Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld reports that Microsoft is rolling out a built-in internet speed test for Windows 11, measuring download, upload speeds, and ping similar to Ookla.
- Users can access this long-awaited feature through Wi-Fi Quick Settings or the system tray network icon to assess ISP performance.
- The tool will be available in upcoming Release Preview builds for 25H2 and 24H2, providing convenient integrated connection monitoring.
A handy little utility should be dropping on your Windows PC soon: a built-in speed test, compliments of a small feature update that Microsoft should be rolling out in the next couple of weeks.
Microsoft has scheduled a “gradual” rollout of a number of features as part of its Release Preview builds for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2, as detailed in the company’s blog post. The new Windows 11 features aren’t revolutionary, but include new emoji, tweaks to the recovery process, and so on.
The speed test, though, is a personal favorite. Although there are a few speed tests available for you to try, including Ookla and Comcast, Microsoft has a built-in speed test that you can simply search for in Edge and Bing, and it shows up right in your browser.
A “speed test” simply shows you what download and upload speeds your PC is achieving at that point in time, as well as your ping — and you can compare them to what plan your ISP is selling you to assess whether you need to give them a call, or adjust your router settings. One of the fun things that you can do if you’re home during a workday is compare your download speeds at, say, 11 AM, versus what the speeds are when the neighborhood arrives home from work at 5 PM.
Microsoft isn’t making the new speed test easy to find, however. You can either access it via the Wi-Fi or Cellular Quick Settings, or by simply clicking the network icon on the system tray. At that point, Windows will simply open up the default Web browser and presumably will load the same screen as you see above.
It’s a handy little feature, even if it’s just essentially an HTML pointer to a Web page. (The Xbox also has a speed test built into it, which appears to run natively on the console.) It’s also been quietly worked on for some time, as this new speed test feature leaked out late last year in another, earlier preview build.
Note that Windows won’t do this automatically. You’ll need to manually click the icon and launch the test. (Given that Microsoft already reports your system specs as “cards” in the Windows settings, should it periodically poll the speed test and report that as well? Remember, there’s a Feedback Hub app within Windows to add these types of suggestions.)
Since this is being rolled out in Release Preview, you’ll likely see it as early as in the next few weeks. Given that it’s a “gradual” rollout, though, it may take some time. Your best bet is to occasionally click on the network icon on your PC’s taskbar to see if it installs.
Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor, PCWorld
Mark has written for PCWorld for the last decade, with 30 years of experience covering technology. He has authored over 3,500 articles for PCWorld alone, covering PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows, among other topics. Mark has written for publications including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science and Electronic Buyers’ News, where he shared a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. He recently handed over a collection of several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs because his office simply has no more room.