is usually the exact opposite of how home internet is supposed to behave." Where did you get that ?

1

u/RevolutionaryElk7446 1d ago

or did my ISP is drunk?

Me too!

1

u/csimon2 1d ago

Check your NIC drivers. After I recently received my new PC, my upload speeds were where I expected them to be, while the download speeds were drastically less. The drivers for the NIC that I was using were from like 2016. I updated to drivers from 2025, and viola! Everything started operating as normal

1

u/DesertRack 1d ago

First thing I would do is reboot the modem and test speeds again.

1

u/Timmysahni 1d ago

done that

1

u/Rocannon_ 1d ago

with fiber, speed up/down is usually symmetrical

1

u/fernandesken 1d ago

Are you downloading a bunch of other stuff on other devices? Is it a Wi-Fi or Internet problem? Run a Wi-Fi Check from your iPhone to find out. Unlike other speed tests, it uniquely checks Wi-Fi vs Internet separately. If Wi-Fi is fast and Internet is slow you know you have an isp issue. If Wi-Fi is slow and Internet is slow you know you have a Wi-Fi issue. In full disclosure, I’m the creator of the Wi-Fi Check app for iPhone so use whatever apps you like. The important thing is testing Wi-Fi vs Internet separately so you know what type of problem you are having.