Free and Easy Ways to Check Your Internet Speed

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Test your internet speed on Windows and Mac computers
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Are files downloading suspiciously slowly, making you question how fast your Internet really is? Knowing your true Internet speed is essential for troubleshooting problems or knowing if your ISP is not delivering the speeds they promised. This wikiHow article teaches you how to measure the upload and download speed of your Internet connection, as well as the speed of the connection between your computer and your router.

Things You Should Know

  • In a web browser on your computer, phone, or tablet, go to a speed test site and look at the results.
  • To test your router's Internet speed, connect your computer to your router via an Ethernet cable, then go to "Settings" to see your Internet speed.
  • If your Internet speed is fast, but your experience on your computer, phone, or tablet, is slow, troubleshoot your router.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Running an Internet Speed Test

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  1. Open a Google search page by going to https://www.google.com in a web browser or open the Google app on your device and type internet speed test into the search field. This will bring up an "Internet speed test" window at the top of the Google search results.
    • You can use this method on a computer, Android smartphone, or tablet, iPhone or iPad .
    • This method will use Google's built-in internet speed testing tool. There are other alternatives you could use, such as Fast.com , Speedtest by Ookla , or Spectrum's Speed Test , if you prefer an alternative.
    • Also try several different speed test sites if you're not getting the results you expected based on your browsing or streaming experience. The results from each site can differ, based on your location.
    EXPERT TIP

    Luigi Oppido

    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist

    For an even more accurate reading, you can use a machine that plugs directly into your modem. However, in most cases, checking through a reliable website is sufficient to give you a good idea of your speed.

  2. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the "Internet speed test" panel.
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  3. Google will measure your Internet connection's upload speed, download speed, and latency.
  4. In addition to telling you whether your Internet qualifies as "fast" or "slow", Google measures three aspects of your Internet's speed:
    • Mbps download - The number of megabits per second your connection is allowing you to download.
    • Mbps upload - The number of megabits per second your connection is uploading.
    • Latency - The number of milliseconds it takes for your Internet connection to respond to a command (e.g., a search query or a page loading).
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Checking Internet Speed on Windows

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  1. To check your Internet speed from your computer's settings, you must connect your computer to your router via Ethernet cable .
  2. This icon is in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  3. It's in the bottom-left corner of the Start window.
  4. It's in the top row of settings on the Settings page.
  5. This tab is on the left side of the window. Doing so will open your Ethernet settings.
  6. It's in the upper-right side of the window.
  7. You'll see this monitor-shaped icon at the top of the Network Connections window.
  8. It's near the bottom of the "Connections" section of information on the Ethernet Status window. The number here (e.g., "90.0 Mbps") represents the speed of the connection between your computer and the router.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Checking Internet Speed on Mac

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  1. To check your Internet speed from your computer's settings, you must connect your computer to your router via Ethernet cable .
  2. It's in the top-right corner of your Mac's screen.
  3. Doing so will open the Network Utility app.
  4. It's on the far-left side of the top of the Network Utility window.
  5. Click the box below the "Select a network interface for information" heading, then click your Ethernet connection's name.
  6. You'll see something like "100 Mbit/s" here, which would mean the speed of the connection between your computer and your router is 100 megabits of data per second.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting

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  1. If your wireless connection is experiencing significant lag, then you may need to connect to a wired connection (usually through Ethernet) in order to boost your Internet performance speed .
  2. Sometimes, routers or other devices that can access Wi-Fi may need to be restarted in order to fix any performance issues caused by a glitch or broken connection.
    • So if the Internet speed tests show that you have a fast or good connection to the Internet, but you're experiencing lag on your laptop that's connected to Wi-Fi, you need to restart your router or modem.
  3. In order to check if the problem is a network or just your device, connect to another network you have access to and check that network's Internet speed.
  4. We frequently update our phones and computers, but we often neglect updating our routers or gateways. A router that's a generation or two out-of-date may impact your Internet speed .
    • For example, if your modem is 4 years old and you've recently upped your Internet speed, your old modem may not support the new speeds and will deliver slower speeds if you use it.
  5. In some instances, a slow Internet speed could mean your device is being slowed down by malware in its system. To remedy this, install an antivirus program with a malware scanner included in it.
  6. If nothing here solves the answer to why your Internet is suddenly slow, you can call or chat with your ISP about your Internet speed and they may be able to help.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Why is my internet slow?
    Community Answer
    It could be a number of issues that are causing this. Try downloading anti-virus software first.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question
    My bill says I have an Internet Connection speed of 100MB. How do I check that?
    Community Answer
    You can Google it, and it will actually perform the test and give the results in seconds! Just search something akin to "What is my internet speed?"
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I find my internet speed test?
    Community Answer
    Go to a search engine. Search "internet speed test," then click "run speed test." They show you what the status of your internet speed is.
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      Tips

      • Your Internet's true connection speed is often much lower than your router's maximum speed. Using Ethernet allows you to take advantage of your router's speed.
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      • Benchmarks for common features include: 5 Megabits per second for HD streaming and 90 kilobits per second for VOiP calling.
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      Warnings

      • Your Internet speed will never exceed either your router's maximum speed or your Internet plan's maximum speed--whichever speed is lower.
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      • Anonymous

        Feb 6, 2017

        "Learned that the speed may not always be what the provider advertises."
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