Speed Test is a tool that is very frequently used by people to test their network speed. One of the most widely used and reliable platforms to test speed is speedtest.net. While many users are able to use the platform without any problems, some users have reported a Socket Error issue while doing the Speed Test. This hinders the ability to properly carry out the test. There are a few reasons why this error throws up at times.

Depending on the cause of the issue, there can be a number of fixes for this issue. Sometimes an Outbound Rule, Connected Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Direct Transport (TCP-Out) in Windows Firewall might be the issue. Many times people use cloud storage solutions such as Google Drive and Dropbox. Keep in mind that this may trigger the problem as well. Finally, if you are using a third-party antivirus that might cause the issue as well. Nonetheless, here are some of the fixes you can try to get rid of the socket error issue.

How to Fix Socket Error Occurred on SpeedTest?

Solution 1: Enable Connected Device Platform rule in Windows Firewall

This is the most common cause of the socket error problem which pops up while doing a Speed Test. Fixing it is very easy and can be done in a matter of seconds. This issue is more common on Wi-Fi than on Ethernet. Fixing it is very simple, just go to Advanced Security Settings of Windows Firewall and enable the outbound rule. Here is a step by step guide on how to do it.

  • Go to Start and Search Windows Firewall
  • Click on Windows Defender Firewall and select Advanced Settings in the left pane
  • Double click on Outbound rules
  • Scroll down to Connected Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Direct Transport (TCP-Out)
  • Double click on Connected Devices Platform – Wi-Fi Direct Transport (TCP-Out)
  • Go to the General Tab in the Properties Dialog Box
  • Make sure the Enabled checkbox is ticked

Solution 2: Pause OneDrive Cloud Sync

Cloud Storage solutions consume a lot of bandwidth and that is the reason why many people face the socket error issue while checking their speed. If you do use a Cloud Storage solution, make sure you pause the sync before attempting to check your internet speed. Here is how to disable Sync on OneDrive

  • Right Click on the OneDrive taskbar icon
  • Select Pause Syncing and select the duration as 2 hours
  • Check if the issue is resolved

For Google Drive, follow the following steps:-

  • Click on the Google Drive icon in the Taskbar
  • Go to the Actions tab in the top-right corner and click on Pause
  • Check if the issue is resolved

Solution 3: Whitelist Speedtest in Your Antivirus

If you are using anti-virus software, then it might be that your anti-virus is blocking the Speed Test. This can lead to socket error issues. You can pause your anti-virus software for a while when you are using Speed Test and resume it again once you are done. The feature you need to disable is commonly known as real-time protection. Alternatively, you need to visit the Exclusions or Exceptions section of your antivirus software and add the URL of Speed Test, https://www.speedtest.net/, to it.

Solution 4: Uninstall 3rd Party Anti Virus

Sometimes the antivirus software still causes issues even though real-time protection is disabled. If you are still facing issues then uninstalling the antivirus software is the way to go. To uninstall your antivirus follow the following steps:-

  • Right-click on Start and Select Run
  • Type ‘appwiz.cpl’ and press Enter
  • Scroll Down to your anti-virus app
  • Right-click on it and select Uninstall
  • Follow the on-screen instructions

Solution 5: Try another Speed Test service

If none of the above solutions work, then you need to try another service. Here are some popular speed test websites.

  • Fast.com
  • TestmySpeed.onl
  • Speedof.me