Packet loss test

Check for packet loss, latency, jitter and late packets on your connection in about 10 seconds. Pick what you use the internet for and get a plain yes or no.

What this test measures (honestly)

Games and calls use UDP, which simply drops packets that don’t arrive. Web pages can’t send raw UDP, so this test does the closest thing a browser can: it fires a small HTTPS request to the nearest Cloudflare data centre every 50–170 ms (depending on the preset), without waiting for the previous one, and times every reply.

• Packet loss: requests that fail or take longer than 1 second. In a game or call, a packet that late is as good as lost.
• Late packets: replies that arrived but too slowly for the chosen use (for example over 100 ms for gaming). Because HTTPS quietly resends lost packets, real loss on your line often shows up here as late packets.
• Latency: the average round trip time.
• Jitter: how much the delay jumps between packets.

So treat this as a strong hint, not a lab measurement. If it says “no”, the problem is real; for an exact loss figure, run ping -n 100 8.8.8.8 on Windows or mtr 8.8.8.8 on Mac or Linux. A true UDP version of this test is on our list.

Why is my game lagging?

If your speed test looks fine but your game rubber-bands, teleports players or shows high ping spikes, the cause is almost always packet loss or jitter, not bandwidth. Common culprits: Wi‑Fi (walls, distance, neighbours’ networks), someone else streaming or uploading on the same connection, an overloaded router, or a congested route to the game server in the evening. Run the gaming preset on Wi‑Fi and then on a cable: if the cable is clean, your Wi‑Fi is the problem.

Zoom keeps freezing? Teams call breaking up?

Frozen video, robotic voices and “your connection is unstable” warnings point to packet loss and jitter. Run the video call preset during a bad moment. Quick fixes: sit closer to the router or plug in, pause cloud backups and downloads, switch off video for a minute, and restart the router. During load-shedding, mobile towers on backup power often get congested, which raises loss.

How much packet loss is OK?

• 0%: perfect.
• Under 1%: fine for everything.
• 1–2.5%: noticeable in fast games and calls.
• Over 5%: real-time apps struggle. Fix your Wi‑Fi or call your ISP.

Related: ping test · speed test · what is a good ping? · why internet is slow at night

Frequently asked questions

What is packet loss?

Your internet sends data in small pieces called packets. Packet loss is the share of those pieces that never arrive or arrive too late to use. Even 1–2% loss makes games stutter and calls break up, while your speed test can still look perfectly fine.

What is a good packet loss percentage?

0% is the goal. Under 1% is fine for gaming and calls, 1–2.5% is noticeable, and over 5% makes real-time apps hard to use. Streaming copes better because it buffers ahead.

Why is my game lagging when my speed is fine?

Lag usually comes from packet loss, high jitter or high latency, not from low speed. Games need only a few Mbps, but every packet must arrive quickly and in order. Wi‑Fi interference, a busy network, or a congested route at night are the usual causes.

Why does Zoom keep freezing?

Freezing and robotic audio on Zoom, Teams or Meet are classic signs of packet loss or jitter. Move closer to the router or use a cable, pause big downloads and cloud backups, and run this test with the video call preset to see if the connection is the cause.

How accurate is this browser packet loss test?

It is a best-effort estimate. Browsers cannot send raw UDP packets, so we send many small HTTPS requests and count any reply slower than one second as lost. Because HTTPS retries lost packets underneath, this test shows loss mostly as delays and late replies, so a rise in late packets is the important warning sign. For an exact figure run ping -n 100 (Windows) or mtr on a computer.

How do I fix packet loss?

Use Ethernet instead of Wi‑Fi, restart the router, update its firmware, move away from microwaves and thick walls, stop other heavy traffic, and replace old cables. If loss stays high on a cable, contact your ISP with the result. A better router or a mesh system often fixes Wi‑Fi-only loss.