Why is my upload speed so slow?

Many broadband packages are intentionally much faster for downloads than uploads, but an unusually poor upload result can also point to congestion or a local network problem.

Ready to race

0.0Mbps

Start the test when you’re ready

DownloadUploadPingJitterLoss

Download—Mbps

Upload—Mbps

Ping—ms

Jitter—ms

Packet loss—%

UPLOAD SPEED TROUBLESHOOTING

First compare your measured upload with what your broadband package is designed to provide.

If the plan itself has a lower upload tier, a large download number does not imply the same upload speed. If your measured upload is far below the expected range, compare wired and wireless tests and check for background syncing.

Your plan may be asymmetric

Many broadband products allocate far more capacity to downloads than uploads. Check the advertised upload figure separately instead of comparing it directly with download speed.

Cloud backups can consume upstream capacity

Photo sync, file backups, CCTV uploads and video sharing can quietly use upload bandwidth in the background. Pause them and re-test.

Weak Wi-Fi can hurt upload first

A device with a weak return signal may struggle to send data back to the router even when downloads still look reasonable. Compare a test close to the router or over Ethernet.

Routers can become the bottleneck

Heavy traffic, older hardware or overloaded mesh nodes can reduce upstream performance. Restarting and testing directly from the main router can help isolate this.

One slow device may be the clue

If other devices upload normally, look at that device's Wi-Fi adapter, drivers, VPN, security software or background processes rather than the broadband line.

Persistent wired slowdowns need comparison

If Ethernet tests remain far below the expected upload speed at different times of day, collect repeat results before contacting the provider.