Run a quick browser-based diagnostic for calls, gaming, streaming, VPN, and remote work. Verdicts appear before raw technical numbers.
Measured from your browser to the nearest Cloudflare server with Cloudflare’s open-source speed test engine, so results reflect your connection to Cloudflare, not every site you use. Uses roughly 20–190 MB of data, more on faster connections, so use Wi-Fi if you are on a metered plan. Results are not sent back to Cloudflare. How we measure
No result yet. Tap “Run internet test” to generate readiness scores.
Can a browser test measure packet loss?
Not directly. A web page cannot send raw packets, and an ordinary web request is retried automatically when a packet goes missing, so loss shows up as delay rather than as a missing reply. That is why the test above reports what packet loss does to a connection: jitter, latency and bufferbloat. A clean result rules out the most common causes of choppy calls, but only a ping run, below, can confirm or rule out real loss.
To measure actual packet loss, send 100 pings
Open a terminal or Command Prompt, run the command for your system, then read the loss figure in the summary at the end.
Windows
ping -n 100 1.1.1.1
Look for “Lost = … (…% loss)”.
macOS and Linux
ping -c 100 1.1.1.1
Look for “…% packet loss”.
Anything above 1% is worth chasing for calls and gaming.
Run it over Ethernet and over Wi‑Fi, and against a second target such as 8.8.8.8, to separate a Wi‑Fi problem from an ISP problem.
Some routers deprioritise ping replies, so treat one result as a hint, not proof. Repeat it a few times.
To find which hop is losing packets, use pathping 1.1.1.1 on Windows or mtr 1.1.1.1 on macOS and Linux.
Packet loss is one of the clearest signs of an unstable connection. Even small amounts can hurt real-time apps more than low speed does.
Signs of packet loss
Robotic or missing audio in calls.
Video freezes while audio continues.
Game rubber-banding or delayed hits.
VPN sessions dropping or stalling.
Best first fixes
Use Ethernet to separate Wi‑Fi problems from ISP problems.
Restart modem and router.
Remove overloaded extenders or mesh hops.
Ask your ISP to check line quality if wired loss continues.
Frequently asked questions
What is packet loss?
Packet loss happens when data packets do not reach their destination. It can cause dropped audio, frozen video, VPN stalls, and gaming rubber-banding.
What packet loss is acceptable?
For calls and gaming, aim for below 1%. Anything above 2% is likely to cause noticeable real-time problems.
Does this test measure packet loss?
Not directly, because a browser cannot send raw packets. It measures jitter, latency and bufferbloat, the delays that packet loss causes. To count lost packets, run ping -n 100 1.1.1.1 on Windows or ping -c 100 1.1.1.1 on macOS and Linux and read the loss figure.
How do I fix packet loss?
Test with Ethernet, restart network equipment, reduce Wi‑Fi interference, check cables, and contact your ISP if wired packet loss persists.