How to check internet speed in Windows 11

If you've recently switched to Microsoft's new operating system, you'll have noticed that the company is going all out to make the transition as smooth as possible. With the final end of free support for the previous version, it's understandable that many users feel a bit pressured to make the switch, even though the reception hasn't been exactly enthusiastic for everyone. That's why Microsoft is constantly adding features and refining details to make the user experience much smoother and more modern.

One of the most practical new features arriving in the latest versions is the ability to check your network performance without any hassle. You no longer need to search external websites every time your internet feels slow; Windows 11 now integrates a quick access tool directly into the taskbar, saving you time and hassle—a great feature whether you're a home user or managing corporate environments.

The new network meter integrated into the taskbar

This feature, initially discovered by Windows Insider community experts as Phantomofearth, is located in the system tray, just to the right of the taskbar. Essentially, it's a strategic shortcut for running network tests without any hassle. To use it, simply right-click on the network and internet icon, and you'll see an option called "Run speed test," accompanied by a very intuitive speedometer icon.

You can also find this option by going to the quick settings panel (where you control the volume and Wi-Fi). Tapping the network icon will reveal a dedicated speed test button in the bottom right corner. While it may appear to be a built-in tool, the system actually opens a tab in your default browser and launches the Bing Speed ​​Test widget , which uses Ookla's Speedtest technology to provide the data.

This method allows us to obtain essential data to determine if our internet provider is ripping us off or if everything is working correctly: latency (ping) , upload and download speeds, and even our public IP address. It's important to note that while it doesn't require the use of Microsoft Edge, the process takes place within the Bing ecosystem.

How to activate the speed test if it doesn't appear

As is typical with Microsoft, the rollout is gradual and won't reach everyone at once. This feature is present in builds 26100.7922 (24H2) and higher. If you have the latest version but the option is missing, you can force its activation using ViVeTool , a GitHub utility created by Albacore to unlock hidden features.

To do this, you must download the ViVeTool ZIP file, extract it to a folder (for example, C:\\ViVeTool), and open it. Terminal or CMD as administratorOnce you are in the folder path, you must run the command vivetool /enable /id:57703775,58989002After restarting your computer, the shortcut to the speed test should magically appear in your network menu.

Difference between actual speed and theoretical maximum speed

Sometimes we confuse what the router is capable of delivering with what actually reaches our PC. To find out the maximum transfer speed of your hardware (WiFi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth), there are two very simple ways in Windows 11.

• Via PowerShell: Open the console and type Get-NetAdapterIf you want more specific data, use Get-NetAdapter | select interfaceDescription, name, status, linkSpeedHere you will see the theoretical limit of your card, whether in Mbps or Gbps.
• Via Settings: Go to Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Hardware and connection properties. In this section, look for the information on "Link speed", which will tell you the maximum capacity of your network chip.

It's crucial to understand that just because your network card supports 1Gbps doesn't mean you'll actually browse at that speed. Factors like interference from appliances , thick walls, or congested neighboring networks can make Wi-Fi much more unstable than a wired Ethernet connection, which will always be the most reliable option for gaming or 4K streaming.

Troubleshooting slow performance in Windows 11

There are frustrating cases where, after a clean installation of Windows 11, the speed drops dramatically compared to Windows 10. If you notice that you're flying at 400 Mbps on an Ubuntu Live CD but barely reaching 40 Mbps on Windows 11, the problem isn't the hardware, but the software. Often, the drivers installed by Windows Update aren't the best. Ideally, you should look for updated drivers directly on the manufacturer's website, whether it's HP, Realtek, or Intel, to ensure full compatibility.

When downloads from official servers (such as Google or Microsoft) are extremely slow but the hardware is powerful, it is advisable to check that there are no power-saving settings limiting the network card or third-party software interfering with the system's TCP/IP protocol stack.

We now have built-in tools that make life easier, allowing us to jump to Bing to measure performance or use PowerShell to find out the limits of our hardware. From using ViVeTool to get ahead of updates to the importance of installing official drivers to avoid speed drops, Windows 11 offers various ways to diagnose the health of our connection and ensure we're getting the most out of every megabit of our fiber optic speed.