Microsoft Is Testing a Built-in Network Speed Test Tool in Windows 11.
If your internet speed isn’t as expected, it’s a good idea to test your network speed with a dedicated tool. If the results are lower than expected, the problem is with your network. If the speed is good, the issue may be with the website itself, the web browser, or a device that needs adjustment. While there are plenty of options online, if you have a PC, you’ll, at least in theory, have a speed test built into your operating system.
Windows’ built-in network speed test tool is essentially a shortcut.
As part of the latest Release Preview update for Windows 11 Insiders , Microsoft released a network speed test tool , though “shortcut” would be more appropriate. This shortcut isn’t a separate app; it’s accessed directly from the taskbar. Right-click the network icon, select “Run Speed Test,” and Windows launches your browser. You’ll see Bing load—even if you have another search engine set as your default—and a simplified “Internet Speed Test” tool appears.
While I wouldn’t blame you if you assumed this tool was created by Microsoft, it’s actually developed by Speedtest, the company best known for speedtest.net . (Note: Speedtest is owned by Lifehacker’s parent company, Ziff Davis.) As Tom’s Hardware notes , the integration itself isn’t new, as Speedtest first launched a network speed test tool in Bing back in December 2023. What’s new, of course, is that the tool is available as a shortcut in the Windows taskbar.
It’s a nice addition to Windows, and it makes sense to include it in the network icon on the taskbar, but something that works directly on your PC would definitely be better. Perhaps the convenience of quickly right-clicking the network icon when the internet is slow outweighs everything else, but I think I’d prefer to use a full-fledged Speedtest tool, especially to avoid using Bing.
Other new features in this preview channel update.
This keyboard shortcut isn’t the only new feature. Microsoft has also added new settings options that let you pan and tilt connected cameras. New emoji are coming soon , including a face with bags under its eyes and a harp, and the widget settings menu now takes up an entire page. You can also now set .webp files as desktop backgrounds, so you don’t need to convert those images first.
You can try out these features right now by signing up for the Windows Insider Program . While enrolling your PC in this program carries a risk of software instability, the Release Preview channel is much less risky than the Dev or Beta channels, as the Release Preview channel releases updates that have undergone more rigorous testing.