Your computer is running slowly. You want to know if it’s an Internet issue or a problem with your computer. Do you have programs running in the background slowing things down, or is the Internet speed slow? You’d love to check the speed quickly, but Windows does not offer a native app to monitor the speed of your Internet.
There is another option.
You can keep a current record of the upload and download speeds on your taskbar by installing a small, simple tool called NetSpeedMonitor. NetSpeedMonitor is an old, yet still effective, program that can do just that, and it’s free.
Also read:Taskbar Not Working in Windows 10? Here Are the Fixes
NetSpeedMonitor Features
To use NetSpeedMonitor, you need to be running Windows XP or later. The program was developed for an earlier version of Windows, but if you use Windows 10, you can run the program in compatibility mode if it won’t install.
You must make sure that you have downloaded the correct program, though. The name of the file should end in “x64_setup”. If you use the one ending in “x86_setup,” it will not run on a Windows 10 machine, even if you run it in compatibility mode. Different versions found on various websites may be the cause of some confusion.
NetSpeedMonitor does not have a large number of extra features, which keeps it neat and clean and easy to use. There are no advertisements, and the developers organized the options it does have well.
NetSpeedMonitor Installation
1. Download NetSpeedMonitor and install the program. If it installs correctly, you can skip down to step nine.
2. If you see the message “Operating system not supported error,” you will need to run the app in compatibility mode.
3. To run in compatibility mode, find the download in the file explorer and right-click.
4. Select Properties.
5. Click on the Compatibility tab.
6. Check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and make sure the drop-down below the option is on “Previous Versions of Windows.”
7. Click Apply and OK to save changes.
8. Install the program again.
9. Once the program installs, a prompt will appear asking if you want to add the bandwidth monitoring toolbar to the taskbar. Click Yes.
10. A configuration window will open where you can make any changes to your language and network adapter. When they are correct, click Save.
Also read:How to Restore Missing OneDrive Icon on Taskbar in Windows 10
11. When you hit the Save button, the download and upload speed toolbar will appear on the right side of the taskbar.
NetSpeedMonitor Use
By default, NetSpeedMonitor measures your Internet speed using Kbit (Kilobits). You may want to change that to Mbit (Megabits) since most Internet Service Providers will report speeds in Megabits per second. To change this setting, right-click on the speed display and select Configuration, then click on the drop-down menu next to “Bitrate,” and select “Mbit/s.” Hit Apply.
When you open the configuration window, you can make other adjustments such as the font family, size, and toolbar alignment.
NetSpeedMonitor is simple to download and use to monitor your upload and download speeds right on your taskbar on Windows devices. You can check them anytime to make sure your Internet is working correctly.
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