How to check ping with a VPN on
Measure ping with your VPN connected, compare it with the VPN off, and learn whether extra delay comes from the VPN route or your local connection.
Turning on a VPN can make websites and games feel slower, even when you are not downloading anything. To see whether the VPN is adding delay, compare ping with it connected and disconnected while keeping other conditions as steady as you can.
The Speed Test reports ping and jitter along with download and upload speed. Run it with no other internet activity, then compare the results with the VPN off.
Check ping with the VPN on and off
- Connect to your VPN, then close or pause downloads, cloud backups, video streams, game updates, and other busy apps on your network.
- Open the Speed Test and run a test. Note the ping and jitter, and whether the connection feels steady while nothing else is using the internet.
- Disconnect the VPN without changing your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. Run the Speed Test again under the same quiet conditions and note the results.
- Repeat each check a few times, preferably alternating between VPN on and off. Compare the typical results, not just one unusually high or low reading.
Ping is the round-trip time for a request to reach the test server and return, measured in milliseconds. Jitter describes how much that time varies between requests. A lower ping is generally more responsive, but the result is useful mainly when compared with your own baseline and the service you are using.
What the result means
Ping rises with the VPN on
Your traffic is taking a different route through the VPN. The VPN server may be farther away, or the route from that server to the Speed Test server may be less direct. A modest increase can be normal. A large increase may be noticeable in games, calls, and remote desktop sessions.
Ping is similar, but jitter increases
The average response time may look fine while individual requests vary more. That can make voice or video feel uneven, or cause occasional pauses in interactive apps. Repeat the test at another time before blaming the VPN, because Wi-Fi interference and other network activity can also raise jitter.
Ping is lower with the VPN on
This can happen if the VPN route reaches the test server more efficiently than your direct route. It does not mean the VPN always makes your connection faster. Compare several runs, and check the result for the particular service you care about.
Ping is high with the VPN both on and off
The VPN may not be the main cause. The Wi-Fi connection, router, internet provider, or distance to the test server can affect the result. Try a wired connection if available, or test again closer to the router.
Results change between runs
Network conditions may be changing, or the test may connect to a different server. The Speed Test measures a route to its test server, not a guaranteed ping to a game server or video call. Use the readings to compare conditions, rather than treating one result as a fixed rating of your VPN.
How to reduce extra delay
- Stop other traffic first. Pause uploads, downloads, cloud synchronization, and streaming on your device. If other people are using the same connection, their activity can affect your results too.
- Try a closer VPN location. In your VPN app, choose a server location nearer to you or to the service you are using. A nearby server often reduces the extra distance, though network routing can make a farther location perform better.
- Reconnect to the VPN. Disconnect and reconnect, then test again. This may assign a different route or server, depending on the VPN service.
- Compare VPN protocols. If your VPN app offers a protocol choice, test another supported option and compare several ping readings. Names and settings vary by provider, so use its own app rather than guessing at a system-wide setting.
- Check the connection type. Move closer to the Wi-Fi router or connect with Ethernet, then repeat the on and off comparison. If ping improves in both cases, the local wireless link was likely part of the problem.
- Check the VPN connection in system settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › VPN. On macOS, open System Settings › VPN. These screens can show built-in VPN connections; a third-party VPN may need to be managed in its own app.
Why an idle ping is different from a loaded ping
An idle ping is measured when your connection is not busy. Uploading or downloading a large amount of data can make ping rise because requests wait behind that traffic in a queue. If ping is acceptable while idle but jumps during transfers, the issue is not simply the VPN's idle route. You can read more about that difference in VPN changes to loaded latency readings.
Speed tests exchange test data with our server to measure connection performance. A ping result does not show whether your real IP address is exposed, and it cannot guarantee privacy or anonymity. For that separate check, see how to check whether your VPN leaks your IP address.
