Windows 11 is adding a Perform speed test option to the taskbar network menu. It launches a test in your default browser rather than measuring your connection with a standalone Windows utility. Microsoft says it supports Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Cellular connections; reporting identifies the destination as Bing’s Ookla Speedtest experience.
Where to find the speed test in Windows 11
Microsoft says the option can be opened from either of these places:
- Wi-Fi or Cellular Quick Settings: Open the relevant Quick Settings panel and select Perform speed test.
- Taskbar network icon: Right-click the network icon in the system tray and choose Perform speed test.
The Windows Insider Program Team announced the feature on February 17, 2026, in a Release Preview update covering Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Microsoft’s announcement describes it as a gradual rollout, meaning the option may appear at different times on different devices.
What happens when you run the test
Selecting the taskbar option opens your default browser. Microsoft says the test can measure Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Cellular connections. Tom’s Hardware and PCWorld report that the browser opens a Bing-hosted experience using Ookla Speedtest, which displays latency, download, and upload results. Tom’s Hardware’s report and PCWorld’s coverage characterize the Windows feature as a shortcut to that web test.
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So the shortcut is built into the Windows taskbar experience, but the measurement runs in a browser service. The available descriptions do not establish that this feature provides local-network throughput testing, ongoing speed monitoring, a test history, or deeper diagnostics.
Why the option may not appear yet
Microsoft introduced the feature in Release Preview builds 26100 and 26200, associated in its announcement with Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Because Microsoft says distribution is gradual, the option is not necessarily visible on every eligible device at once. The cited coverage describes it arriving through rollout, but does not establish a date by which it will be available on every eligible PC.
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If you do not see Perform speed test, you can still open a browser-based speed test directly. The taskbar option is a convenient launch point, not a requirement for checking your internet connection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the result can—and cannot—tell you
Latency, download, and upload results provide a snapshot of performance between your device and the test service. They can help you check whether your connection is behaving as expected, but the taskbar shortcut alone does not identify the cause of a slow result. For example, it does not establish whether a problem lies with Wi-Fi coverage, your router, your internet provider, or the test conditions. Treat the result as a starting point for troubleshooting rather than a diagnosis.
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