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Sign In / Sign Up ensures that you won't lose track of your results if your IP address changes at any time during the troubleshooting process.

Sign in to enjoy these additional member benefits for free.

  • Automatic speed test will email you when complete
  • Hourly Averages
  • Advanced emailing options [see My Settings] can notify you when your speed drops below a threshold you set.
  • Access to Response Time testing - aka Ping (automatically loads with all page loads when you're signed in)
  • Results saved by username for better organizing across many computers or connections
  • Early access to new features and tools
  • Use the AdBreak option to temporarily disable ads

After you're signed in, before you troubleshoot, run your first speed test.  Open testmy.net in a new window and click "Test My Internet", then click "Combined".  This will run a combined download and upload speed test.  This is your baseline result.

  • It's a good idea to get early results from more than one server / mirror to establish a pattern of connection behavior.
  • Run more than a few tests, figure out which servers perform best for you and then stick to those as you continue.
  • It's a good idea to run an early multithread speed test.  This is often will produce a higher result because the test is pulling from multiple sources simultaneously.  This is the default method for nearly all other speed tests and one of the main reasons people score so high outside of testmy.net.
    • Make sure you disable multithread before running the next tests.  Keep in mind, multithread is an option you toggle on and off and will replace default test behavior across the site.

Now we can try to improve those results.

Sometimes a quick power cycle of your networking gear is all that you need to get you back up to speed. 

  • Simply unplug all of your networking equipment (router, modem and any switches) wait 10 seconds and plug them back in.
  • Reboot your computer for good measure.

To get the best possible speed test result we'll want to first eliminate as many variables as possible.  Anything between your computer and the outside connection is a variable.  Your router, modem, cables, splitters or switches, wifi... all variables.  If you can get a more direct connection to your modem, do it.  If you're on wifi and it's possible to go wired, do it.

  • If you see a noticeable improvement then you know it was one of the variables you removed.  Start adding variables back in, re-testing with testmy.net in between.  When you see an obvious decrease in speed, then you know what to investigate further.
  • If you find equipment (like your router) at fault, make sure to attempt a factory reset before considering it to be a loss.  A quick google search for "[insert model number] factory reset" should help.
  • Sometimes, your modem is at fault.  These cases will often score high on other speed tests and testmy.net's multithread speed test but will fall 5-10X short on testmy.net's default single thread test.
    • If you have a modem that's over 4 years old, I'd definitely look into replacing it with a newer model Arris Surfboard modem.  It's the only brand TestMy.net recommends and has ever recommended.  I also highly recommend using a separate modem unit from the router.  I'd never buy a combo unit and definitely wouldn't use the one any ISP gave me... even if it were free.  This gives you more freedom for upgrades in the future, for less money.

You may have an intermittent issue that you'd like to identify.  Something that only occurs during certain times.  Run an automatic speed test to help identify these patterns.

What can cause intermittent slow downs?

  • Your providers network being oversold and overcapacity in your area.
  • Congested routing through your ISP or TMN's ISPs peers (testing different servers can help identify this).
  • Scheduled cloud tasks, sync, streaming or file sharing within your own network.
    • To identify, think of this... Do I have...
      • a daily remote backup / sync procedure?
      • Google Photos or similar app uploading data?
      • a BitTorrent client uploading in the background anywhere on the network? 
      • any streaming data from webcams?
      • a weak wifi password?  Could a neighbor be stealing my wifi?  

This is and quick and easy improvement.  It won't speed up your real connection speed but it can make surfing and general website loading faster.  Google and Cloudflare are the big dogs here, I personally use both but through testing find 1.1.1.1 to be slightly faster. 

“Except for the three DNS query types discussed below, all of the log information above will be deleted within 24 hours of Cloudflare’s receipt of such information.”

“We delete these temporary logs within 24 to 48 hours. ...We don't correlate or combine information from our temporary or permanent logs with any personal information that you have provided Google for other services.”

Can't find similar DNS privacy policies for any of the major ISPs here in the US.  ;)

I highly recommend making this change to your entire network by setting it in your router instead of configuring each client individually.

Call your provider!  Tell them the steps you've taken, share your TestMy.net results with them.  They may work with you and find something they can improve.  Could be a bad cable or splitter leading to your house or even a widespread issue in your neighborhood they'll only be made aware of if you complain.