How to test your internet speed on Windows 11
Windows 11 added a "Perform speed test" option to the taskbar in 2026. Here's how to use it, what it actually does, and how to get a result you can trust.
Right-click the Wi-Fi or Ethernet icon on the taskbar and choose Perform speed test. It reached all Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 PCs with update KB5083769 in April 2026. It doesn't test inside Windows; it opens Bing's speed test in your browser. For a result you can trust, test on a PC plugged into the router and compare with our speed test.
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How to open it
- Neowin, "Windows 11 KB5083769 brings built-in internet speed test to all 25H2, 24H2 users," Apr 22, 2026
- PCWorld, "Windows 11's new internet speed test is just a shortcut to Bing," Mar 11, 2026
- Microsoft Windows Insider release notes, Feb 2026, as reported by PC Gamer and OC3D
Don't see the option?
The option came to Windows Insiders in February 2026 and to everyone on Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2 with update KB5083769, released in April. To check your version, press Windows + R, type winver and press Enter. Windows 10 doesn't have it.
What it actually does
It's a shortcut. Several reviewers, including PCWorld and Neowin, found that the taskbar option simply opens Bing's speed test in your default browser, the same test you get by searching "speed test" on Bing. Windows doesn't measure anything itself, and results aren't saved anywhere in Windows.
That's fine for a quick check. Any good browser test works the same way, including ours, which also compares your result with your plan.
How to get an accurate result on Windows
- Plug the PC into the router with an Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi results measure your Wi-Fi, not your connection.
- Pause OneDrive sync, Windows Update downloads, game launchers and cloud backups. They run in the background and use bandwidth.
- Turn off any VPN while you test; it can cut your result.
- Check the Ethernet link speed: Settings, Network & internet, Ethernet. If Link speed shows 100 Mbps on a faster plan, swap the cable or port. On Wi-Fi, the network's properties page shows the link speed to the router.
- Test three times and use the middle result.
No Ethernet port on your laptop? A USB-C hub with Ethernet or a USB-C Ethernet adapter lets you test wired.
Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet on the same PC
Running the test twice, once on Wi-Fi and once on a cable, shows whether your plan or your Wi-Fi is the bottleneck.
- Run the test on Wi-Fi in the room where you use the PC. Note the download speed.
- Plug the PC into the router with an Ethernet cable and turn Wi-Fi off.
- Run the test again.
- If the wired result is close to your plan speed and Wi-Fi is much lower, the fix is better Wi-Fi, not a faster plan.
Check your Wi-Fi link rate
Open Settings, go to Network & internet, then Wi-Fi, and select your network’s properties. The link speed (receive/transmit) shows the fastest your PC can talk to the router right now. If it’s below your plan speed, no speed test will show more than that.
Is your result good?
Compare it with the typical speed on your plan's Broadband Facts label. On Wi-Fi, 70 to 90 percent of your plan is normal; wired should be close to the plan. If it's well below, see why a speed test comes in lower than your plan, or the speed test guide for your provider below.
Questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in speed test?
Yes. Right-click the Wi-Fi or Ethernet icon on the taskbar and choose Perform speed test. It opens Bing's speed test in your browser rather than running inside Windows.
Why don't I see Perform speed test?
You need Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2 with update KB5083769 or later. Check Settings, Windows Update, and install the latest updates.
Is the Windows 11 speed test accurate?
It's as accurate as Bing's speed test, which it opens. For a result that reflects your connection, run it on a computer plugged into the router and pause other downloads.
How do I check my Ethernet link speed in Windows 11?
Open Settings, Network & internet, Ethernet. Link speed shows what the cable and port negotiated, such as 1 Gbps. If it says 100 Mbps, try a different cable or port.
If it shows 100 Mbps on a fast plan, swap the cable for a Cat 6 cable.
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Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.