How to test a new PC before the return window ends

A new PC can look fine during setup and still have a faulty key, a bad port, a screen issue, or trouble under load. If the return window is nearly over, test the parts you rely on now, while you still have time to report a problem.

Start with Test Everything for a step-by-step hardware check and report. Then repeat any suspicious result and try the features you use most, such as Wi-Fi, external displays, or gaming performance.

Run a complete check before you decide

1. Open Test Everything and work through the tests one at a time. Allow camera or microphone access only if you want to test those devices. You can decline a permission, but a skipped test does not tell you whether that hardware works.
2. Watch for problems you can see or feel as well as test results. Try the keyboard, trackpad or mouse, speakers, camera, and any buttons you use. Connect a USB device to each port you expect to use, and check HDMI or other video ports with a display if you have one.
3. Check the screen with Display Test. Look at the color screens for pixels that stay black or stuck on one color, and check whether the refresh rate options match what you expected from the PC's specifications.
4. Check your connection in the place where you normally use the PC. Wi-Fi Signal measures response time, jitter, and dropped requests, not the strength of the wireless signal in dBm. If you use the built-in speakers, Speaker Test can check the left and right channels.
5. If you plan to play games or run demanding software, use Processor Test, Graphics Test, and Overheating Test. Keep the vents clear and stop if the computer smells unusual, shuts down, or becomes dangerously hot.

For a laptop, you can also check the battery with Battery Meter if your browser reports battery information. Battery Meter and Charger & Cable Test appear only on devices whose browser exposes a battery.

Write down anything that failed, behaved inconsistently, or could not be tested. Keep the report or take a screenshot, and note the date. Run the full check again after a restart if a result looks wrong, so you can tell a one-time browser issue from a repeatable fault.

What the result means

The tests complete and the PC behaves normally

That is a good sign: the features you checked responded in the browser and during ordinary use. It is not a guarantee that every component is perfect or that a fault will never appear. Keep your notes and receipt until the return period is over.

A test is unavailable or cannot start

This does not automatically mean the PC is defective. A test may need a browser permission, a connected device, or browser support. For example, a camera check needs camera permission. Check the browser's permission icon beside the address bar, then try again. If the browser cannot access the feature, test it in a normal app too.

The same test fails more than once

A repeatable failure is more concerning, especially if the feature also fails outside the browser. A keyboard key that never registers, a display pixel that remains faulty, or a port that fails with more than one device is a clear reason to contact the seller while you can still request help or an exchange.

Performance scores vary or the PC gets warm

Scores can change with background updates, open programs, power settings, and temperature. Close unnecessary apps, connect a laptop to its charger, let the PC cool, and repeat the test under similar conditions. A single score is not proof that the computer is faulty. Repeated freezing, shutdowns, or a sharp slowdown as the PC heats up deserve more attention.

How to fix a problem before retesting

1. Restart the PC. A restart clears temporary software problems and finishes updates that are waiting to install. Repeat the test that failed before changing several settings at once.
2. Install system updates. On Windows 11, open Settings › Windows Update and install available updates. On macOS, open System Settings › General › Software Update. Restart afterward and test again.
3. Check permissions and device settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security and check Camera or Microphone if one of those tests is blocked. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security and check the matching permission. For sound, check Settings › System › Sound on Windows 11 or System Settings › Sound on macOS, and select the device you intend to test.
4. Reconnect external devices. Unplug and reconnect the keyboard, display, headset, or USB device. Try another cable or port when possible. A failed accessory or cable can look like a fault in the new PC.
5. Repeat the test with fewer variables. Close demanding apps, keep the PC on a hard surface with clear vents, and use the same browser and device setup. If the fault remains, save your notes and contact the seller or manufacturer instead of spending the return period troubleshooting indefinitely.

When it is probably a hardware problem

Suspect hardware when the same fault returns after a restart and updates, affects the same component in more than one app, or follows the PC when you change a cable or accessory. A persistent screen defect is easier to judge with a color test. For more guidance, see how to check a new monitor for dead pixels.

Contact the seller before the deadline and describe the fault plainly. Include the test notes, photos or screenshots when useful, and the order details. Do not open the case or attempt a repair on a new computer unless the seller or manufacturer says to do so, since it may affect your warranty or return options.

What a browser test cannot prove

A browser check can test many features without installing software, but it cannot guarantee future reliability or inspect every part of the computer. It also cannot replace trying your normal apps, checking every physical connector, or reading the seller's return terms. Leave time to contact support before the window closes, rather than waiting until its final day.