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If Ethernet became slow after you added a switch, compare the same computer connected directly to the router and through the switch, then check the negotiated link rate on both the computer-to-switch link and the router-to-switch uplink. Swap cables and ports one at a time. This separates a cable, port, or negotiation problem from an internet-speed issue—and helps establish whether the switch is actually at fault.
Start with a controlled comparison
Use the same computer and comparable speed-test conditions for both tests. First connect it directly to a router port that supports the speed you expect; then connect it through the switch. Record the internet speed-test result and, separately, the Ethernet link rate shown by the operating system or device status. Link rate is the negotiated speed of an Ethernet connection; a speed test measures application throughput and can be lower for reasons beyond the local Ethernet link.
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If the direct connection is also slow, the switch is not yet isolated as the cause. Check the router, internet connection, computer, and test conditions before focusing on the switched path. TP-Link and Intel both recommend using a direct connection to a known-capable router port as a comparison: TP-Link’s unmanaged-switch troubleshooting guide and Intel’s guide to Ethernet links capped at 100 Mbps.
Check the link rate on both Ethernet segments
A switched connection has at least two links to inspect: the computer-to-switch connection and the switch-to-router uplink. A slow link on either segment can constrain traffic across the path. Check Ethernet adapter status on the computer; if your router exposes port status, check the uplink there as well. Unmanaged switches may not provide a status interface, so you may only be able to inspect the computer-side link.
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If gigabit-capable devices show a 100 Mbps link, treat it as a clue to investigate—not proof that the switch itself is defective. A cable, connector, port, or negotiation issue may be responsible. TP-Link uses a 100 Mbps connection between gigabit-capable devices as an example of a link that is not communicating properly; it does not establish how frequently this happens or identify the faulty component.
Swap cables and ports one at a time
- Reseat the Ethernet connectors at both ends of the cable and rerun the comparison.
- Replace the computer-to-switch cable with a known-good cable, then test again.
- Try a different switch port for the computer connection.
- Replace the switch-to-router uplink cable and, if available, try another suitable router port.
- If the route uses wall jacks or in-wall wiring, include those parts in the path. Test around them with a direct temporary cable where practical.
Change one component at a time so you can tell which change affects the result. Intel notes that the full cabling path includes connections before and after switches, wall jacks, and in-wall cable, and recommends comparison with a proven Cat 6 or better cable. TP-Link also identifies nonstandard cabling and poorly secured conductors or connectors as possible causes. A Cat 6 cable is useful as a known-good substitute; it does not by itself guarantee faster internet or fix a fault elsewhere in the run. See Intel’s cabling guidance and TP-Link’s switch troubleshooting guidance.
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A cable tester can help check wiring or continuity on a fixed run. The cited vendor guidance does not validate a particular tester or show that a basic continuity test certifies gigabit performance. Cisco’s LAN switching troubleshooting guide provides additional context on cabling and link problems.
Confirm port capability and negotiation settings
Check the specifications for the router port, switch port, and computer’s Ethernet adapter. Each must support the target rate for the link to negotiate it. A gigabit-capable switch cannot make a 100 Mbps router port or adapter connect at gigabit speed.
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For gigabit Ethernet, begin with auto-negotiation at both ends rather than forcing a speed or duplex value on only one device. Intel identifies auto-negotiation as the correct Speed & Duplex setting for gigabit on its Killer adapters, and TP-Link says its unmanaged switches negotiate automatically and recommends the same approach for the router and network adapter. See Intel’s Killer adapter guidance, Intel’s gigabit troubleshooting guidance, and TP-Link’s unmanaged-switch guidance.
If a managed router, switch, or adapter has a manually configured speed or duplex setting, check both ends and consult the documentation for those exact models before changing it. Cisco’s guides discuss speed and duplex mismatches, but some procedures apply to older Catalyst equipment and should not be treated as universal instructions for home-network devices: Cisco’s port and interface troubleshooting guide.
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Separate local-network performance from internet speed
If the direct-to-router result is normal but the switched path remains slow after cable and port substitutions, test local traffic separately if you have two computers. TP-Link suggests connecting two PCs to the switch, disconnecting other devices for the test, and transferring a file between them. This is an isolation method, not a universal speed benchmark.
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- If the local transfer is also very slow, inspect the two computer-to-switch links, their cables, and the switch itself.
- If local transfer is healthy while internet speed tests are slow through the switched path, look again at the router uplink and the router or internet path.
TP-Link describes this comparison in its unmanaged-switch troubleshooting guide.
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When to suspect the switch
Consider the switch a likely cause only after a consistent direct-versus-switched comparison points to it and you have checked the relevant cables, ports, device capabilities, and negotiation settings. If the switched path remains substantially slower, contact the switch manufacturer or test with a known-good replacement switch. TP-Link recommends contacting support when transfer speed remains substantially slower than the direct-router comparison.
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