How to test whether Wi-Fi is dropping packets
Check for Wi-Fi drops with a live browser test, learn what lost requests mean, and narrow down whether the cause is your router or internet.
A video call freezes for a moment, a game lags, or a page stops loading and then recovers. These brief interruptions can happen when parts of a network connection are lost, even if Wi-Fi still shows as connected.
You can check for drops with the Wi-Fi Signal test. It tracks live response time, jitter, and drops in your connection. The results can help you work out whether the problem follows your Wi-Fi signal or affects the internet connection more broadly.
Test Wi-Fi for drops
- Open the Wi-Fi Signal test on the device that has the problem.
- Stay in the place where you usually notice interruptions. Keep the device connected to the same Wi-Fi network you use for calls, games, or browsing.
- Watch the response time, jitter, and drops while the test runs. Leave it open for several minutes, especially if the problem happens only now and then.
- Note when a drop or a large change in response time appears. If you notice a freeze during a call or game, check whether the test changes at the same time.
- Repeat the test near the router, then compare the results. Keep other conditions as similar as you can, including the device and network.
For a fair comparison, pause large downloads and uploads during the first test. Then, if you want to see how other activity affects your connection, repeat the test while another device is using the network. This can reveal whether the drops happen at quiet times, under load, or mainly in one location.
What the result means
No drops during the test
The connection was steady during that sample. It does not prove that drops never happen: a short test can miss an intermittent problem. If interruptions are rare, test for longer or run the test when the issue usually occurs.
Occasional drops
A drop means the test did not get a response as expected. That is a useful sign of interruption, but it is not a count of every lost Wi-Fi radio packet. A browser test sees how requests behave across the connection, so the cause could be the wireless link, router, internet service, or the route to the test server.
Many drops or sudden response-time spikes
The connection is having trouble delivering a steady response. If these changes line up with frozen audio, delayed game actions, or pages that stall, they may explain what you are experiencing. Repeat the test near the router to see whether distance or obstacles affect the result.
Results improve near the router
The wireless connection is likely weaker or less reliable in the original spot. Walls, floors, appliances, and distance can all affect Wi-Fi. If the test stays poor even beside the router, look at router load, the internet connection, or the device instead of assuming that distance is the only cause.
How to reduce Wi-Fi drops
- Move closer to the router. Test from the same room with a clear path to the router. If drops become less frequent, try moving the router to a more open, central location or use a closer access point.
- Pause heavy network activity. Stop large downloads, cloud backups, and video streams on other devices, then run the test again. If the connection steadies, congestion may be contributing to the problem.
- Reconnect to Wi-Fi. Turn Wi-Fi off and back on, then reconnect to your network. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi › Manage known networks, choose your network, and select Forget before connecting again. On macOS, open System Settings › Wi-Fi, select Details next to the network, and choose Forget This Network, then reconnect.
- Restart the router. Use its power switch or unplug it, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Give it a few minutes to reconnect before testing again. Avoid resetting it to factory settings unless you know how to restore your network setup.
- Try another Wi-Fi band or network. If your router offers separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, test both in the same location. One may work better through walls, while the other may be faster nearby. If another device on the same Wi-Fi has the same drops, the router or connection is more likely than a problem limited to your device.
- Compare with a wired connection. If possible, connect a computer to the router with an Ethernet cable and repeat the test. A steady wired result alongside a poor Wi-Fi result points toward the wireless connection. Drops on both connections suggest a broader router or internet issue.
Know what a browser test can tell you
Browsers cannot read the Wi-Fi signal strength in dBm, a unit used by network equipment. The test measures what the connection does instead: how quickly it responds, how much that timing varies, and whether requests drop. A result with no drops is encouraging, but it cannot identify the exact point where a failed request was lost.
To separate a weak wireless link from a wider internet problem, compare the same device near the router and, if practical, over Ethernet. You can also test another device on the same network. If all devices show interruptions, contact your internet provider or check the router. If only one device has trouble, focus on its Wi-Fi connection and settings. For more help narrowing down a slow or unreliable connection, see Is your Wi-Fi weak, or is it the internet?
