Quick Answer
Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9767 adds a built-in internet speed test in Quick Settings. The control reports download speed, upload speed, and ping without sending users to a browser. The feature is limited to the Experimental Insider channel and a controlled rollout, so eligible users should check Quick Settings, Feature flags, and Windows Update before assuming it is unavailable.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9767 introduces the new Speed test control.
- The built-in test displays download speed, upload speed, and ping results inside Quick Settings.
- Users can start the test from Quick Settings, network flyouts, or the taskbar network icon.
- The feature currently requires the Experimental Insider channel and a controlled rollout.
- Eligible Insiders can enable the Quick Settings Speed Test feature flag if the control is missing.
What is the Windows 11 internet speed test?
The Windows 11 internet speed test is a new Quick Settings control that measures and displays download speed, upload speed, and ping inside Windows. Microsoft added the control in Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9767, a preview build based on Windows 11 version 26H2 that was released on October 23, 2026. Microsoft’s Windows Insider announcement confirms the feature and its current preview status.
The Windows 11 internet speed test matters because the result appears where users already manage Wi-Fi, cellular connections, Bluetooth devices, accessibility controls, and other common system settings. Previous Windows speed-testing options directed users to a browser and Bing, while the new control keeps the test inside the operating system. PC Gamer’s coverage of the new build identified that change in the Windows experience.
The new Speed test control is a convenience feature, not a broad change to Windows networking. The test gives users a direct way to check three common connection readings without leaving the desktop, but Microsoft has only released it to a limited Insider audience so far. The practical response is to treat the feature as a preview utility until Microsoft confirms wider Windows 11 availability.
Which Windows 11 build includes the new speed test?
Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9767 includes the new internet speed test. Microsoft released the build on October 23, 2026, and identifies it as an Experimental Insider build based on Windows 11 version 26H2. Users running a standard public Windows 11 release should not expect the Speed test control to appear simply because they have installed the latest regular updates.
The Experimental Insider channel distinction is important because Windows Insider features do not automatically reach every Windows 11 PC. Microsoft is using Controlled Feature Rollout for the Speed test control, which means some eligible Insider devices receive the feature before others. A Windows 11 PC can therefore run Build 26340.9767 and still not show the control immediately.
Windows updates also remain separate from browser updates. Microsoft is testing Edge updates that avoid interrupting open tabs, but the Windows 11 internet speed test belongs in Quick Settings rather than Microsoft Edge. The most sensible approach is to confirm the Windows build and Insider channel before looking for the new control.
How do you start the Windows 11 internet speed test?
Windows 11 Insiders can start the internet speed test from 3 places: the new Speed test Quick Setting, the Wi-Fi or Cellular flyout, and the taskbar network icon menu. Microsoft says users can right-click the taskbar network icon and select “Test internet speed” to run the measurement without opening a browser.
The three entry points give the feature different starting locations, but they lead to the same basic task. Quick Settings is the most visible option for users who already open the panel to change wireless connections. The Wi-Fi and Cellular flyouts place the test closer to connection controls, while the taskbar option gives users a direct route from the network icon.
- Open Quick Settings from the Windows 11 taskbar area.
- Select the Speed test control if it appears in the panel.
- Open the Wi-Fi or Cellular flyout if you prefer to start from the active connection area.
- Right-click the taskbar network icon and choose “Test internet speed” as an alternative.
- Review the download speed, upload speed, and ping shown after the test finishes.
Windows 11 users should stop troubleshooting system settings if the Speed test control is absent from every listed location and the device is not on the Experimental Insider channel. The feature is not a required Windows 11 setting, and its rollout status can explain why an otherwise working PC does not have the option.
What results does the Windows 11 speed test show?
The Windows 11 internet speed test shows 3 results: download speed, upload speed, and ping. Microsoft lists those measurements as the output of the new Quick Settings control. The results give the user a concise view of connection performance from a built-in Windows panel instead of a separate browser page.
| Result shown | What Windows 11 reports | Where users see it |
|---|---|---|
| Download speed | The test reports a download-speed result. | Quick Settings speed-test result view |
| Upload speed | The test reports an upload-speed result. | Quick Settings speed-test result view |
| Ping | The test reports a ping result. | Quick Settings speed-test result view |
The three readings are the confirmed scope of the current feature. Microsoft has not described the control in its release notes as a broader connection diagnostic panel, so users should not expect the new test to replace all Windows network settings or troubleshooting tools. The practical value is immediate access to the reported results when a user wants to check a connection from the taskbar.
Windows 11 also includes other built-in tools for different tasks, including screen capture features. Users who need to document a result can use the system methods described in Windows 11 screen recording guidance, rather than relying on the speed test itself to create a record.
Why does the Quick Settings speed test matter?
The Quick Settings speed test matters because Windows 11 is moving a common web task into the operating system’s connection controls. A user no longer needs to leave the desktop environment for a browser-based speed check when the feature is available. That reduces the number of steps between noticing a connection concern and seeing the three readings Microsoft says the tool provides.
The design also makes the control easier to find during ordinary Windows use. Quick Settings already acts as a central panel for frequently changed device controls, so placing Speed test there makes the feature available alongside the network status area. The taskbar right-click option provides an additional route for users who prefer a menu action over opening the full panel.
At the same time, the feature is still an Insider preview rather than a confirmed public Windows 11 addition. Microsoft can change the placement, availability, or behavior before a broader release. Windows users should therefore use the new control as an available preview feature, not as evidence that every Windows 11 installation has received the same networking tools.
Why might the Windows 11 speed test not appear?
The Windows 11 speed test might not appear because Microsoft has limited the feature to the Experimental Insider channel and is delivering it through Controlled Feature Rollout. Controlled rollout means eligibility alone does not guarantee immediate access. A device can have the relevant preview build while the Speed test control remains unavailable.
Windows 11 users on Build 26340.9767 or later can check a feature setting when the control is missing. Windows Central found that eligible users can open Settings > Windows Update > Insider Program > Feature flags, enable “Quick Settings Speed Test,” and restart the PC. Windows Central’s Build 26340.9767 guide describes that feature-flag path and the required restart.
- Open Settings in Windows 11.
- Select Windows Update.
- Open Insider Program.
- Choose Feature flags.
- Enable “Quick Settings Speed Test.”
- Restart the PC and check Quick Settings again.
Windows 11 users should stop at the Feature flags setting and avoid changing unrelated system settings to force the feature to appear. The Speed test control is tied to a preview rollout, so Microsoft’s availability decision remains the main limit. Contact Microsoft support or wait for a later Insider build if the documented option does not appear on an eligible device.
What privacy information applies to the Windows 11 speed test?
The Windows 11 speed test appears to use Speedtest as its underlying service, based on the information tooltip identified in the preview feature. Windows Central found that the tooltip says the service is powered by Speedtest and links to Ookla’s privacy policy, although Microsoft’s official release notes do not name the provider. The provider detail is therefore based on the feature’s visible tooltip rather than a Microsoft release-note statement.
The privacy consideration matters because an internet speed test is a service interaction, not only a local Windows setting. Users who want to understand the applicable data practices should open the privacy-policy link shown in the feature before running the test. Microsoft’s announcement confirms the Windows feature, but users should rely on the displayed service information for the provider-specific privacy notice.
Windows users should also keep unrelated security warnings in perspective. A connection test is separate from threats such as compromised backup software, including the concerns covered in a Windows backup malware incident. The practical action is to review the Speedtest privacy information for the test itself and keep Windows security updates current for separate system risks.
Will the Windows 11 internet speed test reach all PCs?
The Windows 11 internet speed test has not been confirmed for all PCs because Microsoft has only announced it for the Experimental Insider channel and Controlled Feature Rollout. Microsoft’s October 23, 2026 announcement establishes the current preview scope, but it does not provide a public-release date or state that every Windows 11 version will receive the control.
The lack of a public rollout date is the main limitation for non-Insider users. Windows 11 preview features can remain limited, change before release, or arrive later through a broader update. The practical response is to avoid installing an Insider build solely for this one utility unless you already understand and accept the preview-channel environment.
Windows 11 users who already participate in the Experimental Insider channel can check Build 26340.9767, Quick Settings, and Feature flags. Windows 11 users on public releases should wait for Microsoft to announce wider availability rather than trying unsupported changes. The built-in test is a useful addition, but its confirmed availability remains limited as of October 28, 2026.
FAQ
Does Windows 11 have a built-in internet speed test?
Windows 11 has a built-in internet speed test in Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9767. The preview control reports download speed, upload speed, and ping inside Quick Settings.
Where is the Windows 11 internet speed test located?
The Windows 11 internet speed test is available from the Speed test Quick Setting, the Wi-Fi or Cellular flyout, and the taskbar network icon menu. Users can right-click the network icon and choose “Test internet speed.”
Why is the Windows 11 Speed test control missing?
The Windows 11 Speed test control can be missing because the feature uses Controlled Feature Rollout in the Experimental Insider channel. Eligible users can check Settings > Windows Update > Insider Program > Feature flags and enable “Quick Settings Speed Test.”
Does the Windows 11 speed test open a browser?
The new Windows 11 speed test runs from Quick Settings instead of redirecting users to a browser. The earlier Windows option sent users to a browser and Bing.
What does the Windows 11 speed test measure?
The Windows 11 speed test measures download speed, upload speed, and ping. Microsoft lists those 3 results as the output of the new Quick Settings control.