Any · Windows

Slow internet? Run the five-minute test

Before you blame your ISP, prove where the slowdown actually is. Five minutes of testing separates 'bad router' from 'bad line'.

DifficultyEasy
Time10 min
RiskLow
ReversibleYes
PlatformAny
UpdatedAug 18, 2026

Written and tested by emdottech

What that means

Low risk. This fix only checks things, or changes settings you can switch back in the same place. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

Network path from PC to router to ISP, with the router highlighted as the likely culprit when wired and wireless speeds differ

Steps

01
- Close everything bandwidth-hungry (downloads, cloud sync, video calls), then run a speed test on speedtest.net — note download, upload and ping
02
- Test wired vs Wi-Fi: plug in with Ethernet and re-test. A big gap means your router or its placement is the problem, not the line
03
- Move closer to the router or switch to the 5 GHz band (faster, shorter range); keep it off a shelf behind metal cabinets
04
- Reboot the router — months of uptime clog its memory; if speed returns for a week and then sags again, schedule a weekly reboot
05
- Still slow on both wired and Wi-Fi? That's your ISP's problem now — and you have numbers to quote them

How to verify the fix

You have wired vs Wi-Fi speed numbers, and the slower path is identified (router/placement vs ISP line).

If this didn't fix it

Both wired and Wi-Fi are slow — that's the ISP; quote them your recorded download/upload/ping figures.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.

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Slow internet? Run the five-minute test

Steps

✓How to verify the fix

!If this didn't fix it

Related fixes

How to verify the fix

If this didn't fix it