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What the numbers mean
- Download (Mbps): how fast data reaches you. It matters for streaming, downloads and loading pages.
- Upload (Mbps): how fast data leaves you. It matters for video calls, sending large files and cloud backups.
- Latency (ms): how long a small message takes to make a round trip. Lower is better for games and calls.
- Jitter (ms): how much latency jumps around. High jitter makes calls stutter even when the speed looks fine.
How much speed you need
Two services publish what they need:
| Use | Recommended speed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix in HD (720p) | 3 Mbps or more | Netflix Help Center |
| Netflix in Full HD (1080p) | 5 Mbps or more | |
| Netflix in 4K | 15 Mbps or more | |
| Zoom group call in 1080p | 3.8 Mbps down, 3.0 Mbps up | Zoom system requirements |
A household doing several things at once needs more than any one of these figures on its own, with some to spare.
Line or Wi-Fi: two tests
Test 1On Wi-Fi, where you usually use the internet.
Test 2On a cable to the router or, if you cannot, standing right beside it.
Test 2 is much fasterYour line is fine. The Wi-Fi loses speed on the way to you.Fix your Wi-Fi
Both are slowThe Wi-Fi is not the main problem. Look at the line, the plan or the provider.Check your line
Both are fineThe slow part is a device, an app, a VPN or the website itself.Other causes
If it is your Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi weakens with distance and with each wall, floor and large appliance in the way. Try the free fixes first:
- Move the router into the open, high up and as central as you can, not in a cupboard or behind the TV.
- Restart the router, and check for a firmware update in its settings or app.
- Use the 5 GHz network if your router offers one. It is faster at close range. The 2.4 GHz network reaches further but is slower.
- Pause heavy users: large downloads, cloud backups and game updates on other devices.
If the free fixes are not enough, the usual paid fixes are:
- A mesh Wi-Fi system: two or three units that share one network around the home. Usually the best fix for large homes or several floors.
- Powerline adapters: carry the connection through your mains wiring to another room, then give a cable or Wi-Fi point there.
- A newer router: if yours is old, a current model can be faster at the same distance. Your provider may supply one.
- A network cable: the simplest and most reliable fix for a desk, a TV or a games console near the router.
If it is your line
- Check your plan's speed. Your contract or account page gives the speed you pay for. If your cable test is close to it, the plan itself is the limit.
- Test at different times. If the evening is much slower than the morning, the provider's network may be busy at peak times.
- Check the cables and the router's lights. Restart the router, and replace any damaged or loose cable.
- Contact your provider with your cable test results, the times you tested and how far below your plan they are.
- Compare plans. If your provider cannot fix it, or a faster plan is available at your address, switching may be the answer. What is available depends on your country and your address.
If only some things are slow
- A VPN adds a step to every connection and usually costs some speed. Run the speed test with it on and off. Test your VPN also checks it for leaks.
- An old device or an old Wi-Fi adapter can be slower than the network around it. Compare with a newer phone in the same spot.
- Browser extensions and background apps can slow pages down. Try a private window with extensions off.
- The website itself may be slow or busy. If other sites are fast, the problem is probably at their end.
High latency or jitter with good speeds usually points to Wi-Fi interference or a busy network. A cable connection often fixes both.