How to test router performance after a firmware update

Your Wi-Fi feels slower, a video call stutters, or downloads pause after a router firmware update. The change may have reset a setting, but a single speed test cannot tell you whether the router, Wi-Fi signal, or internet service is responsible.

Use the Speed Test to compare download speed, upload speed, ping and jitter. Then check connection stability and compare Wi-Fi with a wired connection if you can.

Test performance after the update

1. Open the Speed Test on a computer connected to the router. If you saved results from before the update, use the same computer and connection type for a fair comparison.
2. Pause large downloads, cloud backups, streaming and other heavy internet use. Keep the device in the same room and use the same Wi-Fi network as before. If you can connect by Ethernet, run a separate test over the cable.
3. Run the test three times, allowing a short pause between runs. Note download, upload, ping and jitter for each result. Compare the middle result, not just the fastest or slowest one.
4. Repeat the test at a different time if the results are unexpectedly low. Internet use in your home and neighborhood changes throughout the day, so one run may not represent normal performance.
5. If the connection pauses or drops, run Connection Stability for a few minutes. It checks response time, jitter, lost requests and dropouts over a longer period.

The Speed Test exchanges test data with our server to measure the connection. It measures the path from your device through the router and internet service, not the router alone.

What the results mean

Wi-Fi and Ethernet are both slower than before

If both connection types show a similar decline, the issue is less likely to be weak Wi-Fi coverage. The router may be using a different setting after its update, or the internet service may be having a problem. Check for a difference at another time before changing router settings.

Ethernet is normal, but Wi-Fi is slower

The internet connection may be fine while the wireless connection has changed. The update could have changed the Wi-Fi band, channel, or mesh settings, or the device may be connecting to a different access point. Test close to the router, then test from the room where you notice the slowdown.

Download speed looks normal, but ping or jitter is higher

Download speed measures how quickly data arrives. Ping is the response time for a small request, and jitter is how much that response time varies. Higher ping or jitter can make calls and games feel delayed even when downloads are fast. Check whether other devices are uploading or downloading while you test.

Results vary widely or requests are lost

Unsteady results can point to interference, busy network use, a weak signal, or a problem beyond your home. If Connection Stability also shows lost requests or dropouts, repeat the check with Ethernet. If the wired connection also drops, contact your internet provider with the test times and results.

You have no earlier results to compare

You can still check whether service is working consistently now, but you cannot prove that the firmware update caused a change. Save a few results from different times and locations as a baseline for future checks.

How to fix a slowdown

1. Wait for the router to finish restarting. After firmware installation, the router may need a few minutes to reconnect and restore its wireless network. Avoid unplugging it during an update or restart.
2. Check that your device joined the right Wi-Fi network. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi. On macOS, open System Settings › Wi-Fi. On an iPhone, open Settings › Wi-Fi. Android menu names vary, but look under Settings › Network & internet or the Wi-Fi section. Confirm that you are testing the router's usual network, not a guest network or a saved network nearby.
3. Test close to the router. Run the same test a few feet away, with a clear path between the device and router. If performance improves substantially, investigate coverage or mesh connections rather than changing the internet plan.
4. Check whether a VPN is changing the route. If you normally use a VPN, test once with it off, if your workplace or network rules allow it. On Windows 11, check Settings › Network & internet › VPN. On macOS, open System Settings › VPN. Compare results with the VPN on and off, then restore your usual setting.
5. Review router settings that may have reset. Firmware updates can restore defaults or change how a router handles Wi-Fi bands, guest networks, parental controls, quality of service, or mesh nodes. Use the router manufacturer's instructions to review settings you had customized. Change one setting at a time, then test again.
6. Restart the router once. If the update has completed and the connection still behaves oddly, restart the router using its normal controls. Wait until it reconnects, then repeat the test. Avoid a factory reset unless the router maker recommends it, because a reset can erase your network name and other settings.

Separate a router problem from an ISP problem

A wired test helps narrow down the cause, but it is not a perfect diagnosis. A slow Ethernet cable, a limited device network adapter, or other network equipment can also affect results. Try a second device if one is available, and keep the test time and connection type the same.

If several devices are slow over both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and the problem continues after the router has restarted, contact your internet provider. Share the times you tested and the results, and ask whether there is an outage or a signal problem on the line. If only Wi-Fi is affected, contact the router maker or review its update notes and recommended settings.

Keep a short record of results after the update so you can compare them if performance changes again.