Short Tutorial/FAQ – Why Are My Speed Test Results Lower Than Expected?
Question: When I recently did a speed test on my home’s internet connection, the speeds didn’t match what’s stated for my internet plan. How come?
Answer: Internet service providers typically advertise maximum download and upload speeds for plans, but actual speeds may come in lower. They can also vary day by day, or even hour by hour. This is because factors including these can affect the speeds:
Question: When I recently did a speed test on my home’s internet connection, the speeds didn’t match what’s stated for my internet plan. How come?
Answer: Internet service providers typically advertise maximum download and upload speeds for plans, but actual speeds may come in lower. They can also vary day by day, or even hour by hour. This is because factors including these can affect the speeds:
- WiFi interference – Other electronic devices, physical obstacles like walls and doors, and even other WiFi networks nearby can impact your speed.
- Range from the router – The farther your device is from your WiFi router, the weaker the signal and, consequently, the slower the speed.
- Many devices – The more devices connected to your network, the more crowded your network becomes, and this can slow things down.
- Software updates and background activities – Sometimes, devices run necessary software updates or background processes that can take up a chunk of your bandwidth, causing a slower connection.
- Older devices – Devices with older WiFi technology take more time to transmit and receive data on your WiFi network, which can slow the entire network down.
