Check Wi-Fi Speed and Signal Strength in Windows 11

Windows 11 provides several built-in tools to inspect your wireless network connection without requiring third-party software. This guide demonstrates how to check critical Wi-Fi metrics—including receive and transmit link speeds, signal strength percentages, network band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz), and Wi-Fi generation protocols—using Windows Settings, the Control Panel, and Command Prompt.

The modern Settings app provides a full summary of your wireless network hardware, link rates, and security specifications.

  1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
  2. Select Network & internet from the left sidebar.
  3. Click on Wi-Fi, then select [Your Network Name] properties (or click Manage known networks and select your active network).
  4. Scroll down to the properties section to view:
    • Link speed (Receive/Transmit): The maximum connection speed between your PC and the router (in Mbps).
    • Signal strength: Indicated by full/partial bars.
    • Network band & Channel: Displays whether you are connected to 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz.
    • Protocol: Displays the Wi-Fi standard (e.g., Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7).
    • IPv4/IPv6 address and MAC address.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt (Exact Percentages & Details)

The Command Prompt provides precise numeric readings for signal quality and link speed via the Network Shell tool.

  1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    netsh wlan show interfaces

  3. Locate the following fields in the output:

    • Signal: The connection quality displayed as an exact percentage (e.g., 92%).
    • Receive rate (Mbps): The current download link speed.
    • Transmit rate (Mbps): The current upload link speed.
    • Radio type: The active 802.11 standard (e.g., 802.11ax).
    • Channel: The exact wireless channel currently in use.

Method 3: Using Control Panel (Network Connections)

The legacy Network Status window offers a quick look at the current operational speed and general signal quality.

  1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter to open Network Connections.
  2. Double-click your active Wi-Fi adapter.
  3. The Wi-Fi Status window will appear, displaying:
    • Speed: The combined theoretical link rate.
    • Signal Quality: A visual five-bar indicator.
    • Duration: How long the current session has been active.
    • Bytes Sent/Received: Real-time data transfer totals.

Method 4: Using Task Manager (Live Throughput)

To monitor active bandwidth usage alongside connection details:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click the Performance tab on the left.
  3. Select Wi-Fi to view real-time send/receive throughput graphs, the SSID, adapter name, and current IP address.