Why is my internet slow?
Try the one-minute connection diagnostic → Answer four questions for a focused next check.
Find the bottleneck before changing your plan. A slow video call, a weak Wi-Fi room and a slow wired connection point to different fixes.
Start here: three checks
- Test the wired connection. If you can, connect a capable computer to the router by Ethernet, pause backups and downloads, and run the speed test.
- Test your usual Wi-Fi spot. Use the same device in the room where the problem happens. A large drop from the wired result points toward Wi-Fi or your device.
- Repeat when the problem returns. Note the time, device, connection type, subscribed download and upload tier, and whether a VPN was on. One test is a clue, not a diagnosis.
Wi-Fi is slower than Ethernet
Move closer to the router and test again with the same device. If the result improves, signal strength, interference or router placement is likely involved. Put the router in an open, central spot, away from thick walls and cabinets. Check whether the device is connected to a suitable band: 5 GHz can offer more capacity at shorter range, while 2.4 GHz can reach farther but may face more interference. Actual performance depends on your home, router and device.
If only one device is slow, compare it with another device in the same spot. The first device may have an older Wi-Fi radio, a background upload, power-saving mode or a VPN. A faster plan cannot overcome a weak radio link. If all devices are slow in one room, investigate coverage before replacing the internet plan.
Ethernet is slow too
Check the subscribed tier on your bill or account portal, including upload. A 100 Mbps Ethernet port, a damaged cable or an older adapter can limit a faster plan. Try a different Ethernet cable or port when available. Pause cloud backups, game downloads and other heavy traffic. Reboot the modem or router once, then retest after the connection stabilizes. Avoid factory-resetting equipment without your provider's setup instructions.
Compare several results from the same device and connection method over more than one period. A browser test measures your path to this site's hosting endpoint at that moment. A second reputable test may use a different server, route, transfer method and duration; disagreement does not automatically prove either test is broken. Read why speed tests can disagree before treating one result as a plan-speed verdict.
Why is Ethernet stuck near 100 Mbps on a faster plan?
Check the negotiated Ethernet link speed shown by your operating system or adapter utility. This is the local connection between the device and its next network port, not your measured internet speed. A 100 Mbps link cannot carry a faster plan at its full rate; a 1 Gbps link does not guarantee a 1 Gbps internet result. A browser reading alone cannot tell you which link rate was negotiated.
- Record before changing anything. Note the adapter or USB dock model, router port, reported link speed and a repeated wired test result. Check the equipment specifications: some ports support only 10/100 Mbps.
- Isolate the cable path. Connect to a known gigabit-capable LAN port on your router using one known-good cable, bypassing a dock, switch or wall socket where practical. Keep the router and its security settings in place; do not bypass it by connecting directly to an exposed modem. Reseat connectors gently and try another suitable cable and LAN port, changing one item at a time.
- Recheck the local link speed. If it rises after a swap, investigate the item you bypassed before buying a new internet plan. If it stays at 100 Mbps, compare another capable device on that same cable and port. Record each combination rather than assuming the provider is throttling you.
- Use model-specific support. Intel recommends Auto Negotiation for its gigabit adapters and notes that some drivers do not show a separate forced 1 Gbps option. Do not force duplex settings, install unofficial drivers or change managed work equipment without approval. Other adapters may have different instructions.
Intel: troubleshooting a 100 Mbps Ethernet link ↗ covers cable and intermediate-equipment checks; Intel: gigabit adapter negotiation settings ↗ explains its driver setting. These are equipment checks, not proof of an ISP fault. Once the local link is suitable, repeat comparable internet tests and save the before/after readings in the connection test worksheet.
Download looks fine, but calls or games stutter
Look at upload, ping and jitter alongside download. Upload affects sending your camera feed, files and backups. Ping measures the round-trip response time to the test route; jitter describes variation in that timing. An upload saturating your connection can make a call unstable even when the download number looks healthy. Pause backups or large file uploads, then repeat the call and the test. For games, check whether the problem occurs on all games and devices or only with one remote server; a local speed test cannot measure every game's route.
The site's quality score is calculated from measured download, upload, ping and jitter on your device. It is a starting point for investigation, not a trained AI diagnosis or a promise that an app will perform well.
Why is my internet slow only at night?
Keep a short record: date, time, wired or Wi-Fi, subscribed tier and both download and upload. Repeat at a quieter time with the same device and settings. Household devices may be using the connection at busy hours, and congestion can occur elsewhere on the route. Your observations can narrow the possibilities, but a browser measurement alone cannot identify the exact network segment at fault. If the pattern persists over a wired connection, share the dated readings with your provider.
A simple three-day evidence log
Use the same capable wired device when possible. Record one quiet-period test and one problem-time test on three different days. This is not a certified measurement, but it gives support a repeatable pattern to investigate.
| Date and time | Connection | Download / upload | Ping / jitter | What was happening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · quiet | Ethernet or Wi-Fi | ___ / ___ Mbps | ___ / ___ ms | VPN, backup, streaming? |
| Day 1 · problem time | Same device | ___ / ___ Mbps | ___ / ___ ms | Same notes |
| Days 2–3 | Repeat conditions | Record both periods | Record both periods | Note outages or modem lights |
VPN or uploads affect the test
A VPN sends traffic through another network and may change the measured route, delay and throughput. Compare the same device with and without it only if your security or workplace policy permits. Record which setting was used; do not turn off a required work VPN merely to improve a number. Cloud backups, camera uploads and software updates can also consume upstream capacity. Pause those tasks briefly, then repeat the test under the same conditions to see whether the result changes.
When to contact your provider
Contact support when repeatable wired tests remain well below your subscribed tier after you have checked the device, cable and background traffic, or when the modem reports a persistent connection fault. Provide the exact plan tier, equipment model, dates and measured results. Ask what speed the provider expects at the modem or optical terminal, whether an outage or line issue is known, and which next diagnostic step they can perform. Save the case number and follow-up date.
If you are comparing service at a Canadian address, verify the exact address and unit with the provider. The National Broadband Map ↗ is a starting point; it does not guarantee service at a specific home. The CRTC's 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload objective ↗ is an availability goal with an unlimited data option, not a guarantee that an individual browser test must always read 50/10.
If the problem is still unresolved
The CRTC says to start with your provider when the issue concerns service quality or billing. If the provider does not resolve it, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) can review eligible disputes about fixed internet service at a Canadian address. Before escalating, keep your account details, plan or contract, support case numbers, dates, promised resolution and the repeatable test log together. The CCTS is a dispute-resolution service; it does not turn a browser test into a certified line measurement.
Read the CRTC performance and complaint guidance ↗ or check what internet complaints the CCTS accepts ↗.
Choose your next step
Method and sources
This guide explains how to compare your own repeatable tests. It does not claim that any provider is fastest, publish unsourced city averages or locate a fault inside a provider's network. The CRTC describes the national access objective and complaint path, while Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's broadband map describes reported availability. The CCTS explains the internet-service disputes it can accept. For a plan dispute, consult your provider's current terms and technical support.