In summary:
- Microsoft is rolling out a new internet speed test feature in Windows 11 that’s accessible directly from the taskbar for user convenience.
- PCWorld reports this feature is actually just a shortcut to a Bing search rather than a native Windows application, using Ookla’s Speedtest service.
- The implementation lacks the advanced networking capabilities that Windows 8’s more sophisticated network tool previously offered users.
Microsoft is currently rolling out a new feature in Windows 11 that allows users to test their internet speeds directly from the taskbar.
However, according to Windows Latest, the feature isn’t actually a built-in tool of the operating system. When you click the button, your default web browser opens and performs a Bing search for “internet speed test.”
The test itself is run via the Speedtest service from Ookla, with which Microsoft collaborates. In practice, the feature therefore functions as a shortcut to a web-based speed test, not a local tool in Windows.
Microsoft previously had a more advanced tool in Windows 8 where users could view details about their network and also save a history of tests performed. Alas, that’s not a thing in Windows 11.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC för Alla and was translated and localized from Swedish.
Author: Viktor Eriksson, Contributor, PCWorld
Viktor writes news and reports for our sister sites, M3 and PC för Alla. He is passionate about technology and is on the ball with the latest product releases and the hottest talking points in the consumer tech industry.