You probably download a lot more to your computer than you think. From saving photos from a recent image search to downloading a game on Steam, your productivity throughout the day depends on maintaining a fast and consistent download speed. A slow download speed can cause serious problems when trying to stream a movie on Netflix or even just surf the web. Monitoring your download and upload speeds in Windows is a great way to ensure that your ISP provides a stable internet connection without random slowdowns. We are so dependent on the internet that when our download speeds drop below their standard point, our entire computer feels sluggish.
Keeping download speeds high is a great way to speed up Windows 10, and luckily, there’s a way to keep track of your download and upload speeds without having to walk away from what you’re doing. While not native to Windows 10, it can display your download speed on the taskbar through some great third-party apps. We recommend using Net Speed Monitor, a free and reliable tool that makes it easy to track your speeds. Let’s see how to configure it.
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Net Speed Monitor Download and Installation Guide
The only thing to note about Net Speed Monitor is that it is a bit outdated. Still, it’s a great tool that works on Windows 10 even though it was technically designed for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
You will need to run the setup in compatibility mode for it to work. Speaking of which, here are the steps to download and install this app:
- Click on the following (secure) link to download Net Speed Monitor for free.
- Select Download Now. Select x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit). If you’re not sure, just right-click on the This PC app on your Windows 10 computer and the information will be displayed.
- When you try to open the downloaded file, an error will appear. This is because this is an older software tool for older operating systems. In any case, find the installation file and right-click on it.
- Select Properties and go to the Compatibility section.
- Select Run this program in compatibility mode for the older version of Windows.
- Confirm with OK.
- Launch the configuration file one more time. You should start the setup normally this time. Follow the instructions on the screen until the setup is complete.
- When the setup is complete, you still won’t see the download speed on the taskbar.
How to enable Net Speed Monitor in Windows 10
You must enable Net Speed Monitor on your taskbar for it to work. Follow the steps:
- Right-click on the Windows 10 taskbar.
- Choose Toolbars from the drop-down menu (the first option at the top).
- Click Net Speed Monitor to enable it.
- You will be taken to a welcome screen for Net Speed Monitor. Select your preferred language and click Save to confirm. You don’t need to meddle with the other options as they are all set.
When you’re done, you can see your current download and upload speeds on the taskbar. The download is marked as D and upload as U. Values are shown are in Kbit / s (kilobit per second). This is how it should look:
Net speed monitor tips
For most people, the display in kilobits is confusing. But you can easily change the drive to megabits (Mbit / s). That is how:
- Right-click on Net Speed Monitor on your taskbar.
- Click on Settings
- Open the drop-down menu adjacent to Bitrate and choose Mbit / s.
- Confirm the change with Apply. This is how it should look:
Also, you can also use MB / sec (megabytes per second) if you want.
Finally, you can even use Net Speed Monitor to track your data usage. You just need to right-click on Net Speed Monitor on the taskbar and select Data Traffic. This can be helpful for Internet users who have limited data plans.
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Always know your internet speed
There you go. Knowing the Internet upload and download speed in Windows 10 is not difficult at all. It’s a shame there isn’t a native option for this. Hopefully, Microsoft will implement it one day. Until then, you can use Net Speed Monitor to your advantage.
Are you satisfied with your download or upload speed? Unfortunately, most of the time your internet speed depends on your ISP. If you are not satisfied, consider updating your package or changing the ISP.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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