Microsoft's new Windows 11 speed test is just a link to Ookla's Speedtest via Bing — button housed in the taskbar in latest Insider Preview build

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Image credit: Microsoft

Background

Last year we reported on a speed‑test feature that was slated to appear in Windows 11’s taskbar, allowing users to gauge their internet connection without opening a browser. In practice, the feature turned out to be a shortcut that opened Bing and displayed a miniaturized version of Ookla’s Speedtest.

The feature finally arrived in the Insider program with Build 26100.7918 and Build 26200.7918 — see the official announcement here.

How the Speed Test Works

• The taskbar icon is not a native Windows component; it simply launches a web page (Bing → Speedtest).
• It can be handy when you need a quick check without alt‑tabbing to a browser—for example, diagnosing packet loss while gaming.
• The integration is essentially a website link placed in the taskbar for convenience.

“Exciting news! Speedtest is now integrated within the Bing search engine for all users worldwide 🌎” – Twitter post, Dec 18 2023

Reception

The shortcut saves a click or two, but some users may view it as yet another web wrapper inside Windows. Recent stability concerns have been highlighted in coverage such as Microsoft’s effort to address “most annoying flaws” in Windows 11 — see the analysis here.

Other Improvements in the Insider Builds

The latest Insider builds also introduce a range of enhancements:

• New emojis
• Updated backup & restore capabilities
• Enhanced camera controls for supported devices
• Native System Monitor (Sysmon) for improved threat detection and monitoring

For the complete list of changes, refer to the release notes.