Waiting for uploads is painful. Here are five proven techniques to maximize your upload speed when sharing files.

1. Use Wired Connection, Not WiFi

Impact: 2-5x faster uploads

WiFi is convenient, but Ethernet is faster:

  • WiFi: 20-50 Mbps typical upload speed
  • Ethernet: 100-1000 Mbps potential upload speed

Quick Win

If you're uploading files over 1GB, connect an Ethernet cable before starting. A 2GB upload that takes 20 minutes on WiFi could finish in 4 minutes wired.

Why It Matters

  • WiFi signal degrades with distance and obstacles
  • Other devices compete for bandwidth
  • 2.4GHz WiFi is especially slow for uploads
  • Ethernet provides dedicated, stable connection

Pro Tip

If you can't use Ethernet, at least:

  • Sit close to router
  • Use 5GHz WiFi (not 2.4GHz)
  • Pause other devices' downloads

2. Close Bandwidth-Heavy Applications

Impact: 30-50% speed increase

Culprits to Close

  • ✋ Video streaming (Netflix, YouTube, Twitch)
  • ✋ Video calls (Zoom, Teams, Meet)
  • ✋ Cloud backup services (Backblaze, Carbonite)
  • ✋ Game downloads (Steam, Epic Games)
  • ✋ Software updates (Windows Update, App Store)

How to Check What's Using Bandwidth

Windows:

  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
  • Click "Performance" tab
  • Click "Ethernet" or "Wi-Fi"
  • See which apps are using network
Mac:
  • Open Activity Monitor
  • Click "Network" tab
  • Sort by "Sent Bytes"
  • Quit bandwidth-heavy apps

3. Compress Before Uploading

Impact: 50-80% size reduction for compatible files

What to Compress

How to Compress

Windows:

  • Select files/folders
  • Right-click → "Send to" → "Compressed (zipped) folder"
  • Wait for compression
  • Upload the .zip file
Mac:
  • Select files/folders
  • Right-click → "Compress [items]"
  • Upload the .zip file

Real Example

Project folder with 50 HTML/CSS/JS files:

  • Uncompressed: 25 MB → 6 minutes to upload
  • Compressed: 7 MB → 1.5 minutes to upload
  • Time saved: 4.5 minutes

4. Upload During Off-Peak Hours

Impact: 20-40% faster speeds

Peak vs Off-Peak Times

Peak (slower):

  • 7-9 AM: Morning work start
  • 12-1 PM: Lunch hour streaming
  • 7-11 PM: Evening entertainment
Off-Peak (faster):
  • 2-5 AM: Late night/early morning
  • 2-4 PM: Afternoon lull
  • 6-7 AM: Before work rush

Strategy for Large Uploads

If uploading 2GB+ files:

  • Prepare files during the day
  • Start upload at 11 PM
  • Let it run overnight
  • Wake up to completed upload

Why It Works

  • ISPs have shared bandwidth per neighborhood
  • Fewer neighbors online = more bandwidth for you
  • Server-side congestion also reduced

5. Disable VPN (Temporarily)

Impact: 20-60% speed increase

VPN Speed Impact

VPNs add overhead:

  • Encryption/decryption processing
  • Routing through remote server
  • Extra network hops
Typical speeds:
  • Without VPN: 100 Mbps upload
  • With VPN: 40-70 Mbps upload

When It's Safe to Disable

✅ Disable VPN if:

  • You're on your home network
  • The file sharing service uses HTTPS
  • Files are already encrypted
  • Upload speed is critical
❌ Keep VPN enabled if:
  • You're on public WiFi
  • Your ISP monitors/throttles uploads
  • Company policy requires VPN
  • Uploading sensitive unencrypted data

Best Practice

  • Disconnect VPN for upload
  • Complete the upload
  • Reconnect VPN immediately

Bonus Tips

6. Use Modern Browser

  • Chrome and Edge have fastest upload engines
  • Update to latest version
  • Disable unnecessary browser extensions

7. Check Your Upload Speed

Know your baseline:

  • Visit speedtest.net
  • Run test
  • Note your "Upload" speed
  • If it's much lower than expected, contact ISP

8. Restart Your Router

If uploads seem unusually slow:

  • Unplug router for 30 seconds
  • Plug back in
  • Wait 2 minutes for full restart
  • Often fixes temporary slowdowns

9. Upgrade Your Plan (If Needed)

Check if you're on an old plan:

  • Many ISPs have faster speeds available
  • Upload speeds have increased significantly
  • Call ISP and ask about current plans
  • Might get upgrade for same price

Combined Impact Example

Uploading 2GB of project files:

Before Optimization

  • WiFi connection: 30 Mbps upload
  • Netflix streaming in background
  • Uncompressed files
  • VPN enabled
  • Total time: 55 minutes

After Optimization

  • Ethernet cable: 100 Mbps upload
  • All apps closed
  • Files compressed to 2GB
  • VPN disabled
  • Total time: 7 minutes
Time saved: 48 minutes (87% faster!)

Quick Reference Checklist

Before your next large upload:

Key Takeaways

  • Ethernet is 2-5x faster than WiFi for uploads
  • Closing bandwidth-heavy apps frees up 30-50% more speed
  • Compression can reduce upload time by 50-80% for compatible files
  • Off-peak hours (2-5 AM) offer 20-40% faster speeds
  • Disabling VPN can boost speeds 20-60%
  • Combining all techniques can make uploads 80-90% faster