Some Windows users are trying to run a speed test on their Internet connection, but every online tool that they try to employ will end up displaying the 'Socket Error' message. In most cases, this consequence is reported to occur with  SpeedTest.

Socket Error On SpeedTest

As information technology turns out, one of the most common instances that will produce the Socket Faultis an outbound rule (Continued Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Direct Ship (TCP-Out)) belonging to Windows Firewall. If it'due south disabled, you AV might not allow connections with speed test utilities. In this case, you can resolve the problem by enabling the outbound rule from the Advanced settings of the Windows Firewall.

Merely if you're using a 3rd party AV or Firewall, you might need to whitelist the domain of the SpeedTest tool that yous're using in order to allow the test to consummate. Additionally, y'all should look to disable the existent-fourth dimension protection or uninstall the 3rd party suite altogether.

Withal, cloud solutions similar Onedrive or Google Drive are too reported to trigger the 'Socket Mistake'. If this scenario is applicative, disable the real-time syncing feature of your deject solution and see if the effect is resolved.

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

Method 1: Enabling Connected Device Platform dominion in Windows Firewall

As it turns out, the 'socket mistake' when running an Internet speed test with your browser tin can exist caused by your firewall – even if you're using the built-in firewall (Windows Firewall). This scenario is near encountered on a Wi-Fi connection.

According to some affected users, this particular issue can occur due to an Outbound dominion called 'Connected Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Directly Transport (TCP-Out)'.

Some afflicted users have managed to fix the issue by accessing the Advanced Security suites of Windows Firewall and enabling the problematic outbound rule. Merely keep in mind that the outbound dominion that needs to be enabled will be different if you're encountering the event with an ethernet connection.

Here'south a quick pace by step guide that volition let you lot to access the Avant-garde born Firewall settings and enabling the correct outbound rule:

  1. Press Windows central + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type 'firewall.cpl' inside the text box and press Enter to open up upwardly the Windows Firewall settings window.
  2. Once you're within the Windows Defender Firewall settings, click on the Advanced settings card from the left-manus side menu bar.
  3. Afterwards you lot manage to land within the Windows Defender Firewall and Advanced Security, click on Outbound Rules from the carte du jour on the left.
  4. With the Outbound Rules carte selected, move down to the right-hand section and whorl down through the list of available Outbound Rules and locate 'Continued Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Straight Transport (TCP-OUT)'. Once you encounter information technology, double-click on it.
    Note: If you're encountering the issue with an ethernet connection, access the Connected Devices Platform (TCP-Out)outbound rule instead.
  5. Inside the Properties screen of the outbound rule that you desire to modify, select the General tab from the menu at the top, and then 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. In one case the next startup is consummate, repeat the speed test once again and meet if the issue is now resolved.
    Enabling the problematic outbound dominion

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

Method 2: Pause OneDrive or Drive Syncing (if applicable)

If you're using OneDrive or the desktop version of Google Drive as the chief cloud solution, keep in mind that these two can be huge Internet bandwidth hoggers if you lot're they are actively syncing files while y'all are trying to run a speed exam.

Several afflicted users take 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 bachelor bandwidth.

If this scenario is applicable, yous can fix this issue by 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 volition assist you disable active syncing regardless of the deject awarding that yous'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 carte, click on More, select Pause Syncing and select 2 Hours from the list of available options.
    Pausing Syncing on OneDrive

    Note: Two hours is more than enough to complete the speed test – no demand to terminate the active syncing feature indefinitely.

  3. One time the OneDrive syncing feature is disabled, repeat the speed examination and see if the 'Socket Mistake' has been resolved.

Pausing Active Syncing on Google Drive

  1. Go to your taskbar and look for the icon associated with Google Bulldoze.
  2. If you see that the utility is actively syncing files, click on the action button (elevation-right corner) and click on Intermission from the newly appeared cotext menu.
    Pausing Google Drive Sync
  3. At present that the active syncing is disabled, echo the speed test and see if the trouble is resolved.
  4. Once the performance is completed, return to the same Google Drive carte and click on Resume to reestablish existent-time syncing.

In case you've already done this with no success or this scenario was not applicable, move down to the next potential ready below.

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

As it turns out, at that place are some overprotective suites that will but flag the speed test every bit a suspicious activity – which will end up triggering the 'Socket Error'. Avast Antivirus, Kaspersky and Comodo AV are normally signaled out for blocking communications between calculator and Speedtest server.

If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to resolve the issue by whitelisting the domain in club to permit the speed test to run. Just keep in mind that this operation will be different depending on the AV suite that you're using.

In Avast, you tin can plant a whitelisting rule by going to Settings > Full general > Exclusions > URL. Once you get there, simply paste 'https://www.speedtest.cyberspace/' and save the modifications.

White-listing the Speed test domain in 3rd party AV settings

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

Additionally, yous can but disable the existent-time protection while you perform the speed test. In most cases, you can do this directly from the taskbar menu. But right-click on the icon associated with your AV and look for an option that will disable the real-time protection.

Correct Click Avast Icon From Organisation Tray To Disable Avast Temporarily

In example the same problem is persisting and you're using a third party security suite, move down to the next potential set below.

Method 4: Uninstalling tertiary political party suite (along with remnant files)

If the method in a higher place didn't resolve the issue but you are using a 3rd party suite that you lot doubtable might be causing this problem, the only way to examination the theory out is to uninstall the third party suite and ensure that y'all're non leaving behind any leftover files that might still cause the same type of behavior.

In case you doubtable that a faux positive triggered by your 3rd political party AV is causing the issue, here's a quick stride-past-pace guide on uninstalling the 3rd party suite or firewall and ensuring that y'all're not leaving behind any remnant files that might still produce the mistake:

  1. Press Windows primal + R to open upwards a Run dialog box. Adjacent, type 'appwiz.cpl' and press Enter to open the Programs and Features carte du jour.
    Type appwiz.cpl and Printing Enter to Open Installed Programs List
  2. One time y'all manage to get inside the Programs and Features menu, curl down through the list of installed applications. Exercise so until you locate the 3rd party A/V or firewall that you doubtable might be causing the outcome.
  3. When you run into it, right-click on it and choose Uninstall from the newly appeared context card.
    Uninstalling Avast Firewall
  4. Inside the uninstallation wizard, follow the on-screen prompts to consummate the process of uninstalling the tertiary party AV app.
  5. One time the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer and follow this article (hither) once the next startup is complete in order to ensure that you lot likewise remove any leftover files that might still produce this blazon of behavior.
  6. Run the speed test once more and see if the consequence is notwithstanding resolved.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move downwards to the adjacent potential ready below.

Method v: Using a Different Testing Tool

If none of the methods below have allowed you to set the 'Socket Error' and perform a SpeedTest, it'southward fourth dimension to consider the alternatives. Keep in listen that SpeedTest.net is not the only reliable tools that will permit you to test your Net connexion.

Nosotros've created a listing with 5 Alternatives that you can use in case Speedtest.Net is consistently showing the same mistake bulletin:

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

Feel complimentary to use any of the alternatives featured to a higher place. They are simply as reliable as the near pop selection (SpeedTest.Net) and volition most probable not trigger the same 'Socket Error'.