Every now and so, everyone experiences the kind of internet slowdown that makes you wonder whether you're really getting the net speed you are paying for. Wifi speed tests can help you confirm this.

You can usually view the speed of the internet plan you're paying for by viewing your internet nib. The speed for your plan is typically listed alongside the program name.

If yous're paying for a plan that promises up to 60 Mbps, for example, then authentic speed tests from devices on your network should written report a speed at least shut to that rate.

It's also worth figuring out whether your download and upload speeds are symmetrical or non. Verizon FIOS is symmetrical, significant if you have 100 Mbps download, you also have 100 Mbps upload, which is astonishing if you need to upload a lot.

Understanding Wi-Fi Speed Test Results

In that location are 3 core tests you can perform to measure the overall wellness and speed of your internet connection. Those 3 tests are download, upload, and ping.

Ping tests are related to network latency. Latency is the amount of fourth dimension it takes for a packet of data to travel from one reckoner to some other over the network.

This is related to upload and download tests anyway, so isn't necessary for most users to perform ping tests. Still, for gamers, where latency tin lead to significant lag in network gaming, ping test are very important.

Download tests show you lot how quickly your computer can transfer content from the internet to your computer. This includes time information technology'll take to stream content from video streaming services to your computer or downloading files.

Upload tests will permit you know how long it'll take to transfer files or other content from your computer to the internet. For example, uploading files from your estimator to your Google Drive or other deject storage account.

All speed test tools will provide you with download and upload speeds in megabits per 2nd (Mbps) and sometimes also ping fourth dimension in milliseconds (ms).

If Mbps doesn't make any sense to you, make sure to read my guide on agreement network transfer speeds outset.

Best Online Wi-Fi Speed Tests

There are many complimentary tools bachelor that volition give you accurate speed results.

A few of the best online tools include:

  • Speedtest.net: This service is offered by Ookla and lets you perform parallel stream tests for authentic speeds, or a single connection mode to simulate downloading a single, large file.
  • AT&T Speed Exam: AT&T offers this quick browser-based exam to measure accurate upload and download speeds between your computer and the internet.
  • SpeedOf.Me: This web-based speed test has one of the coolest user interfaces of whatsoever available online tool.
  • TestMy.net: This service offers 3 distinct tests for specifically measuring download and upload speeds, and an automatic speed tests that measures your cyberspace speed over a catamenia of time.
  • Fast.com: I of the easiest online tests you tin can perform is the i at Fast.com. All you lot must do to run the test is visit the site!

Performing any of these tests is fast and easy. Normally it'due south just a matter of clicking a test button and letting the test run its course.

Results should be like from service to service. However, information technology'due south a practiced idea to run the tests from several services and from several devices in your dwelling house to get a large sample of results you lot can boilerplate together.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Speed Tests

An cyberspace speed test seems simple plenty. Yous visit a site, run the test, and get an accurate measurement of upload and download speeds to and from your calculator.

The reality is that it isn't that simple. In that location are many factors that can boring down your internet connection and affect your measurements and provide inaccurate results.

Issue: Placement

To get authentic speed results while continued to your router over a wireless connexion, the placement of your computer or mobile device makes a huge departure. Certain wall materials or other objects can potentially cake or interfere with your Wifi signal.

Solution: Create a clear wireless path

Y'all'll want to make certain you lot're performing the test in a location with a potent wireless connection to your dwelling house router.

The ideal scenario is placing your figurer or mobile device in the same room equally the wireless router before running the tests.

Issue: Slow Computer

The biggest mistake many people make is running internet speed tests from an older estimator that may have an older network bill of fare incapable of the kind of cyberspace speeds offered past your Internet access provider.

Modernistic network cards are capable of handling data transmission speeds of up to 1000 Mbps. Those should accept no problem running authentic speed tests. However, much older PCs could have network cards only capable of 1 Mbps to x Mbps. If you're trying to confirm an internet connection capable of sixty Mbps, you'll think your internet speed is too slow when it isn't.

Solution: Examination from multiple devices.

An easy fix for this result is to run your cyberspace speed tests from multiple devices. Endeavor running a test with your laptop in 1 area of the house. Then try with your mobile phone in another function of the house (make certain y'all're connected to Wifi and not your mobile data connection).

Take the results of all tests and average them together for the most accurate speed results.

While you're at it, y'all might also want to troubleshoot what problems are slowing your computer down.

Issue: Aggressive Applications

One of the biggest problems people ignore when running speed tests is the network bandwidth consumption happening on your test device itself.

Plain, having an application like Netflix streaming while you lot're running your exam will provide terrible speed results. However, even when you lot're non running obvious bandwidth-consuming apps, there could be other apps using your network card without you even knowing it.

Solution: Check for problem apps.

You lot can check which apps are using up the network connection with Task Director.

  1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
  2. Select the Processes tab.
  3. Select the Network field to sort agile processes by network utilize.
  4. Make a note of the processes at the top of the network usage list.

If there are any non-browser processes using up a lot of network bandwidth, you lot can right click on the process and select End chore to close them.

Once you lot're sure those processes eating up your network carte's bandwidth are closed, you lot're ready to run your Wi-Fi speed tests.

Outcome: Existing Internal Network Traffic

At that place are 2 kinds of existing network traffic that can negatively impact your Wi-Fi tests. These are internal traffic inside your domicile, and external traffic in your neighborhood.

Internal traffic would be your kids in their bedroom streaming loftier-bandwidth games while you're trying to run your Wi-Fi speed test.

This bandwidth consumption is similar too much water trying to fit through a pipe going out of your business firm. Your network speed test could return a low (and false) result.

Solution: Terminate all internal streaming during your test.

Make sure everyone in your house is asunder from the internet during the modest timeframe y'all're performing your Wi-Fi speed testing. This will ensure that yous're testing true network streaming when your system has access to your entire internet bandwidth.

Issue: Existing External Network Traffic

Many people don't consider the impact neighbors have on cyberspace speed. This is especially true if you're on a cable cyberspace connexion. In the case of cablevision internet, neighborhoods ordinarily share a connection to a nearby network router on the road to the local Internet service provider'south chief hub.

This is especially true if you live in highly populated neighborhoods where a lot of families live shut to ane another.

If you lot run your Wi-Fi speed test during a time when everyone in the neighborhood is at abode streaming movies or playing online games, y'all're going to run into a significant drop in your examination measurements.

Another issue with neighbors is overlapping wireless channels. The best thing to practice is to scan for all the networks nearby and try to switch to a dissimilar channel.

Besides, virtually people are nevertheless using two.4Ghz networks, so moving to a 5Ghz connection can really speed things up, though this would commonly require upgrading your router.

Solution: Perform multiple tests at different times of the twenty-four hour period and week.

By spreading out your Wi-Fi testing over multiple times of the day, and during different days of the week, you'll ensure you're getting a good picture of your true network speed.

Y'all can apply the best measurement equally a baseline for your ideal internet speeds, and the lowest measurement as what you tin can wait during peak net apply hours in your neighborhood.

How to Utilize Wi-Fi Speed Tests

If you discover that your Wi-Fi speeds aren't what you expected, don't despair. There are several deportment you can take to correct the trouble.

  • Make certain that your router settings are correct and optimized.
  • Troubleshoot your in-abode Wi-Fi configuration before blaming your ISP.
  • Call your ISP and report the problem. They may need to send you a replacement router.

Ultimately, just accepting and dealing with irksome Wifi or ho-hum internet speed isn't a expert option. It tin can affect your enjoyment of streaming video and music services, drag your online gaming to a crawl, and make your overall internet feel miserable.

So run a few speed tests and make sure you're getting the speeds that you're paying for.