Windows 11 is getting a built-in way to measure your connection speed, and it’s placed right where you already look when something feels off. Instead of jumping to a third-party site or installing another utility, you’ll be able to kick off a Windows 11 speed test from the taskbar area in a couple of clicks.
The shortcut shows up in Quick Settings under Wi-Fi or Cellular, and it’s also available by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray. When you run it, Windows opens your default browser and starts the test there. The setup is simple, but it’s still a little different from a fully native panel inside Settings.
Microsoft says the feature is meant to help you check performance and troubleshoot network problems. It supports Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cellular connections, which should make it useful on everything from a wired desktop to a laptop that can connect over mobile data.
There’s no clear timeline for when it will reach the standard Windows 11 release outside Insider channels, or whether it’ll arrive all at once or in a phased rollout.
It’s built for fast checks
The biggest benefit is convenience. If streaming starts buffering or a video call gets choppy, you can run a quick speed check without breaking your flow. That makes it easier to answer the first question, is it my internet, or is it the app.
It covers every common connection
A lot of PCs move between networks during the day. Wi-Fi at home, Ethernet at work, cellular on the road. Having the same built-in test available across those connection types gives you a cleaner baseline when you’re comparing performance.
It also helps narrow down the culprit. If Wi-Fi looks bad but Ethernet looks fine, you’ve got a strong hint that the issue is local, not your provider. If everything is slow, you can stop chasing your router settings and start looking upstream.
What to do when it arrives
Once it shows up on your PC, use it as a quick comparison tool. Run one test on Wi-Fi, then try Ethernet if you can, or compare Wi-Fi to cellular on a supported device. Big swings between results point to the connection type that needs attention next.