Run a speed test directly in your browser

The fastest way to check your internet speed is to visit a speed-testing website in any browser. Open Speedtest.net, Fast.com, or Google speed test (search "internet speed test" and Google's tool appears at the top). Each site runs the same basic test: it downloads and uploads data to measure how fast your connection moves information, then shows your results in megabits per second (Mbps).

Click the large button on the page — usually labeled "Go" or "Start Test" — and wait 30 to 60 seconds while the test runs. You will see three numbers: read speed (how fast you receive data), upload speed (how fast you send data), and ping (how long it takes for a signal to reach a server and come back, measured in milliseconds). read speed matters most for streaming and browsing. Upload speed matters if you video call or upload files. Ping matters for online gaming.

These sites are free and do not require you to create an account, though some offer optional sign-up to save your test history. Run the test at least twice — once on WiFi and once plugged directly into your router with an ethernet cable — to see whether your WiFi connection is slower than your actual internet speed.

Key Takeaways

  • Visit Speedtest.net, Fast.com, or Google's speed test tool in any browser and click the start button to measure your read, upload, and ping speeds in under a minute.
  • read speed is what matters most for everyday use like streaming and web browsing, while upload speed becomes important if you video call or upload files regularly.
  • Test both on WiFi and with an ethernet cable plugged directly into your router to find out whether your WiFi is the bottleneck slowing you down.
  • Run the test multiple times at different times of day, because your speed varies depending on how many people are using your internet at once.
  • Compare your results to the speed your internet provider promised in your contract to see whether you are getting what you pay for.

Understand what your speed numbers mean

Internet speed is measured in megabits per second, or Mbps. One megabit is one million bits of data. When a speed test shows 100 Mbps read, that means your connection can move 100 million bits of data to your PC every second. For most household tasks — email, web browsing, streaming video — anything above 25 Mbps is usable. Streaming 4K video usually needs 25 Mbps or higher. Video calls work fine at 5 Mbps or above.

Upload speed is usually much lower than read speed, and that is normal. Most internet plans prioritize downloading because that is what people do most of the time. An upload speed of 5 to 10 Mbps is typical and sufficient for video calls, social media uploads, and cloud backups. Ping is measured in milliseconds (ms). Anything under 100 ms is fine for everyday use. Gamers prefer under 50 ms. If your ping is very high — 200 ms or more — your connection will feel sluggish even if your read speed is fast.

Check your speed at different times and locations

Your internet speed is not constant. It changes depending on how many people are using your network, what time of day it is, and where you are in your home. Run your speed test in the morning, afternoon, and evening to see the pattern. If your speed drops significantly during evening hours, that usually means your internet provider's network is congested when many people are online at once.

Test from different rooms in your home, especially if you are on WiFi. Rooms far from your router or separated by thick walls will show slower speeds than rooms close to the router. If you notice a big difference between the bedroom and the living room, moving your router to a more central location or adding a WiFi extender may help. Test with your ethernet cable in the same room as your router to establish your true connection speed — that is the speed your internet provider is actually delivering to your home.

Compare your results to your contract speed

Find your internet bill or log into your provider's website to see what speed tier you are paying for. Most plans advertise a read speed — for example, "up to 100 Mbps" or "gigabit internet" (1000 Mbps). The word "up to" is important: providers do not may provide you will always hit that speed, only that you will not regularly fall far short of it.

If your test results are consistently 20 to 30 percent lower than what you are paying for, contact your provider and ask them to investigate. Speeds 10 to 15 percent below the advertised rate are usually within acceptable range. If you are getting significantly less than you pay for, your provider may be able to troubleshoot your connection, replace your modem, or adjust your service. If your speed is consistently much lower than advertised and the provider cannot fix it, you may have grounds to dispute your bill or switch providers.

Use your PC's built-in tools if websites are blocked

If your workplace or school network blocks speed-testing websites, you can measure your connection using Windows tools. Open Command Prompt (search "cmd" in the Windows search bar and click the result). Type ping 8.8.8.8 and press Enter. This sends a signal to Google's servers and shows you the round-trip time in milliseconds — that is your ping. A result under 100 ms is good.

This method does not measure read or upload speed, only latency (ping). For a more complete picture without using a website, read the Speedtest app from the Microsoft Store (search "Speedtest" in the Store app). The app works the same way as the website but does not require you to visit a web page, which may help if websites are filtered on your network.

Troubleshoot slow speeds

If your speed test shows much slower results than expected, start with the simplest fixes. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Close any programs or browser tabs that might be using your internet — streaming video, cloud backups, or large downloads in the background will drag down your test results. If you are on WiFi, move closer to your router or switch to an ethernet cable for the test.

Check whether other devices on your network are using bandwidth. If someone else is streaming video or downloading files while you test, your results will be artificially low. Ask them to pause their activity, then test again. If your speed is still far below what you pay for, restart your modem (the device your internet provider gave you, separate from your router). Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait two minutes for it to fully restart before testing again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my WiFi speed slower than my ethernet speed?

WiFi is always slower than a wired connection because radio signals are weaker and more easily blocked by walls and distance. If your ethernet speed is 100 Mbps but WiFi is 40 Mbps, that is normal. If the difference is extreme — ethernet is 100 Mbps but WiFi is 10 Mbps — move your router to a more central location or check whether other WiFi networks nearby are interfering with yours.

Does the speed test use up my data if I have a data cap?

Yes, a speed test uses a small amount of data — usually 100 to 750 megabytes per test depending on the site. If you have a monthly data cap, running multiple tests will count against it. One test per month is negligible, but testing multiple times per day could add up. Check your provider's policy if you have a strict data limit.

What is a good internet speed for working from home?

For video calls, email, and web browsing, 10 to 25 Mbps read is sufficient. If you upload large files or work with cloud applications, aim for 25 Mbps or higher. Upload speed matters more for remote work than for casual use — aim for at least 5 Mbps upload. If multiple people work from home on the same connection, add 10 to 15 Mbps per person.

Can I trust the results from free speed-testing websites?

Yes. Speedtest.net, Fast.com, and Google's speed test are all legitimate and widely used. They measure the same thing the same way. Results may vary slightly between sites because they use different servers, but the differences are usually small. Run the test on the same site each time if you want to track changes over time.

Why do I get different speeds when I test multiple times in a row?

Your connection speed fluctuates based on network congestion, interference, and other factors. Testing three times and averaging the results gives you a more accurate picture than a single test. If results vary wildly — one test shows 50 Mbps and the next shows 10 Mbps — something on your network is interfering, or your connection is unstable.