topic Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube? in Broadband & Landline

EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

SuarLFC — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:55:02 GMT

Hi,

I have been having trouble with my broadband for a little while, i thought it might be because i am using WIFI so had a electrician come out and fit ethernet cables to each room. I am still having issues, mainly with Youtube where it looks to be that my speeds are being throttled when it notices i'm streaming video from Youtube. I am paying for 900MBs but when i use the 'Stats for nerds' on Youtube to show my connection speeds it is around 3000kbps, which means it will only load 480p. If i turn on my VPN and essentially hide my traffic from EE my speeds immediately fly up to 500,000kbps+, this is very frustrating as i shouldn't need to run a VPN and the VPN is then causing connection errors on other websites making me refresh the page.

If this is not EE throttling what is causing this? I have tried resetting the BT fibre box, the EE modem, i have replaced the WIFI with ethernet, i have tried changing the DNS to both Google or Cloudfare to see if this fixes and nothing works.

EPDATE: I have just removed the ethernet and used WIFI and this is no longer happening on WIFI, is this something wrong with out the modem or my set up and the way its routing through a hardwired connection? Because it works fine with a VPN on wired

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

XRaySpeX — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:48:02 GMT

Have you run the speed test in the EE app? That will not only measure the raw BB connection speeds you are getting at the router as well as speeds to the device from which you are testing.

Which EE router & WiFi extenders, if any, do you have (read label or post a pix)?

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

SuarLFC — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:05:58 GMT

Hi, Sorry i posted a update:

I have just removed the ethernet and used WIFI and this is no longer happening on WIFI, is this something wrong with out the modem or my set up and the way its routing through a hardwired connection? Because it works fine with a VPN on wired

Model: Smart Hub SH32B (F5394-P EE)

I did have a Wifi extender which i no longer use as i am on wired.

Speed test: (To my phone upstairs next to my PC)

Speed to hub: Down 924Mbps - Up 99Mbps

Speed to device: 701Mbps - 102Mbps

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

Whaldane95 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 19:02:20 GMT

Not just me having this issue then... I'm honestly considering complaining and getting out of my contract because they are clearly throttling. Exact same issue, YouTube constantly dropping to absymally slow connection speeds (3000Kbps) and stuck buffering a lot of the time. Yet when I speed test my network on an ethernet connection I am getting the correct speeds. Isn't it strange that if I turn off WiFi and connect to my mobile data, YouTube works completely fine? Don't the OpenReach providers claim that they don't throttle your speeds? Whenever I try to contact them through the app, it was say "Estimated 50 minutes wait time" yet it will take about 3 hours for someone to reply, at which point I have given up waiting already so they close the chat. This is clearly one of two things: They are throttling for some reason, OR there is a problem with their routing of the connection to YouTube. I pay for a Premium membership on YouTube, so if EE wont fix this, I want out immediately.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

Aztectrev — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:43:22 GMT

Having the same issue right now. I don't see the connection speed option in the stats, but scrolling YouTube shorts there is a 5-10 seconds delay loading each video if they do at all. Perfectly fine if I use 5g, less than a quarter of a second, also using EE network on phone through MVNO. Only been with EE for home broadband for about 10 days

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

Aletaz — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:07:37 GMT

I’m having the exact same issue, similar to the above I have tried switching in between mobile data and wifi , and when on EE wifi the buffering issues are immediate despite full wifi signal and speed tests confirming speeds of 470 mbps+

I’ve troubled shot this to confirm it is absolutely an EE ISP issue , I have deleted the YouTube app, cleared cache, changed the DNS on my phone manually to the Google aligned one, reset routers and have tested on multiple devices and the common theme is EE WiFi.

the cynical side of me wonders if this is somehow linked to EE wifi optimiser and ‘stream mode’ being offered as a solution.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

JimM11 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:08:26 GMT

@Whaldane95 Nothing stopping a user leaving at anytime for whatever reason they think is wrong.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

JimM11 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:10:31 GMT

@Aztectrev You have 4 day's or about to leave penalty free and go elsewhere.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

jak26 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:39:03 GMT

These are somewhat confusing mentioning mobile data, DNS, etc, plus what happens on a phone is impacted by many factors, and of course WIFI speeds vary.

On a PC with wired LAN (speed test 930 at PC) with a 4K Youtube video (N.B. Check the res is 4K as sometimes the app/webpage starts off at 1440p) the Youtube stats show a connection speed of around 500Mb/s.

On a TV YouTube app - the limiting factor here is the TV's 100Mb/s LAN port which I use even though WIFI would be faster in theory, both YouTube stats and the Netflix test show 90Mb/s.

Downloads from Windows Store (e.g. game pass installs) do seem to be limited to 500-600Mb/s - prob a server limitation.

In any case normal streaming doesn't need more than 40-80Mb/s. Although 900 speed sounds great it's far more than really needed real world on any one device - it's just there are some good new customer deals for 900.

One actual problem I've noticed with EE - maybe relates to IPv6 whereas the old ISP didn't support it or its the new hub - but it's taking some 10secs or so for a PC or device to get an internet connection after waking

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

JimM11 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:44:39 GMT

@jak26 Wired Network connection on the PC and to a EE Smart Hub 6+ per chance?

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

jak26 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:06:57 GMT

@JimM11 Its only a couple of days activated, so a new Hub 7 Plus, then wired LAN to PC.

Although not really related to these throttling issues, I've found a few things so far -

Trying to on-board via the app coincided with that 9 hour sign-in outage last week (that affected BT email too) - annoyingly the app needs to log in to the web account to do anything - the division of function between app and web dashboard is strange.

The Hub rebooted a couple of times straight away - likely f/w updating - but another annoyance trying to complete first setup.

After reading posts I went straight to the compatible option for 2.4GHz and so far no probs with some older devices.

Trying to get a device list is confusing. The dashboard version is fairly complete but uses DHCP related names that can't be edited. On the app the device list obtained by clicking the image of the router is fairly complete with names that are more correct suggesting some kind of lookup. The other device list available from the app seems to always miss out a few devices.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

JimM11 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:13:29 GMT

@jak26 Not sure if the 7 Plus suffers from the delayed Ethernet port connection, you will have to find that out, the 6+ version was 20-30 seconds for connection, and only a switch keeping the port active was the way to get instant connection was nothing to do with iPv6 at all.

The app good luck with that, you will need it. Names are edited on the stupid app, they stick well app wise, sometimes pass over to the Hub if lucky and then Web manager shows what you want. Below so you have it FW history so far.

Smart Hub 7 Plus
FW: r3.29.4-R-1511690-PROD-84001 and the gui is at App version 3.7.4 19/12/2025
FW: r3.35.15-R-1597208-PROD-84001 and the gui is at App version 3.11.2 19/12/2025
FW: r3.35.24-R-1648110-PROD-84001 and the gui is at App version 3.11.3 23/01/2026

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

Pghstochaj — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:17:25 GMT

Grr. I spent most of today assuming that it was a fault on my side, swapping out deco units, swapping out cables, removing 4g back up, resets, different DNS, changing every setting I can within the Deco system then realised that:

My ping and broadband speed throughout is really good (up to 900 Mbits). Everything else works brilliantly, including Netflix. It’s just a YouTube issue.

Connected to LAN and WiFi I get the same bad result, large lag, slow loading times, can’t easily skip through on laptop and phone.

On 1/2 bar 4g it all works completely fine.
On a VPN with wifi it works absolutely fine (even a rubbish VPN).

ChatGPT told me that it’s an ISP-YouTube routing issue and then I find I’m not the only person.

I wonder how to get it sorted.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

JimM11 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:25:01 GMT

@Pghstochaj You need to call EE CS and have them fix it for you.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

Pghstochaj — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:37:27 GMT

It’s not just me, it’s on BT and Plusnet too. Reddit users are trying to work out if it is national or limited to a certain area. Obviously I will contact EE tomorrow but given the extent of the issue I cannot believe that either they don’t know, or it is intentional.
Some users won’t notice as they might not use YouTube enough to see the big change in behaviour, plus randomly some videos work well, making my troubleshooting today very confusing.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

JimM11 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:58:09 GMT

@Pghstochaj Wife uses you tube premium all day connected laptop, FF500 connection on Vodafone here Scotland zero issues....

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

bobpullen — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:45:55 GMT

There's a thread over on the BT forums here too. I also saw some chatter on Reddit yesterday.

The last time I recall something like this happening, it ended up being specific to certain CDN locations. There was some decent troubleshooting in another thread over on the BT forums here before it was eventually resolved.

Perhaps worth a read to see if there are any pointers that might help isolate the cause this time round?

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

zmulla84 — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:18:02 GMT

I’ve had the same issue this week! I’m on the 1.8gbps package using an Asus router and used different DNS and EEs own! It’s always buffering for a few seconds but evening times between 7-9pm it’s the worst. Thinking of leaving EE due to throttling of pretty much everything, I used to be on BT 900 and thinks were instantaneous

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

helloitwez — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:09:24 GMT

Same issue here.

Started about 10 days ago. Constant buffering or dropping down to the lowest resolution in YouTube. It’s definitely not the connection itself as Apple TV streams perfectly in 4K HDR.

Tried Apple TV hardwired and default Samsung Smart TV YouTube app over WiFi and both have the same issue.

Re: EE Throttling my speeds when i use Youtube?

Pghstochaj — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:36:52 GMT

Even shorts are taking 4-5 seconds to load this evening.

Netflix 4k is instant.