Some Windows users are trying to run a speed test on their Internet connection, but every online tool that they try to utilise volition finish up displaying the 'Socket Mistake' message. In almost cases, this effect is reported to occur with  SpeedTest.

Socket Fault On SpeedTest

Equally it turns out, ane of the most common instances that will produce the Socket Faultis an outbound rule (Connected Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Directly Ship (TCP-Out)) belonging to Windows Firewall. If it's disabled, you AV might not allow connections with speed exam utilities. In this instance, you can resolve the problem by enabling the outbound dominion from the Advanced settings of the Windows Firewall.

But if you're using a 3rd party AV or Firewall, you lot might need to whitelist the domain of the SpeedTest tool that you're using in guild to allow the test to complete. Additionally, you should wait to disable the real-time protection or uninstall the 3rd party suite altogether.

However, deject solutions like Onedrive or Google Drive are also reported to trigger the 'Socket Fault'. If this scenario is applicable, disable the real-time syncing feature of your deject solution and see if the issue is resolved.

If all else fails, you should consider using a different speed testing tool that is more permissive with your Internet connexion.

Method 1: Enabling Continued Device Platform rule in Windows Firewall

As information technology turns out, the 'socket error' when running an Internet speed test with your browser tin be caused by your firewall – fifty-fifty if you're using the built-in firewall (Windows Firewall). This scenario is most encountered on a Wi-Fi connection.

According to some affected users, this item issue tin occur due to an Outbound rule chosen 'Connected Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Direct Transport (TCP-Out)'.

Some affected users take managed to fix the result by accessing the Avant-garde Security suites of Windows Firewall and enabling the problematic outbound rule. Only keep in mind that the outbound rule that needs to exist enabled volition be dissimilar if you're encountering the issue with an ethernet connection.

Here'south a quick stride by pace guide that volition allow y'all to access the Avant-garde congenital-in Firewall settings and enabling the correct outbound rule:

  1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, blazon 'firewall.cpl' inside the text box and press Enter to open up up the Windows Firewall settings window.
  2. One time you're inside the Windows Defender Firewall settings, click on the Advanced settings menu from the left-hand side card bar.
  3. Subsequently yous manage to state inside the Windows Defender Firewall and Advanced Security, click on Outbound Rules from the bill of fare on the left.
  4. With the Outbound Rules menu selected, movement downward to the correct-hand section and roll downwards through the listing of bachelor Outbound Rules and locate 'Continued Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Directly Transport (TCP-OUT)'. Once you run into it, double-click on it.
    Note: If you're encountering the issue with an ethernet connection, access the Continued Devices Platform (TCP-Out)outbound rule instead.
  5. Inside the Properties screen of the outbound rule that yous want to change, select the Full general tab from the menu at the top, and so ensure that the box associated with Enabled is checked.
  6. Click on Apply to save the changes, then close every window and restart your computer.
  7. Once the next startup is complete, repeat the speed exam one time again and come across if the issue is now resolved.
    Enabling the problematic outbound rule

In case the same 'Socket Error' is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 2: Interruption OneDrive or Bulldoze Syncing (if applicable)

If you're using OneDrive or the desktop version of Google Drive as the primary cloud solution, keep in mind that these two tin can exist huge Internet bandwidth hoggers if you're they are actively syncing files while yous are trying to run a speed examination.

Several affected users have reported that they got this error consistently until they realized that their cloud solution (Onedrive or Google drive) was uploading files in the background, finer taking upwards all the available bandwidth.

If this scenario is applicative, you can fix this issue past pausing the syncing sequence of Ondrive or Google Drive – depending on the tool that you're using.

Since we don't discriminate, we created two separate guides that will help you disable active syncing regardless of the cloud awarding that y'all're using.

Pausing Active Syncing on OneDrive

  1. Right-click on the taskbar icon associated with OneDrive (an icon resembling a cloud).
  2. Next, from the OneDrive context menu, click on More, select Break Syncing and select 2 Hours from the listing of available options.
    Pausing Syncing on OneDrive

    Note: 2 hours is more than enough to complete the speed test – no need to stop the active syncing feature indefinitely.

  3. One time the OneDrive syncing feature is disabled, echo the speed test and see if the 'Socket Error' has been resolved.

Pausing Active Syncing on Google Drive

  1. Go to your taskbar and look for the icon associated with Google Drive.
  2. If you see that the utility is actively syncing files, click on the action button (top-right corner) and click on Break from the newly appeared cotext carte du jour.
    Pausing Google Bulldoze Sync
  3. Now that the active syncing is disabled, repeat the speed exam and see if the trouble is resolved.
  4. One time the operation is completed, return to the same Google Drive carte and click on Resume to reestablish real-fourth dimension syncing.

In example y'all've already done this with no success or this scenario was not applicative, move downwardly to the next potential fix below.

Method three: Whitelist Speedtest domain (if using 3rd party AV)

Equally information technology turns out, there are some overprotective suites that will simply flag the speed test as a suspicious activity – which will end up triggering the 'Socket Error'. Avast Antivirus, Kaspersky and Comodo AV are ordinarily signaled out for blocking communications between computer and Speedtest server.

If this scenario is applicative, you should be able to resolve the issue by whitelisting the domain in order to allow the speed exam to run. Simply keep in mind that this operation will be different depending on the AV suite that you're using.

In Avast, you can establish a whitelisting rule by going to Settings > General > Exclusions > URL. In one case y'all get there, but paste 'https://www.speedtest.cyberspace/' and save the modifications.

White-listing the Speed test domain in tertiary party AV settings

Note: Keep in mind that these steps volition exist different depending across multiple third party suites.

Additionally, you can simply disable the real-time protection while y'all perform the speed test. In most cases, you can practice this direct from the taskbar carte. Simply right-click on the icon associated with your AV and wait for an option that will disable the real-time protection.

Right Click Avast Icon From Arrangement Tray To Disable Avast Temporarily

In instance the aforementioned problem is persisting and you're using a third party security suite, motion downwards to the adjacent potential gear up below.

Method four: Uninstalling tertiary party suite (along with remnant files)

If the method above didn't resolve the issue but you lot are using a third political party suite that you suspect might be causing this problem, the only style to test the theory out is to uninstall the 3rd party suite and ensure that yous're non leaving backside whatever leftover files that might still cause the same type of behavior.

In case you doubtable that a false positive triggered by your third political party AV is causing the issue, hither'southward a quick step-by-pace guide on uninstalling the 3rd party suite or firewall and ensuring that you're not leaving behind any remnant files that might yet produce the error:

  1. Printing Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Side by side, type 'appwiz.cpl' and press Enter to open the Programs and Features card.
    Type appwiz.cpl and Press Enter to Open Installed Programs List
  2. One time yous manage to get inside the Programs and Features menu, scroll down through the listing of installed applications. Do so until you locate the third party A/V or firewall that you suspect might be causing the issue.
  3. When you see it, right-click on it and choose Uninstall from the newly appeared context carte du jour.
    Uninstalling Avast Firewall
  4. Within the uninstallation wizard, follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process of uninstalling the 3rd party AV app.
  5. Once the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer and follow this commodity (here) once the next startup is complete in guild to ensure that you also remove whatsoever leftover files that might still produce this blazon of behavior.
  6. Run the speed test over again and see if the issue is still resolved.

In case the same problem is notwithstanding occurring, move down to the side by side potential set up below.

Method 5: Using a Different Testing Tool

If none of the methods beneath have immune you lot to set the 'Socket Mistake' and perform a SpeedTest, information technology's time to consider the alternatives. Keep in listen that SpeedTest.net is not the but reliable tools that volition allow you to examination your Net connexion.

We've created a list with 5 Alternatives that you can employ in case Speedtest.Net is consistently showing the same error message:

  • Fast.com
  • Xfinity Speed Test
  • Internet Health Test
  • Cox Internet Speed Exam
  • SpeedOf.Me

Feel free to use any of the alternatives featured to a higher place. They are just as reliable every bit the near popular option (SpeedTest.Net) and will near likely non trigger the same 'Socket Error'.