Windows 10 Anniversary Update will include a network speed test

The latest Windows 10 Preview Build 14332, to Windows Insiders in the fast ring, includes a few interesting hints on what we will find in future builds, including a built-in network speed test feature, which can be found by opening the Settings app, under Network & Internet > Status.

The feature is not working yet, but it does display a greyed out button which will eventually trigger a speed test when enabled in future builds.

More advanced users may not find this particularly exciting, as similar information can be gathered by right-clicking on the networking icon in the Windows tray > “Open Network and Sharing Center”, and clicking on one of the active connections under “View your active networks” on the right side of the list.

With that said, a quicker way to get a sense of how fast the connection is, without downloading third party tools or opening websites, is something some may find rather convenient, especially if it involves fewer steps.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft already has a Network Speed Test universal app available, with a previous iteration dating back to Windows 8, but it’s unclear on whether the new feature will resemble the app, or whether it will offer other options, including a way to access a history of networking speed performance.

One can see how the latter feature is potentially on the wishlist of many users, who may be concerned about the reliability and speed of their cable Internet connection, especially those on “unlimited” plans who may be worried about getting penalized, and throttled back, for using certain apps, or streaming services.