Internet Speed Test

Internet Speed Test What can I do if I'm not getting the speed I pay for? If results from FAST.com and other internet speed tests (like dslreports.com or speedtest.net) often show less speed than you have paid for, you can ask your ISP about the results. The amount of time it takes for that information to make the trip determines your ping. Blog: Understanding internet and WiFi speed How does this internet speed test work? The internet speed test starts by identifying the server closest to you, which is displayed in the lower right-hand corner of the testing window. A "packet" of information is sent from your device to the server and back. Troubleshoot your modem connection Optimize your WiFi connection See your purchased speed & check for upgrades CenturyLink customer? Sign in Check for new service speeds Not a CenturyLink customer yet? Check Availability Understanding your test results Is this a good speed for me? Below are recommended speeds for common activities. FAST.com provides two different latency measurements for your Internet connection: “unloaded” and “loaded” with traffic. Will the FAST.com speed test work everywhere in the world? FAST.com will test Internet speed globally on any device (phone, laptop, or smart TV with browser). Check your speed now To test your fastest speed, connect directly to your modem On a private network (VPN)? Disconnect and try again Can't see the test? Try this option How to improve your speed A speed test is a snapshot in time. There will always be some amount of latency over your network, but the lower this number, the better your performance will be. What is ping (latency)? Ping, also called latency, is a specific measure that primarily has an impact on online gaming, as well as a few other activities. Learn more about what internet speed you need for different activities. More details are in our blog post. Download Speed Activities 1.5 Mbps or less General browsing, email, social media, music streaming, video chat 3 - 4 Mbps SD Video streaming 10 Mbps HD Video streaming & group video calls 5 - 8 Mbps Large file downloads 25 Mbps or less Remote work or learning (varies by activity) 25 Mbps or more 4K (UHD) Video streaming Multiple factors will determine if you have adequate speed. Typically, you want to keep a close eye on ping for online gaming, as high latency can result in a noticeable delay between your actions in the game and the actions of the other players. You will generally be able to get this speed from leading Internet services, which use globally distributed servers. How quickly your internet can transfer that data from the network to your device and from your device back to the network determines your download and upload speed. This speed is measured to and from the device you are using to run the test, which means the type of connection has a real impact on the result. How are the results calculated? To calculate your Internet speed, FAST.com performs a series of downloads from and uploads to Netflix servers and calculates the maximum speed your Internet connection can provide. What about ping, latency, upload and other things? When you click the “Show more info” button, you can see your upload speed and connection latency (ping). You should consider how you use the internet, the size of your household, and which activities happen at the same time. If you aren't satisfied, check your equipment and settings and run the test again. Learn what else to consider for online gaming. Why does FAST.com focus primarily on download speed? Download speed is most relevant for people who are consuming content on the Internet, and we want FAST.com to be a very simple and fast speed test. Read More Was this page helpful? Yes No What is FAST.com measuring? FAST.com speed test gives you an estimate of your current Internet speed. Why is Netflix offering the FAST.com speed test? We want our members to have a simple, quick, ad-free way to estimate the Internet speed that their ISP is providing. Next, the speed test downloads and uploads a packet of data over that connection. The difference between these two measurements is also called “bufferbloat”. Ping is the amount of time it takes for your network to transfer information from your computer to a remote server and back. A wired (Ethernet) connection straight to the modem will give you the most accurate test of your internet service speed, because the wired connection is the most direct pipeline from the network through the modem/router to your computer.