Windows 11 Internet Speed Test Added to Taskbar in March 2026 Update

Microsoft rolled out a new taskbar shortcut for network diagnostics in early 2026. Arriving first as an optional preview late in February under KB5077241, the feature became mandatory for all users with the Patch Tuesday security update KB5079473 on March 10, 2026. Right-clicking the Wi-Fi or Ethernet icon in the system tray now reveals a button labeled "Perform speed test." Clicking it launches the default web browser and automatically executes a Bing query to measure network performance.

Many desktop users immediately sought ways to bypass or disable this functionality. Microsoft designed the tool as a strict web redirect rather than a built-in application. The operating system triggers an html/https protocol handler that pushes the user toward a search engine results page. For system administrators, power users, and those tired of browser hijacking, resolving this behavior takes priority over understanding the network diagnostic itself.

Fixing Edge Redirects for the Windows 11 Internet Speed Test

You want the operating system to respect your workflow. When you click a network utility link, you expect a fast, local diagnostic interface. Since Microsoft opted for a web search trigger, the immediate problem for many users is the operating system ignoring their chosen default browser and attempting to force the query through Microsoft Edge. Getting your system back under control requires adjusting deep settings or relying on third-party modifications.

Restoring Default Browsers for the Windows 11 Internet Speed Test Tool

The tool relies on the default URL protocol handling built into the operating system. If you click the shortcut and find yourself forced into Edge against your preference, you must manually rewrite the protocol associations.

Open the main system settings and navigate to the Apps section. Find the Default Apps menu. Scroll down to the option that allows you to choose defaults by link types. You will need to locate the specific http and https protocols. Changing these away from Edge to your preferred browser ensures that any web-based shortcut inside the operating system routes correctly. Every time you trigger the, it will now open your browser of choice. Your browser will then execute the automatic Bing query.

Removing the Windows 11 Internet Speed Test Shortcut Entirely

The base operating system lacks a simple toggle switch to remove this specific taskbar option. Right-clicking offers no native customize or delete prompt. Power users and IT administrators have two primary methods to clean up the taskbar context menu.

Enterprise environments and professional editions can utilize the Group Policy Editor (gpedit). System administrators routinely use management templates to disable consumer-facing shortcuts that interrupt corporate workflows. Blocking the specific taskbar network widget deployment through policy updates ensures users on the network cannot accidentally trigger unapproved web searches.

Individual users seeking to strip away recent taskbar bloat frequently turn to third-party open-source software. ExplorerPatcher stands out as the standard solution. Hosted on GitHub, this tool allows you to roll back the taskbar and Start Menu infrastructure entirely to the Windows 10 style. Stripping away the modern web-wrapper interface components permanently removes the intrusive shortcut. Reverting the taskbar with ExplorerPatcher eliminates the specific network menu changes pushed in the March 2026 update, giving you back a clean, functional system tray without hardcoded web links.

The Background Behind the Windows 11 Internet Speed Test Update

Microsoft has aggressively integrated web services directly into the desktop environment over the last several release cycles. The taskbar sits at the center of the desktop experience, serving as prime real estate for engagement. Understanding how this specific tool functions reveals a broader shift in how Microsoft engineers core desktop features.

How the Windows 11 Internet Speed Test Trigger Works

The March 2026 updates (KB5077241 and KB5079473) modified the context menu payload attached to the network notification area. Selecting the speed test option does not execute a local binary file. It simply passes a string command to the Windows shell to open a predefined URI.

Once the shell executes the command, your default browser opens a Bing search URL with the exact query parameter pre-filled. Bing detects this query and loads an interactive widget directly at the top of the search engine results page. The diagnostic engine powering this widget is entirely legitimate. Microsoft partnered with Ookla, the parent company of SpeedTest, to handle the underlying data transfer. The web widget tests latency, downloads a random chunk of data from an Ookla server to calculate your downstream bandwidth, and then uploads a random block to measure upstream capacity.

The data provided is accurate. The frustration stems from the execution method. An operating system interface is sending HTTP requests to a search engine just to verify a local network adapter's connection capacity.

User Controversy Surrounding the Windows 11 Internet Speed Test

Desktop users harbor specific expectations for built-in utilities. A tool placed inside a system menu should function seamlessly with the local hardware. When users click a weather widget and the system forgets their manually set location to ping a corporate VPN server a thousand miles away, trust erodes. When the operating system prioritizes a Bing search link over fixing persistent bugs in File Explorer search functionality, user frustration compounds.

Web Wrappers Versus a Native Windows 11 Internet Speed Test Experience

The reliance on browser encapsulation represents a severe technical regression compared to previous Microsoft designs. The new version of Outlook serves as a primary example, operating essentially as an Edge WebView container loading the web application.

Long-term users remember a very different Microsoft approach. Back in 2013, during the Windows 8 era, Microsoft offered a dedicated Network Speed Test application built natively on the XAML framework. It adhered to the Metro touch-friendly design language. It did not open Internet Explorer. It operated entirely as a local app, tested your ping directly via Azure servers, displayed your network connection type, identified the SSID, and maintained a local database of your historical performance metrics.

The contrast between the 2013 engineering effort and the 2026 implementation highlights a stark reality. Microsoft's market valuation has multiplied roughly eleven times since 2013. The company holds vast resources and engineering talent. Developing a lightweight, native C++ or C# application to ping a server takes minimal effort for an organization of this size. Deciding to push a Bing shortcut into the taskbar is a calculated engagement strategy. The objective is driving search traffic and ad impressions, not delivering an optimized diagnostic tool.

This design philosophy drives technical users toward alternatives. Desktop Linux distributions offer the exact opposite experience: native tools, clean command-line interfaces, and zero web advertisements embedded in the application dock. Switching operating systems remains difficult because users rely on Adobe production suites, legacy software like Winamp that lacks perfect modern clones, and proprietary game anti-cheat systems. They stay on the dominant desktop platform out of necessity. They simply want a taskbar that launches reliable, native tools without routing every click through a search engine.

Desktop utility design used to prioritize local system management. Today, those utilities increasingly function as thinly veiled traffic funnels for ecosystem services. The evolution of this simple taskbar menu highlights exactly where modern operating system development focuses its energy.

FAQ

What is the Windows 11 internet speed test?

It is a taskbar shortcut introduced in the March 2026 update. Right-clicking your network icon allows you to select a speed test option, which then opens your default web browser to a Bing search page.

Does the Windows 11 internet speed test use a native application?

No native application is involved. The feature relies entirely on a web redirect that triggers an html/https protocol handler to load Bing.com.

How can I change the browser used by the Windows 11 internet speed test?

You must adjust your system default app settings. Navigate to Settings, find the Default Apps section, and modify the default programs for http and https link types to your preferred browser.

Is the network data from the Windows 11 internet speed test accurate?

The test results are accurate and verified. Microsoft partnered with Ookla, utilizing their reliable server network to handle the actual data upload and download blocks on the Bing results page.

Can I remove the Windows 11 internet speed test from my taskbar?

There is no direct toggle switch in the standard user interface. Advanced users must utilize the Group Policy Editor or install a third-party rollback tool like ExplorerPatcher to remove the shortcut completely.