Don’t Let the Internet Fail You: Find What’s Broken and Fix it
Internet problems can pop up when we least expect them. It might be a sudden slowdown while you're shopping online, a delay that ruins your online gaming, or a big file download that stops halfway through. These issues aren't just annoying — they can seriously disrupt your daily life, preventing you from completing important tasks like paying bills, navigating with map apps, or participating in online meetings.
Making things even more frustrating is that it's not always easy to figure out what's causing the problem. Is it your device? Your internet connection? Or maybe your service provider? The good news is that Speedtest® and Downdetector® give you a quick and easy way to find the source of the issue, whether you're using a Wi-Fi or mobile network.
Read on to learn how you can use these tools to troubleshoot your connection issues. To learn how Speedtest can help you plan for better internet experiences and ensure you get the service you pay for, check out our other guides on these topics.
Steps for troubleshooting your connection
Is it just you? Make sure there isn't an internet or service outage
Sometimes the internet just isn’t working. A service can be down, there may be a localized outage, or a whole host of other issues can cause problems. Before diving into the troubleshooting steps below, check the Downdetector website or the Downdetector tab in the Speedtest app to see if your provider or other services are experiencing any problems.
Check your speed and latency
If Downdetector doesn’t show a major outage and it looks like the problem might be with your connection, use Speedtest to measure your speed and latency. This can help you identify potential causes of laggy connections or slow service. Slow download speeds could be the reason your game update is taking forever to load, while high latency could explain why your online gaming session feels sluggish even though your speeds seem fine.
Isolate problems with specific devices
Compare results across multiple devices to determine if the issue is network-wide or specific to a device. This can help you figure out if there’s a problem with your network or if it’s time to restart your device or upgrade your old laptop or smartphone.
Check performance in different rooms and different times
Test your primary device in various locations where you frequently use your network and at different times throughout the day and week. If you notice differences in performance, repeat the tests with other devices in the same spots. This helps you figure out if the problem is happening in certain areas of your home or only with specific devices. By comparing results across both locations and time periods, you can better understand if the issue is with your network setup, a particular device, certain spots in your home, or your internet performance at different times of day.
Check your Speedtest historical data to identify patterns
If you're experiencing recurring issues, check your Speedtest results history. If you notice patterns in your results, this can help you determine if the issue began on a certain date, is gradually worsening, or is related to recent changes in your setup or service. With a free Speedtest account, you can check your historical test results across multiple devices.
The bottom line
Speedtest provides a comprehensive look at your internet performance, giving you key knowledge for diagnosing and resolving network issues. By measuring speed and latency, comparing results across devices and locations, and reviewing historical data, you can effectively pinpoint the source of connection problems, helping you get your internet working the way you need it to.
You can also use Downdetector to check for outages, further helping you determine the root cause of problems. Whether it's adjusting your home setup, addressing issues with specific devices, or contacting your provider, these tools can help you maintain strong internet performance and quickly resolve issues, keeping you connected when it matters most.