Is your Wi-Fi weak, or is it the internet?

Pages load slowly, video keeps buffering, or your connection drops for a few seconds. The cause could be a weak Wi-Fi link between your device and router, or a problem farther along the internet connection. They can feel exactly the same.

Compare the connection in two places, and on another device if you can. The Wi-Fi Signal test shows response time, jitter, and lost requests, which can help you spot an unstable connection and see whether moving closer to the router changes it.

Compare Wi-Fi in two places

1. Open the Wi-Fi Signal test on the device that has the problem. Let it run long enough to see whether response time, jitter, or lost requests change.
2. Stay in the spot where you usually notice the issue. Note whether requests are lost or the readings vary a lot, rather than relying on one momentary result.
3. Move the same device close to the router and run the test again. Keep other conditions as similar as possible, including the time and the apps using your internet.
4. If you can, compare another device on the same Wi-Fi. You can also connect a computer to the router with an Ethernet cable to remove Wi-Fi from the connection.
5. To check download and upload speed as well, run the Speed Test in each setup. Compare like with like: use the same device and location, and avoid large downloads while testing.

A single result is only a snapshot. Repeat the checks if the problem comes and goes, and note whether it affects one device, every device, or only one room.

What the result means

It improves near the router

If response time becomes steadier or lost requests stop when you move closer, the Wi-Fi link is likely part of the problem. A wall, floor, distance, or nearby wireless interference can weaken the connection between your device and router. This does not prove the router's radio signal is weak, but the location comparison is a useful clue.

It is poor everywhere, on several devices

If several devices have the same trouble near the router, the cause may be the router, its internet connection, or a wider service problem. If a wired computer has the same issue, that points away from Wi-Fi and toward the router or the connection coming into your home.

Only one device has trouble

If other devices work normally in the same place, focus on the affected device. Its Wi-Fi adapter, saved network settings, power settings, or software may be causing the problem. A result on one device alone cannot tell you which of those is responsible.

The connection is steady, but downloads are slow

Low response time and few or no lost requests do not guarantee fast downloads. Your plan, a busy internet connection, a slow server, or another device using bandwidth can reduce speed. The Speed Test can show download and upload speed, but one test cannot identify which part is limiting it.

The readings jump or requests are lost

Changing response time, high jitter, or lost requests show that the path to the test server is inconsistent. That can happen on Wi-Fi, but it can also happen elsewhere between your router and the server. Compare near the router, on another device, and over Ethernet before deciding which part is at fault.

How to fix it

1. Move closer and reduce obstacles. Put the device in the same room as the router for a quick check. A router inside a cabinet, behind a television, or near thick walls may have trouble reaching other rooms.
2. Pause other network activity. Temporarily stop large downloads, cloud backups, video streams, and game updates on your devices. Run the tests again after the network is quieter.
3. Check that the device is on your home Wi-Fi. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi. On macOS, open System Settings › Wi-Fi. On iPhone, check Settings › Wi-Fi; on many Android phones, open Settings › Network & internet › Internet. Make sure you are connected to the expected network, not a guest network or a saved hotspot.
4. Restart the router and modem. If all devices are affected, unplug the router and modem, wait about 30 seconds, then reconnect them. Give them a few minutes to come back online before testing again.
5. Improve the router's position. Place it in an open, central location, raised off the floor and away from large metal objects. If the problem is limited to one room, moving the router may help more than changing settings on the device.
6. Check for a service or router problem. If several devices still fail on both Wi-Fi and Ethernet after a restart, check the modem and router lights and contact your internet provider. If Ethernet works well but Wi-Fi remains unreliable nearby, check the router's settings or ask its manufacturer for support.

What this test can and cannot tell you

A browser cannot read the Wi-Fi signal strength in dBm, the radio measurement sometimes shown in specialist network tools. Wi-Fi Signal instead measures how the connection behaves, using response time, jitter, and lost requests. That is useful for finding dropouts and comparing locations, but it is not a direct measurement of radio strength.

Wi-Fi bars are also only a rough indicator. A device can show a strong connection to the router while the internet connection is slow, or show fewer bars while ordinary browsing still works well. Comparing the same device near the router and farther away gives you a more practical clue about where the problem starts.