How to test and improve your internet speed

A speed test gives you four numbers. Here is what they mean, how to get a reliable result and what to do when your internet is slower than it should be.

Open the tool: Internet speed test

Getting a reliable result

  • Test on a cable connection first, then on Wi-Fi in the rooms you use most.
  • Pause other downloads, streams, game updates and cloud backups.
  • Turn off any VPN unless you want to measure the VPN.
  • Run three tests and use the middle result.
  • Test in the morning and in the evening to see if the line slows down at busy times.

Bandwidth and latency

Download and upload speed are bandwidth: how much data can flow per second, like the width of a pipe. Ping is latency: how long a single message takes, like the length of the pipe. A line can be very fast but still feel slow in games and calls if the latency is high or jumps around.

Ways to speed up your connection

  • Move the router to a central, open spot, away from walls and metal.
  • Use the 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi-Fi band when you are close to the router.
  • Use a cable for the computer, TV or console that needs speed most.
  • Restart the router and update its firmware.
  • Replace a router or adapter that is more than five years old.
  • Add a mesh Wi-Fi system for large homes.
  • Stop devices you do not use from updating in the background.
  • Ask your provider whether your plan and modem still match the speed you pay for.

When to contact your provider

If several tests over a few days, on a cable connection, are well below your plan, contact your provider with the dates, times and results. Copy the result from this page each time, or keep the history on this device to show the pattern.