If your internet feels slow, online games keep lagging, Zoom calls freeze, or videos buffer even with a strong WiFi signal, there’s a good chance the real problem is packet loss. Many people focus only on download speed, but packet loss can make your connection feel terrible even when speed looks “normal.”
The good news is that running a packet loss test is not difficult. You don’t need to be a network expert, and you don’t always need expensive software. There are several tools that can help you detect packet loss within minutes, whether you are using Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, or even a smartphone.
In this article, I will explain what packet loss is, why it happens, and the best part—6 easy tools to test packet loss, along with simple steps to use them.
What Is Packet Loss?
When you use the internet, your data doesn’t travel in one big file. It travels in small pieces called packets. These packets move between your device and websites, apps, servers, or gaming platforms.
Packet loss happens when some of these packets never reach the destination.
For example, when you join a video call, your voice and video are sent as packets. If packets get lost, you might experience:
Voice breaking or robotic audio
Video freezing or pixelation
Lag spikes in online games
Slow website loading
Failed uploads or downloads
Random disconnections
Even 1% packet loss can cause noticeable problems, especially for gaming and video calls.
What Causes Packet Loss?
Packet loss can happen due to many reasons. Some are inside your home, and some are on your ISP or network route.
Common causes include:
Weak WiFi signal or interference
Bad Ethernet cable or loose connector
Overloaded router or old router firmware
Too many devices using the same network
ISP congestion during peak hours
Network routing problems between your ISP and a server
Faulty network driver or adapter issues
Firewalls or security software blocking traffic
That’s why testing packet loss is so useful. It gives you a clear clue about what’s wrong.
How Much Packet Loss Is Acceptable?
Here is a simple way to judge packet loss:
0% packet loss is perfect
1% or less is usually okay for normal use
2% to 5% can cause noticeable lag and call drops
Above 5% is a serious issue and must be fixed
If you’re gaming or doing video calls, you should aim for as close to 0% as possible.
Packet Loss Test Is Easy With These 6 Tools
Now let’s get to the main part. Below are the 6 best tools you can use to test packet loss quickly and reliably.
1) Ping Command (Built-in Tool for Windows)
Ping is one of the simplest tools for checking packet loss. It sends test packets to a server and checks if they return successfully.
This tool is included in Windows, so you don’t need to download anything.
How to run ping test:
Open Command Prompt
Type this command:
ping google.com -n 50
Press Enter
Windows will send 50 test packets to Google and show results.
What to look for:
At the end, you will see “Lost = 0” if there is no packet loss
If Lost is greater than 0, packet loss exists
Higher time values (ms) can mean latency problems
This is a quick test and perfect for basic troubleshooting.
2) PingPlotter (Best Visual Tool for Packet Loss)
PingPlotter is one of the most popular packet loss testing tools because it shows a visual graph and clearly displays where packet loss is happening.
It is very useful if you want to see if the issue is:
Inside your home network
At your router
At your ISP
On the path to a specific server
Why people like PingPlotter:
Easy interface
Live graphs
Shows packet loss by hop
Works for gaming servers and websites
How to use it:
Install PingPlotter
Enter a target like google.com, cloudflare.com, or a game server IP
Start the test
Watch the packet loss percentage
If you notice packet loss beginning at the first hop, your router or WiFi may be the problem. If it begins later, it could be your ISP or routing.
3) Traceroute (Tracert) (Check Network Route Issues)
Traceroute shows the path your internet takes to reach a server. In Windows, the command is called tracert.
It’s useful when packet loss happens only when connecting to certain websites or games.
How to use tracert:
Open Command Prompt
Type:
tracert google.com
Press Enter
It will show a list of hops (network points) your traffic passes through. Tracert itself doesn’t always show packet loss clearly, but it helps you identify routing issues.
Best use case:
When gaming servers disconnect
When one website loads slowly but others work fine
When the ISP route is unstable
4) Wireshark (Advanced Packet Analysis Tool)
Wireshark is a powerful network analysis tool used by IT experts. It captures data packets and helps you investigate deeper network issues.
It’s not the easiest tool for beginners, but it’s excellent if you want advanced details.
Why Wireshark is useful:
Captures live packets
Shows retransmissions and errors
Helps confirm packet drops
Great for deep network troubleshooting
Basic way to use it:
Install Wireshark
Select your network adapter (WiFi or Ethernet)
Start capture
Run your internet activity (game, call, browsing)
Stop capture and check for packet drops or retransmissions
If you are not familiar with packet analysis, this tool may feel complicated, but it’s one of the most powerful options.
5) Speedtest by Ookla (Easy Packet Loss Check)
Most people know Speedtest only for download and upload speed. But Speedtest also helps detect connection stability and may show packet loss depending on the test mode and device.
Why it’s helpful:
Very easy to use
Works on PC and mobile
Quick internet health check
Shows ping and jitter clearly
Steps:
Open Speedtest website or app
Run the test
Look at ping, jitter, and stability
Even if Speedtest doesn’t show packet loss directly all the time, high jitter and unstable ping often indicate packet issues.
This tool is best for beginners who want a quick check.
6) MTR Tool (Best for Continuous Testing)
MTR (My Traceroute) is a tool that combines ping and traceroute. It continuously tests packet loss and shows results over time.
On Windows, you can use tools like WinMTR.
Why WinMTR is great:
It shows packet loss percentage by hop
It runs continuously
Easy to share results with ISP support
Helpful for gaming and server routing problems
How to use WinMTR:
Download and run WinMTR
Enter a target like 8.8.8.8 or cloudflare.com
Click Start
Let it run for 2–5 minutes
Check packet loss results
If packet loss appears strongly on the first hop, your router or WiFi is usually the issue. If it appears later, your ISP or route may be responsible.
Which Packet Loss Tool Should You Use?
If you want the best tool depending on your situation, here’s an easy guide:
For quick check: Ping
For visual and easy report: PingPlotter
For route tracing: Tracert
For advanced troubleshooting: Wireshark
For simple speed test: Speedtest
For continuous packet loss by hop: WinMTR
You can also use two tools together for better confirmation. For example, PingPlotter plus Ping gives both a graph and quick numbers.
What To Do If Packet Loss Is Detected
If your tools show packet loss, don’t worry. Many packet loss problems can be fixed easily.
Try these solutions first:
Restart your router and modem
Switch from WiFi to Ethernet cable
Move closer to the router
Disconnect extra devices temporarily
Update router firmware
Change WiFi channel or use 5GHz band
Replace old Ethernet cables
Update network drivers on your PC
If packet loss continues even on Ethernet, it may be an ISP issue. In that case, sharing PingPlotter or WinMTR results with your ISP can help them fix it faster.
Final Thoughts
Packet loss is one of the biggest hidden causes of slow and unstable internet, especially for gaming, video calls, and streaming. Even if your internet speed is high, packet loss can still ruin the experience. The good thing is that a packet loss test is easy if you use the right tools.
With tools like Ping, PingPlotter, Tracert, Wireshark, Speedtest, and WinMTR, you can test your connection in minutes and clearly identify whether the issue is coming from your WiFi, your router, or your ISP.
