Welcome! This guide will help you download and run speedtest on your Windows computer. No technical knowledge is needed—just follow the steps below, and you'll be testing your internet speed in minutes.
Visit this link to download the application
Click the link above. You'll arrive at a GitHub page—this is the official home of the speedtest app. Look for a green button that says "Code" and click it. A dropdown will appear; select "Download ZIP". The download will start automatically.
-
Locate the downloaded file
Open your Downloads folder (usually found in File Explorer under "This PC" → "Downloads"). You'll see a file named speedtest-main.zip. -
Extract the ZIP file
Right-click on speedtest-main.zip and choose "Extract All…" from the menu. A window will pop up—click "Extract" to unpack the files. This creates a new folder called speedtest-main. -
Open the extracted folder
Double-click the speedtest-main folder to open it. You should see several files and subfolders inside, includingindex.php,server.php, and ajsfolder. -
Run the application
This app runs in your web browser. Since it's built with PHP, you need a simple way to serve it locally. Follow these steps:-
Option A: Use a USB Web Server (easiest)
— Download a portable web server like USBWebserver or Laragon from their official websites.
— Install and launch it.
— Place the speedtest-main folder inside the server's root directory (e.g.,...\laragon\www\).
— Open your browser and typehttp://localhost/speedtest-main(orhttp://localhost:8080/speedtest-maindepending on your setup).
— The speed test will appear in your browser. -
Option B: Use XAMPP
— Install XAMPP from apachefriends.org.
— Open the XAMPP Control Panel and click "Start" next to Apache.
— Copy the speedtest-main folder intoC:\xampp\htdocs\.
— Open your browser and typehttp://localhost/speedtest-main.
— Done!
-
-
Start testing
Once the page loads, click the large "Start" button. The test runs for about 15–20 seconds and measures three things: download speed, upload speed, and—most importantly—latency under load, which reveals bufferbloat that most speed tests miss.
Most speed tests only show your top download and upload speeds. speedtest goes deeper by measuring latency during data transfer. This exposes bufferbloat—a condition where your router's buffer fills up, causing lag and jitter during heavy usage (gaming, video calls, streaming).
With this app, you'll see:
- Download speed (Mbps)
- Upload speed (Mbps)
- Latency under load (ms)—the hidden culprit behind stuttering video and laggy online gaming
- Jitter (ms)—variation in latency, crucial for real-time apps
- Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11
- RAM: 1 GB minimum
- Disk Space: 20 MB free
- Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or any modern browser
- Additional Software: PHP 7.0+ (included with XAMPP or Laragon)
- Internet Connection: Any active connection (wired or Wi-Fi)
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Zero dependencies | No need to install Node.js, Python, or any framework—just PHP and a browser |
| Privacy-friendly | Your data never leaves your device; no third-party servers involved |
| Self-hosted | Run it on any machine, even offline or behind a firewall |
| No build step | Works instantly—no compiling, bundling, or configuration required |
| Lightweight | Less than 50 KB of code; runs smoothly on any computer |
| Open source | Transparent algorithms; you can inspect every line of code |
Q: I see a blank page when I open the folder. What's wrong?
A: Make sure you're accessing it via a web server (e.g., http://localhost/speedtest-main), not by double-clicking index.php. PHP needs a server environment to run.
Q: The speed test shows different numbers than my ISP's test.
A: That's expected! This test purposely applies load to expose real-world latency, so results may differ from simple speed tests that only measure idle throughput.
Q: Can I use this on my phone?
A: Yes! Once running on your PC, you can visit the same address from any device on the same network (e.g., http://192.168.1.5/speedtest).
- Port already in use? — If Apache fails to start, change the port in XAMPP or Laragon settings (e.g., to 8080) and update your browser URL accordingly.
- Slow page load? — Ensure your firewall allows connections to
localhost. If you use a third-party firewall, add an exception. - Error about PHP version? — Update PHP to version 7.4 or higher by reinstalling your server package.
Now you're ready to uncover what's really happening with your internet. Whether you're a gamer, remote worker, or just curious, speedtest gives you the full picture—not just raw speed, but the latency that actually affects your online experience.
Happy testing! 🎉
Keywords: bufferbloat, internet-speed-test, latency, network-diagnostics, no-dependencies, php, privacy-friendly, self-hosted, speedtest, vanilla-javascript, web-performance, zero-dependency