How to Accurately Test Your Internet Speed

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Close other programs and downloads

    Before testing, close any downloads, streaming, or other programs using the internet β€” otherwise you won't get an accurate reading.

  2. Choose wired or wireless testing

    To check your actual line speed, connect with an ethernet cable directly; to check the speed you experience day to day, test over wifi instead.

  3. Run a speed test

    Visit an internet speed test site and start the test β€” it will show your download speed, upload speed, and ping (latency).

  4. Compare against your plan's advertised speed

    Check the measured speed against the speed your internet plan promises, to see whether it falls within a normal range.

  5. Test multiple times, at different times of day

    Don't judge based on a single result β€” testing repeatedly across different times of day gives you a more accurate sense of your average speed.

Accurate measurement is the first step to solving the problem

When your internet feels slow, an accurate speed test is where fixing the problem starts. If you don't control the testing conditions, the result can end up quite different from reality.

If wifi itself feels unstable

If your speed test results vary wildly or the connection drops entirely during testing, the wifi connection itself may be the underlying issue rather than your internet plan. Try moving closer to the router, switching to a less crowded wifi channel, or testing with a wired connection to isolate the cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

I get a different speed every time I test.

Results can vary depending on peak usage times or server conditions, so it's more accurate to judge based on an average across several tests at different times.

My speed test looks normal, so why do websites still load slowly?

Even with a normal internet speed, a slow response from the website's own server or a browser issue can still cause slow loading.