In the last few days I've started noticing slowness and instability in my internet connection. Initially I thought it was a problem with my local network or internet provider, but now I'm sure it was a recent package update that caused it. I'm using Fedora 42. Here are the facts: 1) On Ookla's speed test, the download speed is between 10 Mbps and 30 Mbps at most, when it would normally be 750 Mbps. The upload speed is normal (230 Mbps). 2) The problem occurs both using Wi-Fi and a wired network. 3) Everything is normal on other devices. 4) If I boot using a Fedora 42 live-USB (that is, with older packages), on the same computer, with the same wired network, the download speed is normal (750 Mbps). 5) Booting using an older kernel (6.17-13 instead of 6.18-5) does not solve the problem. 6) If memory serves me right, problems began after the update on January 17th (see below). 7) I tried downgrading the packages using “sudo dnf history rollback”, but it says it couldn't find some of the old packages needed for the downgrade. Then I tried the “–skip-unavailable” option, but it only offers downgrading packages that have nothing to do with the issue. 8) This is an old computer, circa 2012 (see specs below). These were the last updates I made: on 17/jan/2026: Packages altered: Action Package Reason Repository Install kernel-modules-extra-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 User updates Install kernel-modules-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 User updates Install kernel-core-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 User updates Install kernel-modules-core-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 User updates Install kernel-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 User updates Upgrade amd-gpu-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade linux-firmware-whence-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Dependency updates Upgrade qcom-wwan-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Dependency updates Upgrade iwlwifi-mld-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Dependency updates Upgrade amd-ucode-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade atheros-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade brcmfmac-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade cirrus-audio-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade google-chrome-stable-0:144.0.7559.59-1.x86_64 External User google-chrome Upgrade intel-audio-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade intel-gpu-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade intel-vsc-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade iwlegacy-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade iwlwifi-dvm-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade iwlwifi-mvm-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade kernel-tools-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 Weak Dependency updates Upgrade kernel-tools-libs-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 Dependency updates Upgrade kf6-kguiaddons-0:6.22.1-1.fc42.x86_64 External User updates Upgrade libertas-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade linux-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade mt7xxx-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade nvidia-gpu-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade nxpwireless-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade plasma-activities-0:6.5.5-1.fc42.x86_64 External User updates Upgrade plasma-activities-stats-0:6.5.5-1.fc42.x86_64 External User updates Upgrade python3-perf-0:6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 Weak Dependency updates Upgrade realtek-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade tiwilink-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc42.noarch Group updates Remove kernel-0:6.17.12-200.fc42.x86_64 User @System Remove kernel-core-0:6.17.12-200.fc42.x86_64 User @System Remove kernel-modules-0:6.17.12-200.fc42.x86_64 User @System Remove kernel-modules-core-0:6.17.12-200.fc42.x86_64 User @System Remove kernel-modules-extra-0:6.17.12-200.fc42.x86_64 User @System Replaced amd-gpu-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced amd-ucode-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced atheros-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced brcmfmac-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced cirrus-audio-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced google-chrome-stable-0:143.0.7499.192-1.x86_64 External User @System Replaced intel-audio-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced intel-gpu-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced intel-vsc-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced iwlegacy-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced iwlwifi-dvm-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced iwlwifi-mld-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Dependency @System Replaced iwlwifi-mvm-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced kernel-tools-0:6.18.4-100.fc42.x86_64 Weak Dependency @System Replaced kernel-tools-libs-0:6.18.4-100.fc42.x86_64 Dependency @System Replaced kf6-kguiaddons-0:6.22.0-1.fc42.x86_64 External User @System Replaced libertas-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced linux-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced linux-firmware-whence-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Dependency @System Replaced mt7xxx-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced nvidia-gpu-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced nxpwireless-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced plasma-activities-0:6.5.4-1.fc42.x86_64 External User @System Replaced plasma-activities-stats-0:6.5.4-1.fc42.x86_64 External User @System Replaced python3-perf-0:6.18.4-100.fc42.x86_64 Weak Dependency @System Replaced qcom-wwan-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Dependency @System Replaced realtek-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced tiwilink-firmware-0:20251125-1.fc42.noarch Group @System on 19/jan/2026: Packages altered: Action Package Reason Repository Upgrade librsvg2-0:2.60.0-5.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade rsvg-pixbuf-loader-0:2.60.0-5.fc42.x86_64 Dependency updates Upgrade perl-Business-ISBN-Data-0:20260109.001-1.fc42.noarch External User updates Upgrade python3-boto3-0:1.42.26-1.fc42.noarch Weak Dependency updates Upgrade python3-botocore-0:1.42.26-1.fc42.noarch Dependency updates Upgrade rav1e-libs-0:0.8.1-2.fc42.x86_64 Dependency updates Upgrade tcpdump-14:4.99.6-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Replaced librsvg2-0:2.60.0-2.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced perl-Business-ISBN-Data-0:20250315.001-1.fc42.noarch External User @System Replaced python3-boto3-0:1.42.25-1.fc42.noarch Weak Dependency @System Replaced python3-botocore-0:1.42.25-1.fc42.noarch Dependency @System Replaced rav1e-libs-0:0.7.1-8.fc42.x86_64 Dependency @System Replaced rsvg-pixbuf-loader-0:2.60.0-2.fc42.x86_64 Dependency @System Replaced tcpdump-14:4.99.5-4.fc42.x86_64 Group @System on 20/jan/2026: Packages altered: Action Package Reason Repository Upgrade coreutils-0:9.6-7.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade coreutils-common-0:9.6-7.fc42.x86_64 Dependency updates Upgrade desktop-backgrounds-gnome-0:42.0.0-3.fc42.noarch Group updates Upgrade loupe-0:48.2-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade pipewire-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade pipewire-libs-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Dependency updates Upgrade pipewire-utils-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade pipewire-pulseaudio-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade pipewire-plugin-libcamera-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Weak Dependency updates Upgrade pipewire-jack-audio-connection-kit-libs-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Dependency updates Upgrade pipewire-gstreamer-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade pipewire-alsa-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Upgrade pipewire-jack-audio-connection-kit-0:1.4.10-1.fc42.x86_64 Group updates Replaced coreutils-0:9.6-6.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced coreutils-common-0:9.6-6.fc42.x86_64 Dependency @System Replaced desktop-backgrounds-gnome-0:42.0.0-2.fc42.noarch Group @System Replaced loupe-0:48.1-2.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced pipewire-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced pipewire-alsa-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced pipewire-gstreamer-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced pipewire-jack-audio-connection-kit-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced pipewire-jack-audio-connection-kit-libs-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Dependency @System Replaced pipewire-libs-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Dependency @System Replaced pipewire-plugin-libcamera-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Weak Dependency @System Replaced pipewire-pulseaudio-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Group @System Replaced pipewire-utils-0:1.4.9-1.fc42.x86_64 Group @System These are the specs of my computer: Model: Dell Inspiron 7520 CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-3612QM × 8 RAM: 8 GB iGPU: Intel® HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2) dGPU: VERDE Wifi controller: Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01) Wired controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 07) Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Run speedtest on https://www.speedtest.net/ Actual Results: The download speed is between 10 Mbps and 30 Mbps at most, when it would normally be 750 Mbps. The upload speed is normal (230 Mbps). Expected Results: Download speed should be around 750 Mbps. Additional Information: Computer specs were provided at the end of the "Details" field.
I upgraded to Fedora 43 and issue persists.
I also tried "dnf downgrade realtek-firmware", but issue persists. Packages altered: Action Package Reason Repository Downgrade realtek-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade linux-firmware-whence-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Dependency fedora Downgrade tiwilink-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade qcom-wwan-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Dependency fedora Downgrade nxpwireless-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade nvidia-gpu-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade mt7xxx-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade linux-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade libertas-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade iwlwifi-mvm-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade iwlwifi-mld-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Dependency fedora Downgrade iwlwifi-dvm-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade iwlegacy-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade intel-vsc-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade intel-gpu-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade intel-audio-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade cirrus-audio-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade brcmfmac-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade atheros-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade amd-ucode-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Downgrade amd-gpu-firmware-0:20251021-1.fc43.noarch Group fedora Replaced amd-gpu-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced amd-ucode-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced atheros-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced brcmfmac-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced cirrus-audio-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced intel-audio-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced intel-gpu-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced intel-vsc-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced iwlegacy-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced iwlwifi-dvm-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced iwlwifi-mld-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Dependency @System Replaced iwlwifi-mvm-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced libertas-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced linux-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced linux-firmware-whence-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Dependency @System Replaced mt7xxx-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced nvidia-gpu-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced nxpwireless-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced qcom-wwan-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Dependency @System Replaced realtek-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System Replaced tiwilink-firmware-0:20260110-1.fc43.noarch Group @System
Since my /home folder was on a separate partition, I decided to reinstall Fedora to see what happened. During reinstall, I formatted the / and /boot partitions, but left the /home partition untouched. This solved the problem. Even after updating all packages, the download speed was as expected (750 Mbps). I tested this first with Fedora 42 and then with Fedora 43, and it worked with both.