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What Is My Network Type

Detect whether you are on Wi-Fi, cellular, or ethernet, with effective speed class and estimated bandwidth from the Network Information API.

This tool reads the Network Information API built into your browser to report whether you are connected via Wi-Fi, cellular, or ethernet, along with the effective speed class and an estimated bandwidth figure. The result updates automatically if your connection changes. Not all browsers support this API — see the note below if yours does not.

🛜What Is My Network Type

What is the Network Information API?

The Network Information APIis a browser specification that exposes read-only properties about the device’s current network connection to JavaScript. It lives at navigator.connection and provides four key fields:

  • type — the physical medium: wifi, cellular, ethernet, bluetooth, none, or unknown.
  • effectiveType — a performance tier: 4g, 3g, 2g, or slow-2g, based on observed RTT and throughput.
  • downlink— estimated bandwidth in Mbps, rounded to limit fingerprinting.
  • rtt— estimated round-trip latency in milliseconds, also rounded.
  • saveData— a boolean flag set by the user or OS to request reduced data usage.

The API is supported in Chromium-based browsers(Chrome, Edge, Opera, Samsung Internet, and Android WebView). Firefox and Safari have not shipped it, citing privacy concerns around network-based fingerprinting. If your browser reports “Not supported,” this is expected behaviour — the information is simply not available.

Connection type vs effective type

These two fields answer different questions. typedescribes the physical layer — the radio or wire you are physically using. effectiveType describes the performance you are actually experiencing, regardless of the medium.

A slow Wi-Fi hotspot in a coffee shop may report type: "wifi" but effectiveType: "2g" because the measured throughput is poor. Conversely, a strong 5G cellular connection reports type: "cellular" and effectiveType: "4g". On most desktop browsers, type returns "unknown"because the OS API to distinguish ethernet from Wi-Fi is not consistently accessible from the browser sandbox — effectiveType is more reliably populated.

What affects the reported values?

  • VPNs: A VPN tunnel adds latency and may reduce measured throughput, pushing the effectiveType down from 4g toward 3g even on fast broadband.
  • Network switching: Toggling airplane mode, connecting to a new Wi-Fi network, or roaming between towers triggers a change event and the displayed values refresh.
  • Data Saver / Lite Mode: Android Chrome’s “Lite Mode” and some OS-level data-saving settings flip saveData to true, signalling websites to reduce asset sizes and defer non-critical fetches.
  • Intentional rounding: The browser deliberately caps downlink to a small set of values and rounds rtt to prevent high-precision network fingerprinting. Values are approximate by design.

Why is knowing your network type useful?

  • Adaptive media: Video players and image delivery services use effectiveType to pick bitrate or image quality automatically. Knowing you are on 2g explains why a site served a low-resolution thumbnail.
  • Progressive Web Apps: PWAs that check saveData skip large background syncs and prefetches, protecting users on metered mobile plans.
  • Troubleshooting: When a site loads slowly, confirming the browser sees only 3g or 2geffective type immediately explains the experience — no need to run a full speed test first.
  • Developer testing: Web developers use this page to verify their adaptive logic reacts correctly when effectiveType or saveData changes during manual testing.
  • Before a VPN or hotspot switch: Check your baseline type and speed class, connect your VPN or hotspot, then refresh to see what changed.

For a real throughput measurement, use the Internet Speed Test. For round-trip latency to this server, see What Is My Latency. To identify your ISP or carrier network by name, use What Is My ISP.

Privacy note

All detection happens in your browser using local JavaScript APIs — no network request is made to our servers for this specific check. The values are read directly from navigator.connection and displayed only to you. See our Privacy Policy for how analytics and advertising operate separately from this diagnostic.

Common questions

What is the Network Information API?
The Network Information API is a browser feature that exposes details about the device's current network connection: connection type (Wi-Fi, cellular, ethernet), effective speed class (4G, 3G, 2G, slow-2G), estimated downlink bandwidth, and round-trip time. It is supported in Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Opera, Android WebView) but not in Firefox or Safari.
Why does the tool say 'Not supported in your browser'?
Firefox and Safari do not implement the Network Information API. If you see this message, your browser has not exposed connection details to JavaScript. Try opening this page in Chrome or Edge — on Android you will also see the cellular vs Wi-Fi distinction.
What does 'effective type' mean?
Effective connection type is a performance classification the browser assigns based on observed download speed and round-trip time: '4g' for fast connections, '3g' for medium, '2g' for slow, and 'slow-2g' for very slow. It does not directly correspond to a cellular generation — a fast Wi-Fi connection also shows as '4g'.
Is the downlink speed accurate?
The downlink value is an estimate in Megabits per second, intentionally capped and rounded by the browser to limit fingerprinting. It reflects recent network activity, not a dedicated test. For a real throughput measurement, use the dedicated Internet Speed Test tool.
What is Data Saver mode?
If 'Data Saver' shows as active, your browser or OS has enabled a reduced-data preference (navigator.connection.saveData). Web apps that respect this flag serve lighter assets, skip autoplay video, and defer background syncs to save bandwidth — useful on metered mobile plans.
Why does my connection show as '4G' even on Wi-Fi?
The browser classifies connections by performance tier, not physical medium. A fast Wi-Fi or ethernet connection is classified as '4g' (the highest effective type). The effectiveType field tells you speed quality; the type field (wifi / cellular / ethernet) tells you the medium — and type is only available on Chromium on Android for most users.
Does this tool reveal my carrier or ISP name?
No. The Network Information API only provides the connection type and performance class — it does not expose your carrier name or ISP. To see your ISP or organization name, use the What Is My ISP tool.
Can this change while I am on the page?
Yes. The page listens for the 'change' event on navigator.connection and updates automatically if you switch from Wi-Fi to cellular, enable Data Saver, or your estimated bandwidth changes significantly.

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