How to Test the Speed of Your Internet Connection

You can easily test your Internet speed using your Web browser.

You’ve probably wondered from time to time if your Internet connection is as fast as your service provider claims it is. Maybe you are finding that Web pages are loading as slow as molasses and you’d like to troubleshoot the issue. You can test the speed of your Internet connection in various ways, but one of the simplest and most reliable methods is to use a website that offers handy tools for testing your upload and download speed. Rather than spending a lot of time installing and configuring software, all you have to do is open your browser, click a button and wait for the results.

Instructions

1. Open your Web browser and navigate to Speedtest.net. This is one of many websites that offers a suite of free tools you can use to test your Internet speed and troubleshoot connectivity issues.

2. Click the “Scan Now” or “Begin Test” button near the top of the Web page once it loads. Several progress bars will display. Below that, a speedometer will show your speed as several small test files are uploaded and downloaded to and from your computer. The test should be completed in less than a minute.

3. Repeat the test if you wish by clicking the “Test Again” button. You can also run the test using a server in a different geographical location to see if that affects your connection speed. Click the “New Server” button to repeat the test on a different server.

4. Compare your connection speed to other users around the world by clicking “Compare Your Result.” This step is optional and will simply give you an idea of the speeds other users are achieving from their Internet service providers.

References

• Speedtest.net: The Global Broadband Speed Test