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ZDNET Highlights
- Test your internet speed often to keep your network running smoothly.
- Speed testing reveals download, upload, latency and jitter issues.
- Know what your speed results mean, and what to do if they’re not good.
Do you know what your internet speed is? Are you getting the service that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) promised when you signed that contract? Or are you struggling with slow internet?
These may seem simple questions, but they are important. Internet speed affects almost everything you do online: how smoothly your video calls go, how responsive your video games feel, and whether you can stream the latest season of “Stranger Things” without buffering. Understanding how your connection works is important in troubleshooting Internet problems.
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In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to accurately test your home internet using the highly trusted tool, SpeedTest by Ookla. I’ll instruct you how to prepare for an accurate test, how to interpret those results, and what steps you should take to improve your home network.
Key terms to know
Before you begin testing, it is important to understand the conditions you are likely to encounter during your speed test.
- Mbps (Megabit per second): This measures the speed at which data is transmitted over your connection. It should not be confused with Mbps (megabytes per second) with a capital letter “B”. It measures the size of the storage drive.
- download speed: The rate at which data is received from the Internet to your device. Higher numbers mean faster downloads and easier streaming.
- upload speed: The rate at which data is sent from your device to the Internet. This affects how quickly you can upload files, back up photos, and how well you can connect to online matches while gaming.
- Bandwidth: The total capacity of your Internet connection. This determines how much data can be transferred at once and is measured in Mbps.
- Wi-Fi Band: At the time of this writing, Wi-Fi networks use three main frequency bands: 2.4 GHz, which offers longer range but slower speeds; 6 GHz, offers the fastest speed but shortest range; And 5 GHz, sitting somewhere in the middle.
- Humming: Whenever an action is taken, your PC sends a small packet of data, known as a “ping”, to the receiving server. The time it takes for the server to receive and acknowledge the ping is called Latency. Lower latency means a more responsive connection.
- Tremble: Variation in latency over time. High jitter can cause performance problems.
- Packet Loss: Whenever data packets do not reach their destination. This also results in slower performance.
Preparing for an accurate test
A little setup is required to get accurate results. You want to create an interference-free environment.
I recommend using a wired Ethernet connection. Testing over Wi-Fi may be affected by factors such as walls, distance, and other nearby devices. Ethernet connections ensure smoothness. If your laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port, consider a laptop docking station, such as the Satechi 8-in-1 Multiport Adapter or the Belkin Universal Pro Dock.
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Next, close all unnecessary apps and stop any downloads or uploads running in the background.
Streaming services, photo backups, and game updates may interfere with the results. And if possible, disconnect other devices like smart TVs during testing. I would also consider restarting your router. Rebooting will clear the router’s temporary memory and resolve any pending performance issues.
How to test your internet speed
Once all the preparations are complete, proceed Speedtest by Ookla. This is a popular online tool that, as its name suggests, tests your internet speed. It works by locating the best test server by pinging local options and selecting the server with the lowest latency (not necessarily the closest) to ensure optimal accuracy.
(Full disclosure: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of ZDNET.)
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Get started by clicking the big “Go” button. The test may take a minute or two or maybe even less to measure your download speed, upload speed and latency. When it’s finished, you’ll see a summary showing how your connection performed as well as how excellent or not so excellent it is in a number of categories, including browsing, gaming, streaming and video calls.
For in-depth information, click “Results” at the top right corner to review your most recent test.
There are other options also. Google’s own speed test is accessible through search. Cloudflare also offers its own tool, which provides advanced data, and your ISP probably has its own tool as well. However, Ookla is still the best in my eyes. It is highly reliable and more user-friendly, although it is littered with advertisements, as seen in the image above.
Understanding your results
Now that you have the results and numbers, it’s time to find out if your speed is good or not. The answer to that question is: It depends on what you need. A download speed of 25 Mbps may be enough for a couple living in an apartment who only uses the Internet for casual browsing or streaming movies, but it is inadequate for a family of four with multiple devices.
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If you want a good internet speed benchmark, Ookla lists Recommended Specifications For general activities on its website, but they are on the conservative side. As someone who lives in a multi-story home with multiple people and a wide range of devices, I have a more realistic expectation of what most people should aim for:
- Have a download speed of about 50 Mbps. This ensures 4K streaming and smooth performance. If you’re a big gamer like me, try 100Mbps for stability.
- Keep the upload speed around 20Mbps for fast transfer of large files. 30Mbps provides a better experience for streaming, gaming and work.
- Latency under 50 ms is solid; Less than 20 ms is correct. Less than 20 ms latency time is excellent for gaming and live video.
As an example, you can see my speed test results in the image above. I get download speed of around 788 Mbps, upload speed of 40 Mbps and 17 ms latency. These are excellent numbers for my family. This ensures that others in the home can stream 4K movies, download large files, and play online games without any lag.
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Of course, my speed is too much. I don’t use the entire bandwidth often, but I’m very happy with my service. Mainly stick to my tips and you’ll enjoy great internet speeds all day, every day. I also want to mention that the speeds advertised from ISPs are theoretical maximums, not guaranteed.
Small drops, like 100 Mbps to 85 Mbps, are normal, but if your speed drops to half what you’re paying for, it’s time to troubleshoot.
How to improve your internet speed
If your results fall short or you want to prevent future problems, there are several ways to boost your connection.
My number 1 recommendation is to upgrade your hardware. A good extender will boost your signal strength to far corners of your home. I published a brief guide a few months ago detailing the five best Wi-Fi accessories. i have that TP-Link Deco BE3600 Whole Mesh Wi-Fi 7 SystemWhich I bought on the recommendation of my ISP technician, and I’ve loved it ever since.
A common suggestion you’ll see online is to move your router to a more centralized location in your home, away from obstacles that could interfere with the signal. I’m sure it works for some people, but it doesn’t for me. The previous owners had an Internet connection in the living room, and I work upstairs. I can’t move the source, nor do I want a huge Ethernet cable going down.
The Deco BE3600 solved my problems easily as the nodes carry the Wi-Fi signal well.
As far as other simple solutions are concerned, here is a list of things you can do:
- Change routers every few years. Netgear recommends Do this every four to five years.
- Install the latest firmware updates. These fix bugs that could cause performance issues.
- check malware. A virus may interrupt your service.
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- Remove unknown devices that may be disrupting your Wi-Fi. Update your password to a stronger one for better security.
- Switch Wi-Fi channels if possible. If there is congestion on the 2.4 GHz channel, switch to the 5 GHz channel for better performance.
- And if all else fails, Contact your ISP. The matter may be out of your control.
I’ve spent nearly a decade writing about software and consumer tech, testing numerous PCs, laptops, routers, and home network setups along the way. In that time, I’ve learned how home Internet networks work, why speeds fluctuate, and what people can do to fix poor connections.
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Most of the advice here comes from practical experiences. I’ve dealt with bad Wi-Fi more times than I can count. The steps here reflect the same troubleshooting procedures I use in my own home. There are certainly more advanced methods you can research, but this list includes super-easy solutions that anyone can follow.
Second thing: Keep in mind that these are not hard and fast rules. Think of these as a foundation on which you can build depending on your setup and needs.
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