HowFastIsNetUNDERSTAND YOUR CONNECTION
Why is my internet slow?
Slow internet can come from weak Wi-Fi, competing downloads, your device or the route to an app. Start with one measurement, then change one thing to find what helps.
Open the speed testThe test uses internet data.
Run a speed test, then find your next step
- Open the speed test using the button above. On the test page, choose Standard and press Start.
- Keep the test tab open until the result appears. Pause large downloads and backups first.
- Read the explanation under WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU, then use the matching next step below.
No account needed. Standard can use up to about 100 MB; check your data allowance first. Already tested? Read what to do next.
Wi-Fi slow but Ethernet fast?
Repeat on the same laptop, first near the router on Wi-Fi and then over Ethernet if available. Pause other transfers and keep the test mode unchanged. If Ethernet is consistently faster, investigate wireless coverage, interference and the device before buying a faster internet plan.
Why is my internet slow at night?
Compare a quiet daytime test with an evening test on the same device and connection. Note whether household streaming or backups were active. Slower results only during busy hours can suggest shared capacity or congestion, but one test cannot locate the bottleneck.
Comparing an internet plan in the US or Canada
Check both download and upload speeds in your provider's plan details. Keep a record of the time, connection type and repeated measurements when contacting support. For Canadian readers, the CRTC explains internet performance and factors inside and outside the home. A national access target is not a promise of the speed your device will measure.
Wi-Fi slow but Ethernet fast? Follow the same-device comparison.
Which number matters?
Download
How quickly you receive files and video. Low download speed can make downloads and streams struggle.
Upload
How quickly you send files and video. Backups can compete with video calls for upload capacity.
Response time
How long a request takes to get a response. A higher delay can make calls and games feel slow even when downloads are fast.
Six checks to find the next step
Compare Wi-Fi locations
If you use Wi-Fi, repeat on the same device near your router. A clear improvement suggests coverage or interference may contribute. If possible, compare with Ethernet.
Improves near the router? Start with Wi-Fi coverage.
Pause background traffic
Pause downloads, streaming and backups on other devices, then repeat. If response time under load improves, competing traffic may be contributing.
Better when the network is quiet? Reduce competing traffic.
Compare devices and services
Try the same service on another device. Then try a different service on the original device. One slow app does not prove the whole connection is slow.
Only one device or app is affected? Investigate that first.
Compare with and without your VPN
If you use a VPN and it is safe to disconnect it, repeat on the same network without it. A different VPN server or route can affect speed and delay.
A repeatable difference points to the VPN route.
Check mobile coverage or busy hours
On mobile data, compare another location while staying on mobile data. At home, compare a quiet time with the time the problem occurs. Keep the device and test mode the same.
Record when and where the connection slows down.
Compare your plan, then contact your provider
Check the download and upload speeds in your plan. If several devices remain slow over Ethernet or close to the router, check your provider’s outage page and share your test results with support.
Send measured speeds, connection type and test times.
Your result: what to do next
Download and upload show transfer speed in Mbps: higher means more capacity. Response time is delay in milliseconds (ms): lower means a quicker response. Open Stability & loaded latency for jitter (variation in delay) and response time while the connection is busy.
Download or upload is lower than expected
Pause downloads and backups. Retest near the router on the same device, then compare Ethernet if available. If several wired tests stay low, check your provider’s outage page and share the results with support.
Speed looks good, but response time rises under load
Pause competing transfers and repeat. Compare the idle response time with Latency while downloading and Latency while uploading. If the gap shrinks, schedule heavy transfers outside calls and games.
The result improves near the router
Compare your usual location again. A repeatable difference points toward Wi-Fi coverage or interference; try a clearer router location before changing your internet plan.
The test looks good, but one app is still slow
Try another service and another device. Check the affected app’s status and connection statistics; a test to our server cannot rule out a problem on its route.
Check whether your change helped
On the test page, find Did that change help? and select the change you will make. Press 1. Save starting result, make that one change, confirm the same setup and press 2. Run second check. Use the same device, network and test depth within 30 minutes. Select Wi-Fi before both tests when comparing router locations.
Open the speed testFor a Wi-Fi versus Ethernet comparison, record the two results separately: the guided comparison requires the same network setup.
Common questions
Why is my internet slow if the speed test looks good?
The problem may affect a particular app, server or route. Calls and games also depend on response time and variation in that delay. Test while the problem is happening and compare another service.
Will a more expensive plan fix it?
Only if available capacity is the limiting factor. A faster plan may not fix weak Wi-Fi coverage, a slow device or a distant service. Compare first.
Should I restart my router?
A normal restart may help a temporary issue. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, expect a brief interruption and save a measurement first. A factory reset is a different action; it is not part of this checklist.
Is Wi-Fi speed the same as internet speed?
Wi-Fi is the wireless link to your router. Internet access is the connection beyond it. A browser speed test includes both links when you use Wi-Fi.
Internet slows down during uploads or cloud backups?
Internet slows down mainly in the evening? Compare daytime and evening checks.
Turn a slow connection into a clear next step.
Measure first, compare one change, then use the result to decide what to try.
Open the speed test