How to Test Internet Latency on macOS 13

While Apple discontinued the standalone Network Utility app in modern versions of macOS, macOS 13 (Ventura) includes powerful built-in command-line tools that serve as direct replacements. This guide explains how to accurately measure your internet latency—both idle and under load—using macOS 13’s native networkQuality tool and the standard ping utility through the Terminal application.

Method 1: Use the networkQuality Tool

The primary replacement for Network Utility’s performance tests in macOS 13 is networkQuality. This tool measures upload/download speeds alongside round-trip responsiveness (latency) under working conditions.

  1. Open Terminal by pressing Command + Space, typing Terminal, and pressing Return.

  2. To run an advanced latency test showing both idle and loaded latency, enter the following command and press Return:

    networkQuality -v

  3. Wait a few seconds for the test to complete.

Understanding the Results:

  • Base RTT (Round Trip Time): Represents your baseline (idle) internet latency in milliseconds.
  • Working Latency / Responsiveness (RPM): Measures round trips per minute under working traffic. Higher RPM indicates lower latency under network stress, while lower numbers suggest bufferbloat.

Method 2: Use the Standard ping Command

To test real-time latency against a specific server—identical to the "Ping" tab in the old Network Utility—use the native ping command.

  1. Open Terminal.

  2. Type ping -c 10 followed by the IP address or domain name you want to test, then press Return. For example:

    ping -c 10 8.8.8.8

    (The -c 10 flag ensures the test automatically stops after sending 10 packets.)

Understanding the Results:

  • Each line displays the response time for individual packets measured in milliseconds (time=xx.x ms).
  • At the bottom, the summary displays the round-trip minimum, average, and maximum latency (min/avg/max/stddev).

Method 3: Monitor Wi-Fi Latency via Wireless Diagnostics

If you want to isolate local Wi-Fi latency without terminal commands:

  1. Hold down the Option (⌥) key and click the Wi-Fi icon in your top menu bar.
  2. Select Open Wireless Diagnostics.
  3. Do not click "Continue" on the wizard. Instead, click Window in the top menu bar and select Performance.
  4. The Performance window displays a live, real-time graph of local network quality, signal strength, and Wi-Fi transmission rates.