How to Accurately Test Your Internet Speed

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Hardwire your test device

   Disconnect all wireless connections. Use a Cat6 or Cat6a Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to the LAN port on your router. Wi-Fi introduces variable interference and protocol overhead that skews speed test results.

   Note: If your device lacks an Ethernet port, use a Thunderbolt-to-Gigabit Ethernet adapter.
2. 1 min

   Clear network traffic

   Stop all active background processes on your machine. This includes closing cloud syncing applications like Dropbox, OneDrive, or iCloud, and ensuring no other devices on your network are streaming video or downloading files.

   Note: Check your router’s admin interface to ensure no hidden devices are consuming bandwidth.
3. 30 sec

   Choose a neutral test platform

   Open a browser window in Incognito or Private mode to prevent extension interference. Navigate to a standard testing utility like Speedtest.net or Fast.com. Avoid ISP-hosted portals, as these may prioritize traffic patterns to inflate results.

   Note: Disable any active VPN tunnels before starting, as encryption overhead significantly reduces reported throughput.
4. 45 sec

   Perform multiple iterations

   Click the Start button on the testing interface. Allow the test to complete its cycle for latency (ping), download, and upload metrics. Run the test three times consecutively with a 60-second delay between runs to calculate an average baseline.

   Note: Note the variation between tests; high variance indicates intermittent signal instability.
5. 30 sec

   Review results against your service plan

   Compare your average download and upload speeds against the tier advertised by your ISP. A discrepancy of more than 20% under ideal wired conditions indicates a hardware fault, cabling issue, or throttled service.

   Note: Always document these results with screenshots if you need to contact your ISP for support.