Wireless networks can sometimes have unpredictable connectivity issues, as there are a lot of factors that can affect the signal strength. There could be an issue with your router, the environment surrounding your devices, antenna problems, drivers and another type of software, or wireless adapter. However, if you have a Surface Pro 4 and you’re noticing slow wireless connectivity, you probably have stumbled upon a known issue that results on slow Wi-Fi network connectivity with specific access points.
This issue first appeared in the Microsoft forums, where a Surface Pro 4 owner explained that during a Speedtest.net test the internet connection jumped from 17mbits and it then dropped down to less than 2mbits. User JymMuller also detailed that he has a Comcast Wi-Fi dual-band modem with speeds up to 150mbits.
On a reply, Joe a Microsoft employee revealed that is a known issue on Surface Pro 4 tablets where owners will notice slow throughput with specific access points. “The issue is specific to MAC layer aggregation (AMSDU over AMPDU) and only impacts a small subset of access points. We are working on a fix for an upcoming update. Until the fix is available, please update the registry key setting to work around this issue.”
Joe recommends to never roll back your Surface Pro 4 wireless adapter to a previous version. The tablet includes a new driver technology called WDI for Windows 10 and non-WDI drivers won’t work correctly.
As such, if you have a Surface Pro 4 and you’re experiencing slow wireless connectivity, you can try the following workaround.
Boost Surface Pro 4 Wi-Fi connectivity
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The first thing you have to do is to open the registry as an administrator, simply type regedit in the taskbar search box, and hit Enter.
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Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\mrvlpcie8897
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Find the item labeled “TXAMSDU”. Double tap and modify the value from 1 to 0.
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Restart your Windows 10 PC to complete the workaround.
If everything works as expected, your slow connectivity should be resolved and you should now see an improved wireless connection.
Of course, this isn’t a permanent solution, but we hope Microsoft releases an updated set of the driver through a firmware update soon to permanently fix the slow Wi-Fi issue on Surface Pro 4 tablet and possible Surface Book laptops.
Are you having any wireless issues with your Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book? Let us know in the comments below.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].