Windows 11 “Perform Speed Test” Feature Explained (Plus Troubleshooting Tips)
Windows 11 Adds a Taskbar Network Speed Test: What It Does, How to Use It, and Admin Caveats
Windows 11 is getting a new convenience feature that many users have wanted for years: a one-click network speed test directly from the taskbar network icon.
It is not a built-in throughput engine inside Windows. It is a shortcut that opens a web-based speed test in your browser. Still, for quick checks, it is handy.
What the “Perform speed test” feature actually does
When you run the speed test from the taskbar:
- Windows launches your default browser
- It opens Bing’s speed test page
- The test is performed by the underlying web speed test service Bing uses (commonly Speedtest)
So think of it as a fast entry point to a web test, not a native Windows diagnostic.
Who gets it and when
This feature is rolling out in preview builds first (Release Preview channel). If you are on stable Windows 11 and do not see it yet, that can be normal.
Check your Windows build
- Press Windows + R
- Type:
winver - Confirm your version and build number.
How to run the speed test from the taskbar
Method 1: Right-click the network icon
- Locate the network icon in the system tray (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
- Right-click it
- Select Perform speed test
- Your browser opens and the test starts
Method 2: Quick Settings (if present)
- Click the network area (Wi-Fi/volume/battery cluster) to open Quick Settings
- Look for Perform speed test in the network section
- Click it to launch the test
What results you should expect (and how to interpret them)
A typical web speed test reports:
- Download (Mbps): Usually the biggest number. Impacts streaming, downloads, cloud sync.
- Upload (Mbps): Important for Teams calls, file uploads, remote work.
- Latency/Ping (ms): Often more important than raw speed for meetings and gaming.
- Jitter (ms): Stability. High jitter can cause choppy calls even when speed looks good.
Quick rule of thumb
- If latency/jitter are bad, Teams quality can be poor even with high Mbps.
- If upload is low, screen sharing and video calls can suffer.
Enterprise and managed device notes (what can break this feature)
In managed environments (Intune, proxy, security controls), this is where things commonly fail:
1) Web access dependencies
Because this launches a web test, it depends on:
- DNS resolution
- Proxy configuration
- TLS inspection behavior
- Allow/deny rules for Bing and the speed test endpoints
If those are blocked, the test will not load or results will be unreliable.
2) Default browser and policy behavior
If you enforce a default browser or restrict browser launch behavior, the experience can vary:
- The click may open Edge or another browser depending on policy
- First-run prompts can slow the user experience
3) “Not repeatable enough” for IT diagnostics
Web speed tests are great for quick checks, but they are not ideal for:
- Baselines across sites
- Consistent server selection
- Automated reporting
- SLA measurements
For that, use scriptable tooling.
Better options for IT-grade testing (repeatable and scriptable)
Option A: Speedtest CLI (simple, scriptable)
Install:
winget install --id Ookla.Speedtest.CLI -e
Run:
speedtest
Useful for:
- Helpdesk scripts
- Consistent output you can capture in logs
- Remote troubleshooting sessions
Option B: Validate connectivity vs throughput (built-in commands)
These do not measure bandwidth, but they quickly expose DNS, routing, and reachability issues:
Test-NetConnection 8.8.8.8 -InformationLevel Detailed
ping -n 20 1.1.1.1
tracert 1.1.1.1
Option C: iPerf3 (best for internal testing)
If you want to measure LAN or WAN throughput between known endpoints, iPerf3 is the gold standard:
- You control server location
- You eliminate “random internet server” variability
- You can test specific VLANs, Wi-Fi SSIDs, or VPN paths
Troubleshooting: When the taskbar speed test is missing or doesn’t work
If you do not see “Perform speed test”
- Confirm you are on a Windows 11 build that includes the feature (use
winver) - Install the latest cumulative updates available to your device
- If this is a managed device, confirm your update rings and deferral policies
If it opens but the test page fails
- Check proxy and SSL inspection behavior
- Validate DNS resolution
- Try the same test URL manually in a browser
- Confirm the device can reach external CDNs used by speed tests
Bottom line
- For end users, the new Windows 11 taskbar speed test is a fast, convenient shortcut for quick checks.
- For admins, it is best treated as a user-facing convenience, not a formal diagnostic.
- If you need consistent results, use Speedtest CLI or iPerf3 depending on whether you are testing internet performance or internal network throughput.
