The terms “bandwidth” and “latency” describe an amount. Bandwidth is the amount of data you can send and receive in one second. Latency is the amount of time used by data to reach its destination and come back.

That’s the simplified version of their differences, but we’ll dive deeper into the two terms so you can better troubleshoot connection issues and get the most out of your internet service.

Bandwidth vs. latency: A deeper explanation

What is bandwidth?

Here’s the quick answer: Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data you can transfer between two points on a network.

Picture a faucet and a sink. Your bandwidth is the amount of water pouring down into your sink. Crank down on the faucet, and you get a trickle of bandwidth—you grow a head full of gray hair waiting for the sink to fill. Open the faucet all the way, and the sink fills so fast the water spills onto the floor.

As you can see, we perceive bandwidth as “speed.” The more megabits we can push through a connection in a second, the faster a file downloads or a page loads. The sink fills more quickly with the faucet wide open than when it is barely open.

Theoretically, a single cable or fiber internet connection to a home—your data faucet—supports a 10,000Mbps (10Gbps) bandwidth. But your internet provider controls that bandwidth, as does the modem and fiber optical network terminal (ONT). To get more bandwidth, you’ll want to upgrade to a “faster” plan.

What is latency?

Here’s the quick answer: Latency is the amount of time data takes to reach a remote server and return to you.

For latency, we’ll toss out the faucet analogy and imagine a road with toll booths instead. The duration of your trip squarely depends on the distance, the number of booths you must pass through, and the congestion you face along the way.

For example, there are 10 “toll booths” along the virtual road between Google and us one way, half of which are within our internet provider’s internal network. The trip is another 10 hops (toll booths) back to our device when Google replies. The completed trip to Google and back takes at least 24 milliseconds.

10 hops out + 10 hops back = 24 milliseconds. This is good latency.

Now, let’s look at satellite internet. On a good day, your data takes around 120 milliseconds to reach a satellite in space and then another 120 milliseconds to reach Google’s server here on Earth. Add another 240 milliseconds to receive Google’s response.

120 milliseconds out to space + 120 milliseconds back to Earth (Google) + 120 milliseconds out to space + 120 milliseconds back to Earth (you) = 480 milliseconds. This is bad latency.

With those two examples in mind, you’ll see a delayed action on your screen if you press a game controller button and your latency is 480 milliseconds. That’s just unplayable. But your gameplay is near flawless if the latency is only 28 milliseconds.

Latency isn’t just a gaming issue. It applies to everything you do online. Web browsers send requests to website servers every time you load a page, and the server uploads the page to your browser cache. The higher the latency, the less responsive the webpage feels.

How bandwidth and latency affect you

Here are a few scenarios to show how bandwidth and latency affect you daily.

Gaming

• Bandwidth: Low impact
• Latency: High impact

You don’t need a lot of bandwidth to play games online. We recommend 5Mbps or more per device for downloads and 3Mbps for uploads. If you have five people playing online simultaneously, your combined download bandwidth is around 25Mbps. However, depending on the service, you need more bandwidth to stream cloud-based games to each device—up to 25Mbps each.

Latency is vital to a good experience when you play games online—especially in fast-paced games like Fortnite and Overwatch 2. High latency manifests as lag and can cause significant delays between your input and your character’s on-screen action. In other words, you could already be dead while you’re still trying to get off a shot, but you won’t know it until your connection catches up.

Streaming

• Bandwidth: Medium impact
• Latency: Medium impact

The bandwidth you need depends on the content’s resolution and the number of devices streaming the content simultaneously. A single 4K stream averages around 25Mbps, so four devices streaming a 4K movie need at least 100Mbps of bandwidth. Plus, you’ll need extra bandwidth for all your other devices that are not streaming video.

Low bandwidth causes buffering—when the video or audio player pauses playback and waits to receive more pieces of the file before it can resume. You may also experience pixelation, as the service adjusts the stream to compensate for the narrow bandwidth (aka slow download speed).

Latency rears its head during livestreams. Your actions captured on camera appear delayed to your viewers. Latency can result from an incorrect bitrate, a longer-than-usual route to the host server, and so on.

Video chat

• Bandwidth: High impact
• Latency: High impact

Video chatting, like FaceTime or Skype, can be negatively impacted by low bandwidth and high latency. Low bandwidth affects the quality of your chat, making things hard to see. Latency causes sync issues and freezing.

Browsing

• Bandwidth: High impact
• Latency: High impact

You don’t need a lot of bandwidth to browse the internet. Web pages are mostly lightweight, so you may download around 3MB per site. However, website servers need a lot of bandwidth to upload page files to every connected device. Pages feel dial-up slow if the server is overloaded or your connection has issues.

Latency causes long page load times and makes websites feel unresponsive.

Tips for improving your connection speed

Got the internet speed blues? Here are a few things to brighten up your sad connection.

Restart your network

Sometimes you need to restart (power cycle) your network devices to refresh connections. Start by unplugging the power on your modem, gateway, or ONT. Wait 30 seconds and plug it back in.

Do the same with a standalone router or mesh system when the modem, gateway, or ONT comes back online.

Check your wired connections

A loose coax or Ethernet cable lowers your bandwidth and increases latency. Make sure coax cables are tight, and Ethernet cables have secure connections in their ports. Also, swap out damaged cables if you can—they cause speed bottlenecks and high latency too.

Check your router settings

Wi-Fi adds latency and bandwidth bottlenecks because it’s an extra translation step between you and the destination. However, a crowded channel, an incorrect channel width, and incorrect quality of service (QoS) settings are a few factors that cause unwanted slowdowns.

Check out our guide on how to improve your Wi-Fi speed for more details on what to do.

Purge unused devices

Remember that laptop you no longer use, but it’s still plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi? Chances are it’s quietly eating your precious bandwidth with a smirk as it downloads Godzilla-sized updates. Kick it off your network along with all the other data leeches you never intend to use again.

Upgrade your router

Your internet connection has a set bandwidth, but a Wi-Fi router sets the wireless bandwidth on your home network. For example, an AX1800 Wi-Fi router has less bandwidth than an AX11000 one—1,800Mbps vs. 11,000Mbps combined, respectively. Plus, you should upgrade periodically to take advantage of new technologies and higher bandwidths, especially if you upgrade smartphones every few years.

Reset your devices

The speeds you get partially depend on server-client communication. Your speed woes may have nothing to do with the internet, your modem, or your router but with the devices (clients) you use. For example, corrupted network settings will cause Wi-Fi slowdowns. The fix ranges from something simple like restarting your device to extreme measures: resetting your device back to its factory defaults.

Upgrade your internet plan

Your internet provider controls your connection’s bandwidth even if you swapped out the modem and Wi-Fi router for newer, faster models. You can’t force 1,000Mbps speeds out of a 500Mbps internet plan. To get more bandwidth, you must upgrade to a faster plan.

Not sure how much speed you need? Check out our handy speed recommendation tool to help with that.

Find a new provider

Find a new internet provider if you’ve tried everything to improve your connection, and bandwidth and latency are still an issue. Competition is fierce, and most areas have at least two great provider options.

We provide a roundup of the fastest internet providers if you’re unsure where to start. Are you a gamer? We list the best internet for gaming too, based on latency.

Our verdict: Bandwidth and latency are crucial

Bandwidth and latency have an impact on everything you do online. High bandwidth and low latency translate to the best speeds and the fastest response times—that’s what you want for your internet connection. Low bandwidth and high latency mean slow downloads, choppy streams, and delayed responses. Nobody wants that.

If you need more bandwidth than you have right now, go with a faster internet plan and a high-capacity router like an AX11000 model. Both should help keep high latencies at bay, but your total bandwidth and latency depend on the connections between the remote servers and all your devices.

If you want to know more about how internet speed works, check out our comprehensive guide to internet speed.

• Fastest Internet Providers
• How to Stream on Twitch: Everything You Need to Know
• How Do I Connect My Router to My Computer?
• Improve Your Wi-Fi Speed in 10 Simple Steps

Satellite internet isn’t known for being the fastest or most reliable way to connect to the internet, but there’s no need for satellite customers to suffer more than they have to. Although it’s never going to get the same performance as other connections, there are a few things you can do to get a better experience with your satellite internet.

Getting a Wi-Fi booster

A Wi-Fi booster or extender is a type of repeater that expands the range of a wireless network by rebroadcasting the signal from the router. This means your connection will bounce from your router to the repeater and then to your device, extending your network range and sidestepping obstacles to reach the farthest corners of your house.

Most satellite internet customers connect their devices over Wi-Fi, just like with any other internet connection. Because satellite internet has relatively low download speeds and is prone to interference, it’s easy not to notice when the problem is actually your home wireless network, rather than your internet connection.

If your internet is slow or inconsistent in some rooms of your home, while consistently performing better in others, then your Wi-Fi is likely the problem. You can also try plugging a device directly into your router with an Ethernet cable.

If your Wi-Fi is the problem, a Wi-Fi extender is an easy way to boost the signal to the rest of your house. Our top pick for satellite customers is the TP-Link RE315

Troubleshoot speed problems

Wi-Fi boosters will help you fix weak signals or dead zones in your house, but they can’t increase your internet speed. If you’re getting slower than expected speeds, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot satellite-specific issues.

Check your monthly data

Satellite plans have some of the most restrictive data caps of any internet type, so it’s very easy to go over your monthly allotment of data. Once you’ve passed your data cap, your data is deprioritized, which can drop your speed dramatically, especially during peak usage hours. If you notice a sudden drop in your internet speed, check your data to make sure you haven’t passed your limit.

Remove physical obstructions

To maintain a strong connection, your satellite dish needs to have a clear view of the south sky where your provider’s satellite is located. Physical obstructions, like a fallen branch, can block or interfere with your signal. Snow buildup on the dish itself can also interfere with your connection. Be extremely careful when removing snow or debris so as not to injure yourself or damage your dish.

Look for damage or antenna misalignment

Satellite dishes can be damaged in storms or high winds. Wind can also turn them just enough that they are no longer in alignment with the orbiting satellite. If you can see obvious damage or notice that your antenna has moved out of alignment, contact your provider to replace or realign your equipment.

Wait out bad weather

Satellite internet is uniquely vulnerable to interference from the weather. Rain, snow, extreme heat, high winds, and even sun transit can temporarily interfere with your internet connection. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do during bad weather if you’re experiencing interference, though hybrid satellite connections like Hughesnet Fusion are slightly more resilient to this kind of interference due to having a backup network to fall back on if the other is experiencing issues.

Troubleshoot other problems

In addition to these satellite-specific issues, satellite internet can encounter the same problems as most other internet technologies. If you’re still having problems with your connection, check out some of our other troubleshooting articles for possible solutions.

Alternatives to satellite

If satellite internet doesn’t provide you with the speed or reliability that you need, there may be other options available, even in rural areas. Even if these other connections offer slower speeds than your satellite provider, there are other benefits to non-satellite internet besides speed.

5G home internet uses the same networks as cellular phones to deliver home internet. It’s widely available, has higher data caps than satellite, and has low monthly costs. Depending on where you live, you can get much faster speeds from 5G than you would from satellite internet. The set up is simpler too.

Much like satellite, DSL is slow and often overpriced when compared to other internet options; however, because it’s a wired connection, it has many advantages over satellite, such as lower latency, more (or unlimited) data, and a much more reliable connection. And although DSL plans can be overpriced when compared to similar speeds offered by cable or fiber, they’re still much cheaper on average than satellite.

Fixed wireless internet uses a ground-based system of antennas to connect people to the internet, especially in areas with no physical infrastructure for DSL or cable. As a wireless connection, it deals with many of the same issues as satellite, but they’re much more manageable. You’ll usually get faster speeds, more data, and less interference.

Boosting satellite internet FAQ

Yes, if the plan you signed up for doesn’t offer as much download speed as you want. But there are a lot of other possible causes, as well. If your Wi-Fi is slow, there are two likely bottlenecks: your internet service provider (ISP) or your router. Let’s take a look at how to deal with each type of problem.

How fast is my Wi-Fi?

The first step is figuring out how fast your Wi-Fi is compared to the advertised speed of your internet plan. To do this, download our free, easy-to-use speed test app for quick and reliable results, and see how fast your internet is on your phone.

If your test result is slower than the speeds promised by your internet plan, try plugging a computer directly into the router using an Ethernet cable. If this fixes your problem, the issue is probably with your router. Fortunately, there are several ways to increase the speed of your router.

If you’re still getting low speeds, or if the speed you’re paying for just isn’t enough, it might be time to upgrade to a faster plan or switch to a more reliable provider.

The first step is figuring out how fast your Wi-Fi is compared to the advertised speed of your internet plan. To do this, set up your computer where you normally work and take an internet speed test.

If your test result is slower than the speeds promised by your internet plan, try plugging your device directly into the router using an Ethernet cable. If this fixes your problem, the issue is probably with your router. Fortunately, there are several ways to increase the speed of your router.

If you’re still getting low speeds, or if the speed you’re paying for just isn’t enough, it might be time to upgrade to a faster plan or switch to a more reliable provider.

How to speed up your Wi-Fi router

If you’ve determined that the problem is most likely your router, the first thing to do is simply turn it off and on again, also known as power cycling, which will often fix your Wi-Fi problems.

The next easiest thing to do is to try moving your router or your other Wi-Fi devices. Wi-Fi signals can be blocked by thick walls or floors, so moving devices around so that they have the most direct line of sight to the router can improve signal quality. If line of sight and dead zones are a constant problem, you can also set up a mesh router system to ensure strong Wi-Fi throughout your home.

You can also adjust your router’s settings to improve its performance. Many routers have apps that will allow you to monitor and control the devices on your wireless network. For more information, check out our article on how to improve your Wi-Fi speed.

It’s also worth noting that even if your router is working perfectly but its top speed is slower than the internet you’re paying for, you’re not going to be able to take advantage of that speed over Wi-Fi. If this is the case, check out our list of the fastest routers for gigabit internet to make sure you’re able to use the speeds you’re paying for.

Troubleshooting a slow connection

If your router isn’t the problem but you’re still getting lower speeds than you expect, there might be a problem with your internet connection. Before you start looking for a new ISP, it’s worth checking to see if this problem has an easy fix like one of these:

• Replacing a damaged cable
• Updating your devices
• Avoiding peak hours

There are also more involved fixes that can improve your speed. Different types of connections can slow down for different reasons. Follow our troubleshooting guide to see if it’s an issue that you can fix yourself.

How to upgrade your internet connection

If your internet connection suffers from problems you can’t fix yourself or it’s working correctly but you still need more speed, it’s probably time to upgrade.

Before you crack open your piggy bank, know that faster internet doesn’t always mean paying more. Often simply switching from a slower type of connection to a faster one (like switching from satellite to DSL or from cable to fiber) will give you faster speeds and more stable connections for the same price you were paying before (or sometimes less).

Before you make a decision, be sure to check out all the ISPs in your area with our zip tool above and see which ones offer the speeds you want for the best value.

Popular internet providers with fast speeds

Make sure your router can keep up with your new connection

If you do upgrade your internet plan, make sure your Wi-Fi router is at least as fast as your new download speed. If you got your router from your ISP, this shouldn’t be a problem. But if you bought your own, make sure that it can keep up with the new connection speed or you’ll be back at square one. For example, if you have a gigabit internet connection, you need a gigabit router to take advantage of that speed.

FAQ about Wi-Fi speed

Disclaimers

The terms “speed” and “bandwidth” are often used interchangeably, but they’re technically different. “Bandwidth” is the set limit of data that flows across a wired or wireless medium, while “speed” is more about how fast you can download or upload a file from start to finish. But for simplicity’s sake, internet providers always use “speed” to describe a plan’s total bandwidth.

Keep reading for a clear breakdown of the differences between internet speed and internet bandwidth—and for recommendations on internet providers with the best bandwidth for your dollar.

There’s a quick and easy way to figure out your internet speed—run a speed test! This gives you a precise reading of your current download speed, upload speed, and latency.

Download our speed-test app below to run speed tests anywhere while on your mobile phone.

Explaining internet bandwidth vs. speed—the bucket analogy

The best way to explain the difference between speed and bandwidth is to use the bucket analogy.

First, picture bandwidth as a water pipe. We’ll use a wide one for fiber, a medium-sized one for cable, and a narrow one for DSL. Underneath each pipe is a huge bucket—this is your device, ready to download.

Now picture internet data as a flow of digital water, which travels at one specific speed down the pipe. An internet provider can reduce the amount of water you receive, resulting in a trickle of water no matter what pipe you use. At this rate, the bucket takes forever and a day to fill. This example represents a slow download speed, like 50 megabits per second (Mbps).

But if the internet provider increases the water to its maximum flow, the pipe determines how fast your bucket fills up with water. So, the widest pipe (fiber) fills your bucket faster than the narrowest one (DSL).

Of course, there are issues that can prevent you from filling that bucket at the rate you expect. A clogged line or a faulty pipe can reduce the flow—you name it. Similar problems apply to an internet connection, reducing your speed.

Bottom line—Bandwidth determines your speed

Internet providers advertise bandwidth as speed. A fiber connection with a 5,000Mbps bandwidth allows a single device to download a large file faster than a connection with a 140Mbps bandwidth. The more bandwidth you have, the more devices you can use simultaneously on a single internet connection.

Why are speed and bandwidth important?

Internet speed and bandwidth are important because they set the parameters for what you can do online.

Having faster speeds and higher bandwidth means you can do more online with ease, vastly reducing the chance of buffering, long load times, and other connection issues. This makes gaming, streaming, and other online activities a whole lot easier.

High bandwidth also facilitates multitasking on multiple Wi-Fi devices. It means you can efficiently support a lot of users and devices at the same time while maintaining consistent speeds and performance.

What you get with higher internet bandwidth/speeds

• Shorter load times and less buffering
• Consistent speeds across multiple internet-connected devices
• Smoother connection when streaming and playing online games

What you get with lower internet bandwidth/speeds

• Longer load times and more buffering
• Clunkier streaming, especially in HD or 4K video resolution
• Higher likelihood of speed slowdowns when multiple Wi-Fi devices are in use

How can you measure your internet speed and bandwidth?

When you sign up for an internet plan, your provider gives you a max speed that your plan can hit. That’s your bandwidth. It represents what you can accomplish when your Wi-Fi is firing on all cylinders.

Speed test results aren’t static the same way bandwidth is—the numbers tend to vary day to day based on a range of factors, including your internet connection type, your router, the number of people on your Wi-Fi, and even the location of your router in your home.

Which types of internet have the most bandwidth?

The type of internet you have plays a central role in determining the amount of bandwidth you can get from your internet plan. Different types of internet providers have certain technical limits on the amount of throughput they can deliver.

It’s likely you can get relatively fast download and upload speeds from your internet provider—our own speed-test data shows that internet speeds have been going up since the pandemic started in 2020. Still, some internet types remain relatively sluggish, especially in rural areas.

Take a look below to see how different internet types rate in terms of speed and bandwidth.

Comparing bandwidth for different internet types

Fiber-optic internet gives you the most bandwidth and the fastest internet speeds, with internet plans topping out at a ridiculous 10,000 Mbps. Nobody really needs internet that fast (not yet, at least), but fiber also speeds ahead of other internet types because it has symmetrical upload speeds.

Symmetrical uploads mean you can get up to gigabit-speed throughput on uploads as well as downloads, vastly boosting your ability to hold video calls, upload large files to the internet, and post to social media.

Cable internet is often just as fast as fiber internet, at least for download speeds. Cable internet has much slower upload speeds compared to fiber, and it also can’t deliver impressive (albeit unnecessary) multigigabit speeds. But for most people, it’s as good as it gets for bandwidth.

5G internet doesn’t have the same impressive bandwidth as fiber or cable, but it’s much faster than more antiquated internet types like DSL. A relatively new technology, 5G can be found mostly in urban areas through cellular providers Verizon and T-Mobile.

The internet connection draws entirely from 5G wireless networks, which makes it very fast but also slightly unstable—so your speeds can vary considerably throughout the day, and you may experience occasional disconnects.

DSL internet is a somewhat outdated internet service that seems slower and slower as cable and fiber providers increasingly raise their speeds. DSL maxes out at 140 Mbps, but many DSL users experience much slower speeds due to the technical limitations of a DSL connection.

DSL’s copper wire connections deteriorate in strength as the user gets farther away from a central server, which makes for particularly slow connections in rural areas, suburbs, and the outskirts of cities.

Satellite internet is the slowest type of internet you can get. A satellite connection draws from a signal literally beaming down from space, which makes for much higher latency and vastly limits the amount of bandwidth you can get.

However, Starlink’s emerging satellite service has much faster speeds than traditional satellite providers HughesNet and Viasat. That’s because Starlink relies on a larger number of satellites, which orbit at a lower altitude.

What internet activities use the most bandwidth?

Most online activities take up only a small amount of bandwidth. But you use a lot more bandwidth to make video calls, stream video, or host livestreams. And all of these demands on your internet speed really start to add up if you’re sharing an internet connection with other users.

To play it safe, we recommend setting aside at least 25 Mbps worth of bandwidth for every internet user in your household. So if you live with three other people, then an internet plan with max speeds of 100 Mbps should be fine.

However, definitely consider a faster plan—say, 50 Mbps per person—if you regularly do high-bandwidth activities like streaming movies in 4K or hosting livestreams on Twitch.

More on internet speed and bandwidth

• Is 100 Mbps Fast? 
• What Is a Good Download and Upload Speed?
• How Much Speed Do I Need for Online Gaming?
• How Much Speed Do I Need to Stream Video? 
• This Is the Internet Speed You Need for Zoom

Sources

1. OpenVault, “Broadband Insights Report—Q4 2021,” March 2022. Accessed March 2, 2022.

Disclaimers

Gigabytes. Megabits. TBs. Kbps. Whew! What a mega headache. There’s more jargon associated with computing, networking, and the internet than you can shake a stick at. And you’ll likely bring out the hecklers if you jump on a Reddit forum and type the wrong “b” as you complain about your internet speed. Sigh.

But here’s the skinny: none of these terms have anything to do with biting into a cookie. Instead, they describe a digital amount. We’ll give you the skinny, then dive deeper with some technical explanations.

What’s the difference between KB, MB, GB, and TB?

KB (kilobytes), MB (megabytes), GB (gigabytes), and TB (terabytes) represent different sizes of file storage, with KB being the smallest measurement and TB being the largest. Check out the chart below for specifics and real-world examples.

How many megabits per second (Mbps) does your internet plan deliver?

To find out, run our speed test from a wired connection and compare the results to your plan’s advertised speed. If you’re on Wi-Fi, move next to the router (if you can) to get the best results from our test.

To find out, install our mobile app, run our speed test next to the router or gateway to get the best results, and then check your numbers against your plan’s advertised speed. For the most accurate speed readings, run the test from a wired connection instead.

Read on to learn about how internet speeds relate to Mbps. Then, get the full explanation of bits vs. bytes … so there’s no chance of catching shade on your next Reddit expedition.

Megabits vs. Megabytes: the quick comparison

The term “megabits” is almost always used to show how much data you can transfer across a network in a second, abbreviated as Mbps. For example, an internet connection may have a bandwidth (or speed) of up to 940Mbps. The term “megabytes” is almost always used to show how much data a storage device can transfer in a second, abbreviated as MBps (or MB/s).

In short, Mbps means speed and MB means storage. It follows, then, that GB means file size and Gbps means speed, and the same is true of KB vs. Kbps and GB vs. Gbps.

The capitalization of that “b” does make a difference.

Do you need gigabit internet?

Gigabit internet is shorthand for internet speeds of 1Gbps, which is equal to about 1,000Mbps. All fiber internet providers we review offer speeds of at least a gigabit, and many cable internet providers now offer plans in that range as well.

Those speeds are impressive, but most households don’t need gigabit speeds. An internet plan with 500Mbps speeds is plenty fast for even the biggest, most binge-happy homes.

Bits vs. bytes: What is the difference?

We promised to get into the technical stuff, and that time has come.

First, it’s true the digital universe is made of nothing but ones and zeroes. In fact, the term bit is short for binary digit, the smallest unit of data. The value is either a “1” or a “0,” although the two values can signify “on” and “off” states or something similar.

So, what is a byte? It’s not what you do when you grab a piece of chicken—that’s a wholly different word. A byte is a group of eight bits, but we also use the term to describe the smallest unit of storage—we’ll explain more about that later.

Keep in mind that any measurement written in bytes is eight times larger than the corresponding unit measured in bits. In other words:

1 megabyte (1MB) = 8 megabits (8Mb)

1 gigabyte (1GB) = 8 gigabits (8Gb)

With us so far?

What are bits and bytes used for?

So, let’s do a quick recap:

• Bit – a single unit of data represented as a one or a zero.
• Byte – a combination of eight bits, like 11001100.

Simple enough, right? Now, let’s look at how we use the two terms.

Bit

Uses: networking and computing

We typically use bits to define the amount of data you can transfer in one second. Why? Because measuring data in motion (downloading and streaming) is trickier than measuring data at rest (files, programs, etc.).

For instance, everything you download—websites, pictures, emails, software, cat videos, and so on—divides into packets and transmits in several different directions, often arriving on your device out of order (and then reorganized). This erratic flow of data isn’t always easy to divide into bytes, so we use bits instead.

So, what does Mbps mean?

Bits per second (bps) is the number of bits moving between two points in a single second. Data transfer rates, upload speeds, download speeds, and bandwidth are almost always measured this way.

So, we obviously don’t want to say or write that our internet connection is 500,000,000 bits per second—500Mbps per second is far shorter.

When we apply this measurement to an internet connection, the most you can download at any given second from a 500Mbps plan is 500 megabits. Plus, we generally think of this number as our top speed, but it’s really the full bandwidth set by your internet provider.

Clear as mud? Read this quick primer on speed vs bandwidth from our expert archives.

Byte

Uses: storage and software

A byte is the smallest storage unit. Hard drives, SSDs, USB sticks, and system memory have almost always listed their maximum capacity, read and write speeds, and transfer speeds in bytes.

Software size is also measured in bytes. One standard character requires a single byte of storage, so storing the word “hello” needs five bytes, one for each letter. This is why all forms of device storage—from RAM to hard drives—are generally measured in bytes.

So, what does MBps mean?

Generally, megabits per second describe the data transfer rate between an internal component and its parent device. For example, a WD Black SSD may have a set storage capacity, but the specifications also list a transfer rate of up to 7,300MB per second. If we wrote that in megabits, the number would be a longer 58,400Mbps, so manufacturers list the shorter number.

You can technically measure speed in bytes per second simply by taking the speed in bits per second and dividing by eight. For example, a 1,000Mbps internet speed converts to 125MB/s. But network speed is almost never measured in bytes, so if you see a speed listed for an internet connection, it’s safe to say that it’s using bits per second.

Megabits vs. megabytes: Why it matters

These subtle differences in units make it easy to flub your math when dealing with your internet speed. If you happen to get them mixed up, your calculations will be off. Way off.

For example, let’s say you want to download a 500MB file, and you have a 100Mbps internet connection. If you don’t notice the capital B in the file size, you might estimate that this download would take five seconds. However, the units don’t match up. The file size is measured in megabytes, while the connection speed is measured in megabits. Since the file size is eight times larger than you originally estimated, it actually takes eight times as long to download—40 seconds.

Now, waiting 35 seconds longer than you expected isn’t too bad, but waiting an extra 35 minutes on a download that was supposed to take only five is more of an inconvenience. This can also be frustrating if you realize you’re paying for an internet connection that gives you a lot less speed than you thought.

Megabits vs. megabytes: Why it doesn’t matter

If you’re having trouble keeping track of all these numbers, relax. Take a deep breath, and get yourself a snack. While it’s important to know the difference between bits and bytes (and to know that there is a difference), you don’t have to worry about making an expensive blunder.

Bits and bytes are used in different contexts

Generally speaking, network speed always uses bits, and storage capacity and speed always use bytes. More specifically, all internet providers list plans in megabits and gigabits, like 500Mbps and 5Gbps. All storage drive manufacturers list capacities and transfer speeds in megabytes, like 500MB and 7,500MB/s, respectively.

You never have to worry about converting between units. Even if a provider wanted to be sneaky and measure its speed in MBps instead of the standard Mbps, it would only make their connection look eight times slower than competing plans. What looks faster to you? 1,000Mbps or 125MBps?

You’ll never need to calculate exact download times

When you download a large file, modern browsers calculate the download time for you automatically. But even these exact calculations are rarely spot-on because there are so many other factors that impact how long it takes your data packets to download.

The important thing to know about your internet speed is not what volume of data it could download in an ideal situation, but whether or not it’s fast enough to do what you want it to do.

Our verdict: Knowing the difference can be useful

Megabits are used to measure wired and wireless speeds (Mbps). Megabytes are used to measure storage capacity and how fast storage devices transfer data (MB/s). Bytes are made up of eight bits, so to convert a value in bits to bytes (or Mbps to MBps, Gbps to GBps, etc.), simply divide the value by eight:

• 1,000 megabits per second ÷ 8 = 125 megabytes per second
• 250 megabytes per second x 8 = 2,000 megabits per second

Knowing the difference between bits and bytes is useful for navigating discussions about internet technology and other digital devices. It can also help you ask more useful questions when dealing with tech support or customer service.

Fortunately, in this case, knowing is significantly more than half the battle. Situations where you have to actually do the math rarely pop up outside of a computer science quiz. But now that you can do the math if you need to, get ready to amaze your friends next time this category pops up on Jeopardy!

Related content

• This Is Why Your Internet Slows Down at Night
• 5 Myths People Believe about the Internet—Debunked
• How Important Is My Wireless Router to My Internet Speed?
• How Much Speed Do You Need for Live Video Game Streaming?
• How to Pause Your Internet Service

You need only about 10Mbps of download speed to use Zoom for video conferencing, but you also need fast upload speeds, low latency, a laptop or smartphone that’s up to snuff, and a decent router or gateway.

Our guide below explains why you need more than Zoom’s recommended 1.5Mbps of download speed to have a good experience. We’ll also help you troubleshoot, shop for a great internet plan for Zoom, and offer ways to help you save on internet data during Zoom sessions.

You need a minimum internet speed of 0.6–1.5Mbps to use Zoom, but we recommend download speeds of about 20Mbps and upload speeds of about 5Mbps for the best experience.

You also need to save speed for everything else happening on your internet connection, whether that’s a kiddo gaming in another room, a roommate on a video call of their own, or app updates on your smartphone.

If you disconnect all your other devices from Wi-Fi and close all your other apps, here’s the minimum internet speed you need for Zoom.

*Data from bandwidth requirements listed on Zoom’s website.

**Zoom uses the term “high-quality video,” which doesn’t describe any industry-standard video resolution, but we interpret it to mean standard resolution of 480p.

In our Zoom testing, we experienced buffering delays, choppy video and audio, and other interruptions on Zoom calls with speeds as fast as 15Mbps. That’s why we recommend planning on at least 20Mbps of bandwidth for every video call.

The rule of thumb is that you need an internet plan with about 100Mbps of download speed per person so everyone can work, play, and stream smoothly.

Lucky for you, most internet providers offer speeds in that range. If that’s not the case for you, it might be time to switch to a faster internet provider.

How much upload speed do you need for Zoom?

Put your internet speed to the test

Take our quick speed test below to see how fast your speeds are with your current provider. Connect to your router with an Ethernet cable for the most accurate results.

Is your internet fast enough for Zoom?

Internet providers with the best Zoom speeds

Many internet providers can get you Zoom’s minimum speeds, but we wanted to highlight some of our favorites. Xfinity is probably your best bet because it has a wide network, incredibly fast speeds, and great customer ratings.

But fiber providers such as Google Fiber and AT&T give you the added advantage of having very fast upload speeds, ensuring your video feed stays strong.

T-Mobile 5G home internet also did well on our Zoom tests, and we love that it’s available almost anywhere you can get a strong 5G signal on your phone.

You can find more great providers on our fastest internet providers guide. Also, make sure to run a search to see which of these providers are available in your area.

Speed requirements for other videoconferencing apps

You need a minimum of at least 500Kbps (0.5 Mbps) to make video calls on videoconferencing apps other than Zoom.

The internet speed requirements on apps like Skype, Slack, and Google Meet are pretty much the same as Zoom’s requirements. You don’t need a lot of bandwidth to make the apps work, but a faster internet speed reduces the chance of frustrations like poor connections or dropped calls.

How to troubleshoot your Zoom connection

Step 1: See if Zoom itself is the problem

Sometime’s the problem isn’t you—it’s Zoom itself. Head over to the Zoom Status checker to see if the service is reporting any widespread problems.

Step 2: Update your Zoom app

We recommend downloading and using the Zoom app on your laptop rather than trying to join meetings from your browser or smartphone. If you’re on the app but still having trouble, make sure you’re using the latest version and have installed all the updates.

Step 3: Close other applications

If you’re on a slow internet connection, multitasking can slow down your Zoom connection. To bring your Zoom call back to normal, close out your email, web browser, and any other applications or windows you might have open.

Step 4: Restart your modem and router

The quickest and easiest way to address slow internet at home is by restarting your modem and router. Unplug both devices from the wall, let them rest for a minute or so, and then plug them back in. A simple reset clears potential bugs and programming cobwebs that may be weighing down your equipment.

Step 5: Use mobile data or a hotspot

Has your home internet cut out? Simply whip out your cell phone and log on to Zoom with your mobile data. Most cell phones also have a built-in hotspot feature, so if your cellular plan allows it, you can switch on your phone’s hotspot to create Wi-Fi access for your laptop or desktop computer.

Step 6: Switch off “Enable HD” and “Touch up my appearance”

Zoom’s “Enable HD” and “Touch up my appearance” features both take extra bandwidth and data to function, so you can get better performance by switching them off.

To turn them off, head to the video settings menu by clicking the tiny, upward-pointing arrow next to the Start Video button in the bottom left corner of your screen. There you can click off the check marks on both features.

Step 7: Turn off the Wi-Fi on other devices

The more people using your Wi-Fi connection, the more strain it puts on your home internet speed. If your kids or roommates are streaming video or playing games on their devices while you’re in a Zoom meeting, ask them to switch it off so you can get a better connection. If asking nicely doesn’t work, you can kick them off by logging into your router.

Step 8: Move your device closer to your router (or move your router to a better place in your house)

You may be in a part of the house with a Wi-Fi dead zone, where the router’s signal can’t reach your device. If that’s the case, take a seat on a couch or a chair within eyeshot of your router to improve the signal.

To improve the Wi-Fi signal, you could also move your router so it’s in a more centralized position in your house. Place it on a table or shelf, away from metal objects, microwaves, and other obstacles. If your home has multiple floors or a complex layout, consider investing in a mesh wireless system or long-range router.

Step 9: Connect to your router with an Ethernet cable

Instead of relying on a Wi-Fi signal, you can plug your computer directly into your router with an Ethernet cable. That gives you faster speeds and more reliable performance.

Step 10: Upgrade your internet plan—or switch providers

If you’re still having trouble, consider calling your internet provider to upgrade your internet speed. Or, if other options are available in your area, you can switch to a new provider that gives you faster speeds and better performance overall.

How much data do you need to use Zoom?

Even though using Zoom doesn’t require fast speeds, it can use quite a bit of data. Drawing from our knowledge of the difference between megabits and megabytes, we did some calculations to get a baseline estimate. We found that you can end up using anywhere from 0.5GB to a whopping 2.5GB per hour on a Zoom call with video enabled.

The chart below gives you an idea of some other popular tasks and how much data they devour. Zoom doesn’t appear to need as much as streaming services like Netflix—but keep in mind that your Zoom data usage could vary depending on your connection and your device.

How do you use less data on Zoom?

The best way to use less internet data while on a Zoom call is to switch off your video.

If you have strict data restrictions on your internet or mobile plan, you can save data by using Zoom as an audio-only VoIP service. By our calculations, voice calls eat up only around 31.5MB of data per hour—a fraction of how much you would use when your video is switched on. Screen sharing with no video uses 22.5–67.5MB per hour.

Of course, you won’t have to worry about that if you have unlimited data on your internet or mobile plan.

Zoom FAQs

How do you turn off HD video on Zoom?

You can turn off HD video on Zoom by clicking on the Video Settings menu and checking off the box for HD under the Camera menu. Access Video Settings by clicking on the small, upward-pointing arrow next to the Start Video button at the bottom left corner of your screen.

Do Zoom’s AI tools require faster speeds or extra data?

Zoom offers extra AI features like audio transcription, automated emails, and closed captioning, but they don’t require faster internet speeds or take up extra data on your end. That’s because the Zoom servers take on the extra data processing required. Learn more about the Zoom AI Companion.

Is 5G home internet fast enough for Zoom?

Yes, T-Mobile home internet works well for Zoom and other video conferencing apps. In our tests, we didn’t run into any problems with lag, pausing, or choppy audio and video on our 5G connection.

T-Mobile lets you cancel the service for free in the first 15 days of use, so we recommend getting it set up and running a speed test at different times of the day to see if the service will work well where you live. This is important because 5G home internet can have speed variance throughout the day, and your signal at home may be deprioritized relative to mobile traffic in the same area.

Is 25 Mbps fast enough for Zoom?

An internet speed of 25Mbps is fast enough for Zoom. That’s enough bandwidth to support one-on-one calls, group calls, and all other Zoom tasks in HD resolution. If you’re sharing Wi-Fi with four or more people, you may want speeds of at least 100Mbps to ensure a smooth Zoom connection.

HighSpeedInternet.com’s most recent internet speed test data shows the national average internet speed in 2024 was 214Mbps—a 9% year-over-year increase from the previous year’s 196Mbps.

While many Americans now have access to high-speed fiber and 5G broadband, rural areas and underserved communities still fall behind, deepening the digital divide.

Although speeds continue to rise, our Fastest Internet Provider Report shows that the pace of improvement is slowing. Without significant infrastructure advancements and expansion, we could eventually hit a plateau for increasing speeds.

We’ll go over internet speeds across the U.S., highlighting the fastest and slowest states, and examine how these speeds impact everyday activities—from work and school to gaming and streaming. We’ll also discuss the steps being taken to ensure faster internet access in the future.

Internet speeds across America

The average internet speed in the U.S. has reached 214Mbps, reflecting a 9% increase year-over-year from 2023’s 196Mbps.

Several nationwide initiatives, alongside private sector expansion, contributed to these rising speeds and helped bridge the digital divide: The Internet for All program was driving major broadband investments, particularly in underserved areas, while the FCC’s restoration of net neutrality aimed to ensure fairer access and prevent throttling. On top of that, updated broadband benchmarks helped set clearer expectations for internet service providers (ISPs), pushing them to deliver faster and more reliable service.

The fastest internet speeds are found in densely populated coastal states, like Delaware (246.95Mbps), Maryland (238.26Mbps), and New Jersey (235.67Mbps). Strong fiber networks and competition among providers keep speeds high.

Meanwhile, more rural states like Idaho (124.57Mbps), Montana (129.73Mbps), and Alaska (125.09Mbps) get about half the speed due to limited high-speed options and infrastructure.

States with the fastest and slowest internet speeds

To get a clearer picture of national internet access, we ranked states by speed. When compared against the national average, 15 states have speeds above the national average download speeds, and 36 states have speeds below the national average, meaning more states have substandard internet speeds than we could expect, likely due to gaps in access to high-speed broadband networks.

States with the fastest internet speeds

The fastest states for internet in 2025 are largely concentrated in the Northeast and Southeast, where dense infrastructure and major provider investments have driven speeds higher for more people. In fact, 70% of the top-performing states are in these regions.

Setting the new gold standard, these states all have internet download speeds of 220 or more, with Delaware taking the top spot at 246.95 Mbps.

States with the slowest internet speeds

How much do internet speeds vary across the slowest states? At rank 10, Vermont comes in at 166 Mbps, while Idaho—the slowest—comes just 124.57 Mbps, nearly half the average of the fastest states, which reach around 225 to 250 Mbps.

Since broadband expansion is more difficult in rural and mountainous areas, states in the West and Midwest make up most of those with the slowest speeds. Even though demand is lower in these areas, better internet connectivity remains crucial for economic growth, education, and remote work opportunities.

The digital divide: How internet speed varies by region and demographics

High-speed internet access isn’t just about technology—it’s shaped by where you live, what you earn, and the available infrastructure.

Cities with denser populations enjoy faster, more reliable internet thanks to higher demand and more investment from providers. In contrast, remote regions face slower speeds due to the high expansion costs, challenging terrain, and smaller customer bases.

Many lower-income households, even in metro areas, rely on slower, budget-friendly plans—or lack broadband access altogether. Everyday activities, like shopping and online banking, might be lightning quick to accomplish for some but may take others much longer—if they can at all.

The internet speeds you need

For smooth streaming, online gaming, remote work and school, and telehealth, you’ll likely need at least 25Mbps. While many activities don’t require that much speed, it’s important to also consider latency and how bandwidth is shared across multiple devices.

High-performance tasks require more speed than basic activities. For example, HD streaming needs 5 to 10Mbps, but 4K streaming requires 25Mbps or more. Online gaming works best with at least 20Mbps, but a low ping rate is just as crucial. Remote work, school, and telehealth services typically require 10 to 25Mbps. If you want to do multiple of these activities at once, you’ll need even faster speeds to accommodate extra tasks.

When more people and devices are online at once, performance can slow down, especially during peak usage times, compared to the quiet hours of the night when fewer people are online.

Areas with average speeds well above 200Mbps (like California, Colorado, and New Jersey) are more than capable of doing high-demand activities like 4K streaming, online gaming, and remote work regularly with little-to-no trouble.

However, states with lower speeds (such as Idaho, Montana, and Alaska) may struggle with these activities, particularly in rural regions where speeds can be much slower, impacting performance and reliability.

For more information about how much internet speed you need for your regular activities, check out our full guide to internet speed.

Looking ahead: What the US is doing to invest in faster internet speeds

As we discussed in our Fastest ISP Report, as internet demand continues to grow, providers must invest in next-generation technology to boost speeds nationwide.

The rollout of DOCSIS 4.0 brings multi-gigabit speeds to cable internet users, which will improve both download and upload capabilities. Meanwhile, XGS-PON fiber networks show much better acceleration and deployment, expanding access to symmetrical gigabit speeds in urban and suburban areas.

Meanwhile, federal and state broadband initiatives (for example, the BEAD program) are working to close the digital divide by funding broadband expansion to rural and underserved areas.

Conclusion and key takeaways

As internet speeds continue to rise across the U.S., disparities remain between the speedy urban and suburban areas and the slower remote and rural areas. While the national average download speed has reached 214Mbps, driven by fiber expansion and 5G broadband, most states still fall below this benchmark. Coastal states benefit from strong infrastructure and competition, while rural and mountainous regions struggle with slower speeds due to limited broadband access.

Looking ahead, investment in next-gen technologies like DOCSIS 4.0 and XGS-PON fiber will help raise overall speeds. In addition, federal and state initiatives will help expand broadband access to underserved communities, bringing better, more reliable, and faster connections to more Americans.

With these advancements and efforts, 2025 looks to be a transformative year for internet access and performance across the U.S.

Top 10 states with the fastest internet speeds

Top 10 states with the slowest internet speeds

Average internet download speeds of all states

Consult our 2025 methodology for more information about the data we used for this article.

Read disclaimers.

Symmetrical internet is the great equalizer. On a symmetrical internet plan, your upload speeds are just as fast as your download speeds.

Most internet connections have much faster download speeds than upload speeds. Let’s say your cable internet plan gives you 100Mbps download speeds. In that case, your upload speeds would be just 10Mbps—or even less.

A symmetrical plan gives you a big upload boost. So if your download speeds are 100Mbps, your upload speeds are also 100Mbps.

Wait, what are upload and download speeds again?

Download speeds measure how long it takes to pull stuff from the internet. Whether you’re opening an email, streaming a movie on Netflix, or updating your favorite video game, you’re downloading content—it’s what we spend most of our time doing online.

Upload speeds measure how long it takes to send stuff to the internet. It means sending an email, posting to social media, or making a video call with a coworker. Uploading also includes bigger undertakings like livestreaming and playing around in the metaverse, which require a lot more bandwidth.

Symmetrical internet sounds awesome. So how can I get it?

You can get symmetrical speeds with fiber internet, which is mostly available in urban areas but also some rural communities.

Fiber’s fast speeds and symmetrical uploads make it the most efficient and reliable internet type, giving you a crucial leg up for remote work and online entertainment.

Want to know more? Here’s a quick breakdown of what symmetrical internet is, why it’s good, and how to get it.

Best symmetrical internet plans

The best symmetrical internet plans come from fiber internet providers—which makes sense, considering that fiber is the only way you can get symmetrical internet.

These plans give you incredibly fast upload speeds, ensuring that you have all the bandwidth you could ever want to attend Zoom meetings, post content online, and host livestreams. The plans will also make it possible for you to share your Wi-Fi with a large number of other users without worries over a slow connection or long buffering times.

Why is symmetrical internet important?

Symmetrical internet is important because it gives you the fastest speeds possible to do upload-heavy tasks.

It’s also important because it gives you a huge amount of upload bandwidth to support a large number of users who are all sharing the same Wi-Fi connection. If you live with a lot of roommates or family members, a symmetrical connection ensures fast speeds and top performance even when a bunch of people are streaming, gaming, and Zooming on multiple devices at the same time.

Activities that benefit from symmetrical internet:

• Livestreaming
• Posting frequently to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube
• Frequently attending Zoom or other video conference meetings
• VR and AR gaming and activities

Why does fiber internet have symmetrical speeds?

Fiber has symmetrical speeds because it has a much larger capacity to deliver data compared to other internet types.

Fiber provides a connection using bundled strands of fiber-optic cable. Photon signals bounce through the cables at the speed of light (or at least something close), carrying vast amounts of data. Fiber-optic cable is often newer than the copper wiring of cable and DSL internet, and it isn’t susceptible to electromagnetic interference, adding to its capabilities.

Fiber is the only type of internet that gives you symmetrical speeds right now. Cable internet may catch up in a few years as tech standards evolve, but right now, fiber is really the way to go.

Do you need symmetrical internet speeds?

Most people don’t need symmetrical internet speeds. But they’re nice to have, and those speeds will especially make your life a lot easier if you have any job or passion that requires extensive time on the internet.

Jobs that benefit from symmetrical internet:

• Social media influencer
• Content creator
• Professional gamer
• Filmmaker who frequently posts content online

Of course, the majority of people in the United States don’t have symmetrical internet speeds and many are doing just fine.¹ Most of what we do online involves downloading data rather than uploading it, so internet providers haven’t felt a great demand to up their uploads—but times may be changing.

There’s a rising demand for fast uploads, thanks to the drastic rise of remote working, increasingly ubiquitous internet connectivity, and a greater push for video content on social media (shoutouts to Instagram Reels and TikTok). And while you don’t need speedy uploads, you greatly benefit from having them.

Not sure if you have fast uploads?

Take our speed test to see what kind of internet firepower you get at your house.

Long story short—Get fiber internet for symmetrical speeds (and for lots of other great reasons too)

Fiber internet is the only internet that gets you symmetrical speeds. So if you want symmetrical internet, then get a fiber plan if it’s available in your area.

But also, it just so happens that fiber is the best type of internet you can get, and not just because of the upload speeds. Compared to cable or DSL internet, fiber gives you an incredibly fast and reliable connection, packs in more Mbps for your dollar, and often comes with extra perks like free equipment and unlimited data.

If you can get fiber internet, we say go for it.

FAQ about symmetrical internet

Additional resources

• What Is a Good Download and Upload Speed? 
• Improve Your Wi-Fi Speed in 10 Simple Steps
• How Much Speed Do I Need for Online Gaming? 
• Will Paying for Faster Internet Improve My Wi-Fi Speed?

Disclaimers

What download speed do I need to watch YouTube?

YouTube has been around since 2005, and while it has kept up with the times by continually offering higher quality video for those with newer devices, it still also offers lower resolutions made for the days of dial-up internet.

The highest video quality available on YouTube is currently 8K, which is a fairly new addition and higher resolution than most videos on the site. As such, YouTube doesn’t have an official recommended speed yet, but we suggest having a connection with at least 100 Mbps download speed and unlimited data.

If you want to watch YouTube videos in 4K resolution, you’re going to need an internet connection that can sustain a speed of 20Mbps. Although this means that you could get by on a 20Mbps connection, you might experience pauses or drops in quality if your internet connection fluctuates at all or if other devices on your network are competing for that bandwidth. To get a smooth viewing experience, we recommend having a slightly higher speed than is required for the resolution you’re watching in order to let the video stream buffer.

Although faster internet connections are very helpful in watching online video, YouTube can deliver good quality, even on relatively slow connections. For example, you can watch HD video in 720p with a bandwidth of just 2.5Mbps. Even slower DSL connections shouldn’t have a problem with that.

If you don’t have a fast connection, no worries. While YouTube offers resolution up to 4K, you can reduce the resolution of your videos all the way down to 144p. For reference, that’s smaller than the resolution of the original Nintendo.

YouTube doesn’t give specific speed recommendations for its lowest resolutions (they’re pretty low quality), but it lists 500Kbps as the minimum speed requirement for using the site. It also previously listed these lower resolutions as good options for 56Kbps dial-up connections (though it admits that you might have to wait a bit for the video to load). That means no matter how slow your connection is, there’s probably a way to make YouTube videos work on your device.

How do I control my resolution?

By default, YouTube sets your resolution to Auto, which automatically uses the highest resolution that it can playback smoothly. The Auto setting will also change the resolution of the video on the fly if the speed of your connection fluctuates, so most of the time, you don’t have to do anything to get the highest quality video possible.

If you want to see a video in a specific resolution, or if you just don’t like your video quality going up and down, you can select the playback resolution by opening the video’s settings.

To open the video’s settings, click on the gear icon in the bottom right of the video. Then select Quality to see the available video resolutions. Just remember that if you select a resolution that requires a higher download speed than your internet connection can maintain, your video will have to pause to buffer anytime your bandwidth can’t keep up.

Are you getting enough speed from your connection to watch high-quality video?

Find out how much speed your connection actually has by taking our speed test.

Download speed is fairly consistent across devices, which means that it doesn’t matter if you’re watching on a TV, a smartphone, or a computer—you still need the same speed to watch higher quality videos. If some of your devices are having trouble at higher resolutions and others aren’t, it might be a problem with the device or a problem with your Wi-Fi network.

What else do I need to watch YouTube?

Download speed is the most important requirement for watching YouTube videos, but there are also software and operating system requirements for using the site. If you’re watching YouTube on a mobile device or a smart TV, the easiest way to watch is to simply use the appropriate YouTube app on your device. You can also watch YouTube using a mobile browser, though the app usually works better.

Officially, the site supports the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari
• Opera

This will allow you to watch most content on the site; however, YouTube notes that some “premium” videos like movies, TV shows, and livestreams require faster connections and have additional requirements, such as specific operating systems:

• Windows 7 or higher
• Mac OS X 10.7 or higher
• Ubuntu 10 or higher

The Opera browser is also notably absent from the list of browsers required for premium content.

One other important note is that if you’re watching YouTube videos in a browser, 4K and 8K playback is unavailable unless you’re using Google Chrome. YouTube officially says that Chrome is required for watching all HD content in a browser, but we were able to watch 1080p in Firefox without any issues, so it seems that only 4K and 8K require Chrome. Both YouTube and the Chrome browser are owned by Google.

What upload speed do I need to make YouTube content?

If you’re a content creator, you have to worry about your upload speed in addition to your download speed. If you plan on livestreaming on YouTube, you probably want upload speeds of at least 20Mbps .

Fortunately, you have a lot more flexibility if you’re not streaming live. The site has lots of handy tools for uploading, so while a faster upload speed will get your videos on YouTube faster, you can still be a YouTube creator with a slow upload speed.

If your uploads are taking too long, you can try the following:

• Reduce the file size of your video by using a different video format.
• Upload during off hours when there’s less internet traffic.
• Choose a lower resolution for your video.
• Upgrade your internet connection to get more upload speed.

If you want to upgrade your internet connection to get more upload speed, the easiest way is to choose an internet connection that has symmetrical upload and download speeds, like fiber.

Download speeds of 25Mbps are no longer fast enough to fully participate in modern society, according to a report adopted today by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Instead, the agency has announced a new speed benchmark of 100Mbps for download speeds and 20Mbps for upload speeds for fully wired connections. In agency shorthand, that’s 100/20.

How fast is 100Mbps?

For 5G service, which is delivered over the air, the new FCC standard is download speeds of 35Mbps and upload speeds of 3Mbps (35/5). Right now, T-Mobile is the biggest 5G provider out there.

In a controversial move, satellite internet from companies like Starlink was excluded from the report.