🌐 How to Do Internet Speed Tests: A Comprehensive Guide
Testing your internet speed is a simple but essential way to ensure you’re getting the service you’re paying for. Whether you’re troubleshooting slow speeds or verifying your connection before a video call or gaming session, here’s everything you need to know.
🔍 What Does an Internet Speed Test Measure?
An internet speed test typically measures three key metrics:
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Download Speed (Mbps) – How quickly you can receive data from the internet.
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Upload Speed (Mbps) – How fast you can send data to the internet.
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Ping (ms) – Also called latency, this shows how quickly your device gets a response from a server.
Some tests also report jitter (variability in ping) and packet loss, both of which impact the quality of video calls and online gaming.
🧪 Best Tools to Run a Speed Test
Use any of the following reliable tools:
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Fast.com (by Netflix)
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TestMy.net – Offers advanced options and manual test servers
🛠️ How to Run the Test Correctly
Follow these steps for the most accurate results:
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Connect via Ethernet (if possible)
Wired connections are more stable than Wi-Fi and give more accurate speed results. -
Close Background Apps
Shut down apps using the internet (e.g., streaming, downloads, cloud sync) before testing. -
Restart Your Modem and Router
A quick reboot clears temporary issues and gives a fresh test environment. -
Use the Nearest Server
Most tools auto-select the closest server, but you can manually change it to compare results. -
Run Multiple Tests
Run tests at different times of day to detect patterns (e.g., peak-hour slowdowns). -
Test Across Devices
Run tests on multiple devices to rule out hardware-specific issues.
📊 Understanding Your Results
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Good Download Speeds:
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15–25 Mbps: Sufficient for browsing and HD streaming
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50–100 Mbps+: Great for gaming, 4K streaming, and remote work
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Good Upload Speeds:
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5–10 Mbps is decent for video calls and uploads
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20+ Mbps is better for large file sharing and backups
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Ping
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Under 50 ms is ideal for gaming and video calls
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Over 100 ms may cause lag or buffering
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💡 What to Do If Your Internet is Slow
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Reboot your modem/router
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Contact your ISP to check for outages or service issues
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Upgrade your router or plan if needed
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Consider professional help (IT Service Geeks can assist!)