Your ISP might also offer a speed test tool, though you may need to do a little poking around for it. Those aren’t your only options for testing your broadband connection MegaPath also offers a speed test, as well as what it calls Speed Test Plus, which evaluates the quality of your connection in addition to its raw speed. Each test takes just a few seconds to run. Typing the same query into Google’s search engine will produce similar results, though Google is more proactive about telling you what it’s doing and what information it collects. If you’re using Bing as your search engine, simply typing “speed test” into the search bar will bring up a simple, obvious in-browser speed test in the list of results. Honestly, though, there’s little need to set a bookmark. Several sites will help test your connection. Switch them off and unplug them for a few moments, then plug them back in and switch them on. If you’re having any problems with your connection, now is a good idea to reset your modem and router. If your operating system is downloading updates, there isn’t much you can do aside from wait and test your connection later. Your bandwidth usage may not drop to zero and stay there, but you want it as close to zero as it’ll get. Check the Task Manager on Windows (summoned by pressing control-alt-delete) or Activity Monitor on MacOS, and look for network statistics (it’s labelled “Network”on MacOS, “Networking” on Windows).Ĭlose or quit all apps on your computer to keep apps from downloading software updates while you test your connection. While you’re at it, double-check to make sure your computer isn’t downloading something in the background. Make sure your Wi-Fi router is away from other electronic devices like cordless phones, and temporarily disconnect any other devices from your Wi-Fi network-after all, you don’t want another computer on your network to download a gigabyte worth of software updates while you run your tests. If you’re stuck using Wi-Fi-say, you have a MacBook Air or a tablet or some other device that doesn’t have an ethernet port-do what you can to minimize interference.

MicrosoftĬlick the Network column in Windows Task Manager to see which apps, if any, are sending/receiving data on your network. Again, we’re trying to learn how much bandwidth is coming directly into your home, before it begins getting divvied up among connected devices. If you have any other wired devices on your home network, plug your test computer directly into the modem so those don’t interfere. Let’s turn to the PC. For best results, you’ll want to use a wired connection if at all possible that way, you don’t have to worry about interference and performance fluctuations that can occur while you’re on Wi-Fi.

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