Result
Checking…
Every packet
Each square is one packet: green came back, red was lost.
ReceivedLost
Details
- Packet loss
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- Lost on the way out / back
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- Latency (median)
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- Fastest / slowest
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- Jitter
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- Test server
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- Your IP address
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- Network
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What is packet loss?
Data travels over the internet in small packets. Packet loss is the share of them that never reach the other end. Web pages and downloads simply send lost packets again, so you only notice a slowdown. Games, video calls and live streams can't wait for a resend, so a lost packet means a skipped movement, a robotic voice or a frozen frame.
This test uses the same kind of traffic as those apps: UDP packets with no resending. It sends 200 of them, 20 per second, through a Cloudflare relay near you and counts the ones that never come back.
How much packet loss is OK?
- 0%: ideal. A healthy wired connection loses nothing.
- Under 1%: fine for almost everything; you won't notice it.
- 1% to 2.5%: noticeable in fast games and video calls.
- Over 2.5%: games lag and rubber-band, calls break up. Something needs fixing.
How to fix packet loss
- Use a cable instead of Wi-Fi, or move closer to the router. Wi-Fi interference is the most common cause.
- Restart the router and modem, and update the router's firmware.
- Stop downloads, cloud backups and streaming on other devices while you play or call.
- Run the test at different times. Loss only in the evening points to a congested provider network; loss all the time points to your line or equipment.
- Check the cables and the line: a damaged or loose cable can drop packets. Your provider can test the line remotely.
- If the loss happens on your provider's route to a game server, a VPN or gaming VPN can send your traffic another way. Test with and without it.
Packet loss, latency and jitter
Latency (ping) is how long a packet takes to get there and back. Jitter is how much that time varies from one packet to the next. Packet loss is how many don't make it at all. High jitter usually comes before loss: buffers fill up, packets wait, then get dropped. The ping test measures latency and jitter over a longer run.
Questions
How do I test for packet loss?
Open this page; the test starts by itself. It sends 200 UDP packets through the nearest Cloudflare server and shows the percentage that were lost, plus your latency and jitter. Run it a few times, ideally while the problem is happening.
What is a good packet loss percentage?
0% is normal for a healthy connection. Under 1% is fine. From about 1% you may notice it in games and calls, and above 2.5% they become hard to use.
Why do I have packet loss?
Most often weak or crowded Wi-Fi, an overloaded router, other devices using the connection, a damaged cable or a congested provider network in the evening. The fixes above go through each one.
Does a VPN fix packet loss?
Only when the loss happens on the route between your provider and the server, because the VPN sends traffic another way. It can't fix Wi-Fi problems or a bad line, and a distant VPN server adds latency. Test with and without it.
How is this different from the ping command?
The ping command sends ICMP packets, which many routers deprioritise or block. This test sends UDP data like games and calls do, through WebRTC in your browser, so it measures what those apps actually experience.
Where is the test server?
The packets go through Cloudflare's TURN relay, which answers from the Cloudflare location nearest you, so the result reflects your own connection rather than a long route to a distant server.
Guides
- What is an IP address?
An IP address is the number that tells the internet where to send data meant for you. Here's what it looks like, the different kinds, and what yours says about you.
- How to find your IP address
Your public IP takes one click to find. Your private IP depends on the device. Here are the exact steps for each.
- IPv4 vs IPv6: what's the difference?
IPv6 replaces IPv4 because the world ran out of addresses. Here's how the two compare, how to tell which you're using, and why IPv6 matters if you use a VPN.
- What is a DNS leak and how do you fix it?
Even with a VPN on, your device may still ask your internet provider for every website you visit. That's a DNS leak. Here's how to spot one and stop it.