Microsoft adds built-in network speed test to Windows 11 taskbar

Windows 11 is getting a built-in internet speed test

Microsoft is adding a network speed test shortcut directly to the Windows 11 taskbar. The feature is rolling out now in the latest Release Preview Channel update for Windows Insiders.

To use it, you right-click the network icon in the system tray and select "Perform speed test." This action opens your default web browser to a simplified speed test page on Bing.

The speed test is a Bing shortcut

Despite being integrated into the OS, the tool is not a native Windows application. It is a browser-based shortcut that launches the Speedtest-powered tool on Bing.

This integration is not entirely new. Speedtest, which is owned by Ziff Davis, first launched its tool within Bing in December 2023. The update simply adds a convenient shortcut to access it from the taskbar.

This means the test will load in Bing, even if you use a different search engine like Google as your default. A native app would be preferable, but the shortcut offers quick diagnostics.

Other new features in the preview

The update includes several other minor features and improvements for testers. The full list of additions includes:

• New camera settings for panning and tilting connected webcams.
• Support for using .webp image files as desktop backgrounds without conversion.
• A full-page layout for the Widgets settings menu.
• New emojis, such as "face with bags under eyes" and "harp."

How to try the new features

These features are available now for users enrolled in the Windows Insider Program on the Release Preview Channel. This channel is considered more stable than the Dev or Beta channels.

Enrolling carries some risk of instability, but the Release Preview Channel is intended for updates that are nearly ready for general release. You can enroll through the Windows Settings app under Windows Update.