How to test how fast a file downloaded

Those are bits, Kilobits, Megabits, Gigabits and so on. To convert Kilobits to Megabits you have to divide them by To convert the Megabits to Gigabits you have to divide them to again and so on. The download speed is determined by your service provider and the hardware limits of the connection. For example the highest download speed of a Base-T connection is Megabits. Of course that speed is the maximum that can be reached on such hardware and may be slower based on the Internet plan that you have signed for.

You can check your download and upload speeds at SpeedTest. The download and upload speed are usually different. In most cases the upload speed is much slower than the download speed. If the two are equal we call such connection symmetric. If the connection is not "shaped" limited by an ISP it is symmetric by default. Please note that the above test is not always correct. IS providers usually detect where your computer connects and provide higher speeds for tests if they detect that you are trying to test your connection speed.

Use the Download Time Calculator above to enter your file size and calculate the time need for the transfer. Multiple Internet connection speeds are listed and you can see the ones that are close to yours. To calculate download time you have to divide the file size by the connection speed. The more difficult part is that you have to convert the speed and time units to the desired ones. All the download speeds are in bits per second e.

Mbps is Megabits per second, Gbps is Gigabits per second. In the above calculation those seconds are converted to days, hours, minutes and seconds for easier reading. To convert the seconds to minutes you have to divide them by 60 seconds in a minute and the whole part will be minutes and the fractional part that is left is the seconds. Check also the free online File Size calculator and converter. File Size:. Download this freeware tool and check the distribution of your disk space.

Free Duplicate File Finder. The applications you have running on your computer can take up a good chunk of your bandwidth, which can contribute to slower speeds. For example, video streaming services like Netflix use a heavy amount of bandwidth. Temporarily disable the apps and see if that helps. To make it easier, try downloading one file at a time.

Though this may seem counterintuitive, it can end up saving time. A router not only allows you to connect multiple devices, but it also acts as an antenna to extend the range of the Wi-Fi throughout your home. The modem you have is typically provided by your service provider. Sometimes the fix can be as simple as restarting your modem. If your download speed has been significantly slow and you saw no change in speed after restarting, it may be time for a new modem. If your speed increases when you are directly next to the modem, this is a good sign, in which case your router may be the issue.

As mentioned, the router allows you to extend your connectivity range. If your device is too far away from the router, this could be impacting your download speed. The location of your router can have a major impact on your download speed as well.

Be mindful of where you are placing your router as some areas in your home may not have a strong connectivity signal. If you have a large house, consider getting Wi-Fi extenders that can boost the range and increase your internet speed.

Avoid putting your router in basements, bathrooms, cabinets, on the floor, or near microwaves and other home appliances. Your router should be in a central location so the connection can reach throughout the entire home. Sometimes Wi-Fi can be tricky, in which case connecting to an Ethernet cable can quickly increase your download speed. To do this, connect the Ethernet from your modem to your device. If the cable is too long or if it is outdated, try upgrading to a higher-quality, shorter cable.

Sometimes this slight change can make all the difference. Viruses on your device can cause a multitude of issues. These viruses can run in the background, using your internet and increasing your bandwidth usage, which results in slow download speed.

To prevent this, consider installing antivirus software to protect yourself from viruses, malware, and other online threats. Aside from installing virus scanners, you may also want to limit how much bandwidth is being used on your device. Bandwidth is a measurement that refers to the amount of data that can be transferred within a network.

All of the applications, downloads, and updates that happen on our network can take up our bandwidth, causing download speed to suddenly slow down. You can also manually limit how much bandwidth is being used by updating your device settings.

Cache is what stores your internet data to help website browsers and apps load faster. Sometimes your browser cache will become full and can cause download speeds to run slower.

While you may not want to clear your cache completely, you can choose what data to clear. You can clear your browsing history, computer cookies , and cached images and files. Over time, the software performance can start to decline, making it important to update regularly. Once you are logged in, update the current settings and you may be able to fix any issues associated with download speeds.

When logging into your internet service providers account to update the firmware, you can also check on the different settings. The default settings that are set on your router are often not the best. Always keep your internet speeds up to par and make sure your devices are compatible with your current ISP package. With the tips and tricks mentioned in this article, you should be able to fix whatever is causing your slow download speed in no time.

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