Download Speed Not Matching Speed Test: 4 Root Causes & Fixes [GUIDE]

Apr 20, 2022 - Views: 2391

Rating:4.8 - 55Votes

Not all ISPs are upfront about speeds offered.

It’s vital to know if you're getting the service you paid for. 

Is download speed not matching speed test after you run a download speed test?

So why does this happen? 

What should your download speed be? and how to increase your download speed? 

Here you can find the answer!

My download speed not matching speed test

My download speed not matching speed test

How do download speed tests work?

An online download speed test performs a number of tasks. 

The test location will, in general: 

  • Determine your location and the test server that is the most convenient for you.

  • Send a ping to the server of your choice and time how long it takes for the ping to reach the server or the upload speed.

  • Open connections to the server and see how rapidly it can deliver data to your device, or how fast it can download data.

  • Calculate latency or the time it takes for a server to respond to a user's request.

What is the working principle of a download speed test?

What is the working principle of a download speed test?

Well, for a good speed test site, we highly recommend you use MySpeed.

It is one the most reliable speed check WIFI nowadays and is used by many Internet users. 

Not only does it measure the computer's current download speed but it also checks the speed of ping, and upload speed of your network connection.

Quick, convenient, and compact are things MySpeed brings to you. 

You will get the results of Internet parameters after a couple of seconds. 

Because of the simple interface, users can conduct this helpful tool easily. Just tap the "Go" button and then wait for testing results.

So great, right?

What download speeds do I need?

Is 7 Mbps download speed good?

Is 90 Mbps download speed enough for streaming?

The number of devices and types of Internet activities you engage in will determine your Internet speed requirements. 

According to Tom’s Guide, the minimal speeds required for certain activities are listed below. 

Remember that these are cumulative, so you'll need to add them up to achieve the overall required speed.

A number of devices Internet activities Recommended download speed

1 - 2

  • Web surfing

  • Social networking

  • Email

  • Moderate video

Up to 25 Mbps

3 - 5

  • 4K streaming

  • Online multiplayer gaming

50 - 100 Mbps

> 5

  • Web surfing

  • Social networking

  • Email

  • Moderate video

  • 4K streaming

  • Online multiplayer gaming

  • Live streaming video

  • Sharing large files 

150 - 200 Mbps

Although Internet abbreviations can be confusing, knowing what speed is regarded as decent in Mbps is critical. 

If you're serious about not overpaying for the Internet, you should study more about what is a good download speed.

Also, try to become familiar with the terminology used on the Internet.

Why is my download speed not matching the speed test?

It's no secret that actual Internet speeds sometimes fall short of what providers advertise. 

However, if your speed test results are much lower than what you're paying for, don't immediately contact customer service. 

Instead, there are a variety of additional things that can affect Internet speeds that have nothing to do with your Internet service provider.

They can be:

  • Too many users or devices connecting at the same time is one of the most typical causes of a sluggish internet speed.

  • Too far away from your wireless router or having an outdated or incorrectly configured router is another reason.

  • A router antenna points in the wrong direction can really slow down the entire household's download speed.

  • ISP-related issues. When an internet provider throttles speeds for clients in specific geographic locations, when a data cap is reached, or when browsing certain websites, this is known as throttling.

Many factors may cause unmatching download speed and speed test

Many factors may cause unmatching download speed and speed test

How can I improve my download speed?

After knowing some possible reasons to download speed not matching speed test, you can apply the following fixes.

Try them and you’ll get a better result!

Tips on improving download speed

Tips on improving download speed

Doing so will help the result be as accurate as possible.

  • Bring your wireless router closer to you. 

Your internet speed will be slower the further you are from the router. 

If you have a large house, consider investing in a WiFi range extender to ensure a strong signal in every room.

  • Restart your modem and router if necessary

Before resuming the devices, unplug them for at least 30 seconds. This can sometimes be enough to get your internet speeds back to where they should be, especially if you've experienced a slowdown over time.

  • Rotate the antenna on your router

To get a consistent signal in every area, make sure the antenna is oriented inward (towards the center of your home).

  • Upgrade your modem and/or router if you haven't already

Some older devices are incapable of handling today's high internet bandwidth.

Before you buy, check the product specifications to make sure it can handle speeds at least as fast as your current home internet service.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I know if my speed test is good?

You're getting a good download speed if the results of your speed test nearly match the quoted speeds for your plan. 

The Federal Communications Commission used to claim a good speed while doing a test utilizing an Ethernet cord with no other devices connected.

Following that, your actual speeds should be between 80% of your plan's claimed rates.

Which speed test site is the most accurate?

Well, there are various testing sites that you can try.

However, choosing a reliable one is not easy.

But don’t worry!

The 5 websites listed below are widely used by millions of users and are famous for their accuracy:

  • Gospeedcheck.com

  • Speedtest.net

  • SpeedOf.Me

  • Fast.com

  • TestMy.net

Why is my Internet so slow all of a sudden?

Well, the most common causes of slow WiFi are nearby old devices and interference from other WiFi networks. 

Additionally strongly absorbing WiFi radio waves are solid metal items and concrete walls, which results in an even weaker signal.

Besides, Bandwidth congestion, VPN server, malware, etc can also be to blame.

Conclusion

By now, we hope you’re clear about why download speed not matching speed test and how to fix it. If you find this post helpful, write below to let us know! Also, check out our next article!

Source:

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/Internet-speed-what-you-need,news-24289.html 

https://www.allconnect.com/blog/understand-speed-test-results

Rating:4.8 - 55Votes
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16 Comments

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  1. Taylor

    I just got a new internet company and when they set it up it worked fine for hours it was a 300Mbps plan and i was getting more than that and this evening i went to download something and it would only download at 900kbps at most when it was downloading at 75MB/s earlier today

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    1. MySpeed

      For any issues relating to the internet plan, you should call its customer service to complain

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  2. Oliver Robinson

    Wow, this is amazing

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    1. MySpeed

      You are welcome

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  3. Jordan Robinson

    Why does a speed test say my internet is fast but downloads are slow?

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    1. Florence Gray

      The speed test measures the speed of your connection to the server of the speed test website, which may not accurately represent the speed of your connection to the server of the website you are trying to download from. The distance between your device and the server you are downloading from can also affect your download speed

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  4. Eli Thomas

    I did a speed test on speedtest.net and on average I get 485mb download and 510mb upload but when I'm downloading a game I only get around 40mb. I'm using ethernet by the way.

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    1. MySpeed

      Usually when you download a game, the speed is in MB/s and not Mb/s. So 40MB/s will give you around 320Mb/s.

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    2. Lucy Stewart

      One byte is equivalent to eight bits.

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  5. Nicholas Watson

    I appreciate all this information, all your content is pure gold. Thanks for sharing, and I was applying some of your tips 🤩

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    1. MySpeed

      You’re welcome. And tell me how they work for you

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      1. Nicholas Watson

        Of course

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  6. Virginia Wright

    Why is the download speed of a file always less than the speed shown on an internet speed test?

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    1. MySpeed

      Speed test sites test your speed between their test site and your device. It’s the speed at that point in time between your device and theirs, which hopefully is the fastest speed you can get. Also, there are many factors may affect your speed, as discussed in the post

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      1. Piper Adams

        Agree. I want to add that even if your internet connection is fast, if your ISP has a limit on the amount of bandwidth you can use, your download speeds may be slower.

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    2. Jackson

      The server you are downloading from may be experiencing issues that are slowing down your download speed

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