Microsoft is quietly rolling a tiny but practical convenience into Windows 11 Insiders’ taskbar: a one‑click shortcut for an internet speed test that launches Bing’s built‑in speed‑test widget, and it arrives alongside additional Copilot hooks and search tweaks in recent 24H2 preview builds. What looks like a small polish is a useful example of how Microsoft is increasingly stitching web services into core Windows UX — and why that trend matters for both everyday users and IT teams preparing for the end of life for Windows 10 later this year.
Windows Insiders on the Dev and Beta channels regularly receive preview builds that roll out features in a controlled manner. In mid‑September and late‑September preview flights, Microsoft began making available enablement‑package builds in the 26220.xxxx series that are based on Windows 11, version 24H2; one of those builds (reported as Build 26220.6760 in the wild) contains a new “Perform speed test” control surfaced from the network icon in the system tray and from the Wi‑Fi quick settings flyout. The control opens the default browser and navigates to Bing’s network speed test.
That same set of preview builds continues Microsoft’s wider push to embed or surface web‑hosted and AI‑driven experiences throughout Windows — from Copilot entry points in the Get Started flow to semantic search indexing on Copilot+ PCs. These developments come against a backdrop of an accelerating migration to Windows 11 — which overtook Windows 10 in global market share in July 2025 — and the looming Windows 10 end‑of‑support deadline on October 14, 2025. Both trends shape how Microsoft prioritizes convenience, discoverability, and automatic software installs.
The recent preview build adjusts File Explorer’s Search Box wording to highlight this capability, making it more discoverable for users on Copilot+ machines. That’s useful for people who trust their device to index visual content and use natural sentences to find files, but it’s also another example of Microsoft front‑loading AI features on specially vetted hardware tiers. If your PC is a Copilot+ device, expect richer local search; if not, the traditional indexing model remains the standard.
That strategy delivers clear benefits: discoverability, quicker workflows, and faster access to widely trusted tools (e.g., Speedtest by Ookla). The tradeoffs are equally clear: tighter default coupling to Microsoft services, administrative burden to opt out of certain installs, and a need for vigilance around measurement transparency and data flows. For users and IT teams heading into the final months before Windows 10’s end of support (October 14, 2025), these small UX shifts are worth noticing because they foreshadow how much of the modern Windows experience will be web‑surface driven and AI‑oriented going forward.
Conclusion
The new taskbar speed‑test launcher in Windows 11 preview builds is an honest, useful shortcut: helpful for hurried troubleshooting and emblematic of Microsoft’s web‑forward approach. It is not a replacement for robust network diagnostics, nor does it upend user choice — yet. What it does do is make clear where Microsoft’s priorities lie for Windows’ near‑term evolution: convenience, discoverability, and deeper ties between the OS and cloud‑hosted services. Administrators and users alike should take note, confirm policy settings if necessary, and be prepared for more small but impactful UX integrations as Windows 11 matures.
Source: PC Gamer Saved you a click: The latest Windows 11 24H2 Insider preview build offers internet speed check right from the taskbar
Background
Windows Insiders on the Dev and Beta channels regularly receive preview builds that roll out features in a controlled manner. In mid‑September and late‑September preview flights, Microsoft began making available enablement‑package builds in the 26220.xxxx series that are based on Windows 11, version 24H2; one of those builds (reported as Build 26220.6760 in the wild) contains a new “Perform speed test” control surfaced from the network icon in the system tray and from the Wi‑Fi quick settings flyout. The control opens the default browser and navigates to Bing’s network speed test.That same set of preview builds continues Microsoft’s wider push to embed or surface web‑hosted and AI‑driven experiences throughout Windows — from Copilot entry points in the Get Started flow to semantic search indexing on Copilot+ PCs. These developments come against a backdrop of an accelerating migration to Windows 11 — which overtook Windows 10 in global market share in July 2025 — and the looming Windows 10 end‑of‑support deadline on October 14, 2025. Both trends shape how Microsoft prioritizes convenience, discoverability, and automatic software installs.
What’s in the preview build: the taskbar speed‑test shortcut explained
Where you’ll find it
- Right‑click the network (Ethernet/Wi‑Fi/cellular) icon in the system tray and look for a Perform speed test entry in the context menu.
- Open the Wi‑Fi quick settings panel (left‑click the network icon) and tap the Test internet speed button near the bottom of the flyout.
What actually happens when you click it
The UI action is a launcher: Windows opens your default browser and navigates to Bing’s internet speed test page (the familiar “speedtest” search result). That page hosts the speed‑test widget; Microsoft’s implementation of that page has shifted in recent years to leverage Speedtest by Ookla as the measurement backend. In short, the taskbar button is a shortcut to a web‑hosted test, not a new local diagnostic service.Why Microsoft did this
The change reduces friction: the taskbar is where people instinctively go when their connection stumbles. By placing a speed‑test launcher there, Microsoft makes a common troubleshooting step faster and more discoverable without shipping additional local code or telemetry. It’s also consistent with Microsoft’s broader strategy of surfacing lightweight web experiences (often via Bing) for targeted tasks instead of embedding every utility natively in Windows.What this means technically and for everyday users
Not a native measurement — important caveats
Because the tool redirects to a web widget, results reflect the measurement methodology and servers chosen by the backend (in this case, the Speedtest ecosystem as surfaced in Bing), not a Windows‑level network probe. That distinction matters for:- Diagnostic precision: On‑device diagnostics (packet captures, traceroutes, QoS metrics) still require dedicated tooling. The taskbar shortcut is for quick, consumer‑grade speed checks.
- Repeatability: Browser environment, chosen server, local caching and other web variables can affect outcomes; power users and network admins should rely on dedicated tools for reproducible benchmarking.
Convenience wins — but with a marketing angle
Integrating Bing’s speed test into a visible OS surface inevitably boosts Bing’s utility and discoverability. That’s unsurprising: the widget is already live inside Bing, and the new taskbar affordance simply funnels users there. For those who prefer third‑party tools, nothing prevents running the Ookla Speedtest app, another browser, or a CLI/network utility. Still, the default UX nudges the majority toward Microsoft’s web surface.The Ookla connection: a quick verification
Microsoft replaced Bing’s home‑grown speed test with a Speedtest‑by‑Ookla integration in late 2023. That partnership means Bing now hosts an Ookla‑powered widget when users search for “speedtest” or “internet speed test,” and the taskbar launcher simply opens that Bing page. This is not speculation: the change in Bing’s backend and the use of Speedtest’s engine were observed and reported when the Bing widget switched to using Ookla’s infrastructure. If you rely on specific test methodologies for diagnostics, treat Bing’s results as one data point among others.Copilot creeping into setup flows and the broader Copilot rollout
Preview builds in this family aren’t limited to the speed‑test shortcut. Microsoft is also surfacing a Microsoft 365 Copilot page in the Get Started experience for managed commercial devices with active Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Separately, Microsoft announced a broad automatic installation plan for the Microsoft 365 Copilot app: starting in early October 2025, the Copilot app will be installed silently on Windows devices that have Microsoft 365 desktop apps, with rollout completing through mid‑November 2025 — except for devices in the European Economic Area (EEA), which are excluded from the automatic install. Administrators can opt out at the tenant level using documented controls in the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center.How administrators can prevent the automatic install
- Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center with an admin account.
- Go to Customization > Device Configuration > Modern App Settings.
- Select Microsoft 365 Copilot app and clear the Enable automatic installation of Microsoft 365 Copilot app check box.
File Explorer search gets smarter on Copilot+ PCs — the semantic indexing story
Earlier in 2025 Microsoft previewed semantic indexing on Copilot+ PCs (devices with specialized hardware and Copilot optimizations). The idea: combine traditional filename/content indexing with semantic understanding so you can search using plain language — e.g., “bridge at sunset” to find images or “Europe trip budget” to find a document — rather than hunting for exact filenames or embedded keywords. The January 2025 Windows Insider preview explicitly documented this behavior as a targeted enhancement for Copilot+ hardware.The recent preview build adjusts File Explorer’s Search Box wording to highlight this capability, making it more discoverable for users on Copilot+ machines. That’s useful for people who trust their device to index visual content and use natural sentences to find files, but it’s also another example of Microsoft front‑loading AI features on specially vetted hardware tiers. If your PC is a Copilot+ device, expect richer local search; if not, the traditional indexing model remains the standard.
Context: Windows 11 adoption and Windows 10 end‑of‑support
Two time‑sensitive facts shape the immediate context for these preview changes:- Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025, after which Microsoft will stop regular security updates for most Windows 10 editions unless devices enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU). That date is official and documented by Microsoft.
- As of July 2025, global adoption metrics showed Windows 11 surpassing Windows 10 in market share, a milestone driven in part by enterprise migrations and the impending Windows 10 EOL. That shift gives Microsoft a stronger platform incentive to bake web and AI experiences into Windows 11 as a way of differentiating the newer OS.
Risks and tradeoffs: what to watch for
- Perceived bloat and consent: Automatic installation of Copilot‑related apps (enabled by default for many tenants) has infuriated some users and admin communities. For personal users, explicit opt‑out options may be limited, tightening the “default choices” funnel toward Microsoft’s ecosystem. Administrators retain controls, but only if they take action.
- Measurement transparency: Web‑hosted speed tests are convenient, but they obscure methodology unless the provider publishes details. If you need controlled measurements (for SLAs, troubleshooting ISP disputes, or long‑term tracking) use dedicated, configurable tools and document how measurements were taken.
- Privacy and telemetry: Web widgets surfaced by the OS create additional endpoints. While a single speed test is low‑risk, the larger pattern — more web surfaces and cross‑service links — increases the surface area for data flows between Windows, Bing, and third‑party providers. Organizations with strict data governance should audit where these links appear and how they behave.
- Regional regulatory variance: Microsoft’s choice to exclude the EEA from certain automatic installs demonstrates regulatory impacts on feature rollout. Expect future divergence between regions; administrators should check tenant‑scoped messaging center posts and Microsoft Learn pages for authoritative guidance.
Practical guidance: what end users and IT teams should do now
For end users
- Treat the taskbar speed test as a quick snapshot. If speeds look wrong, follow up with a native app (Speedtest desktop), router reboot, or your ISP’s support tools for in‑depth diagnostics.
- If you dislike Copilot auto‑installation and are a personal Microsoft 365 subscriber, consider whether you want to continue using the Microsoft 365 desktop apps on that device — that’s the only guaranteed consumer‑level way to avoid the default install if you cannot access tenant admin controls.
For IT administrators
- Review Microsoft 365 message center posts (your tenant will receive MC1152323‑style notices) for rollout timing and scope.
- If you want to prevent the automatic Copilot app install, set the device configuration option in the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center as described earlier.
- Update helpdesk documentation so users aren’t surprised by a new Start menu icon or Copilot prompts. Consider pin policies for Copilot and companion apps if you want consistent UX across devices.
For power users and network pros
- Keep a toolkit that includes command‑line utilities (ping, traceroute), packet capture (Wireshark), and reproducible benchmarking (iperf, Speedtest CLI). Use those when you need deterministic results or to create evidence for ISP SLA claims.
Strengths in Microsoft’s approach
- Low‑friction UX improvements like the taskbar speed‑test launcher meet users where they already look during network problems. Little conveniences add up in daily troubleshooting.
- Leveraging proven web services (Ookla’s Speedtest) avoids reinventing measurement infrastructure and lets Microsoft focus on UX and integration points rather than maintaining its own global test network.
- Administrative controls exist for organizational customers who want to manage the Copilot install lifecycle at scale, which preserves enterprise governance while still enabling a consumer‑centric default.
Where Microsoft could do better
- Transparency and choice: The default‑enabled Copilot app and web‑centric pushes would benefit from clearer, discoverable choice architecture for end users. A simple, visible opt‑out for consumer installs (not just tenant opt‑outs) would ease friction.
- Native diagnostics option: Power users still need an on‑device speed test that logs and compares results over time. A built‑in, optional native diagnostic tool would complement the web widget and be more useful in enterprise troubleshooting scenarios.
- Consistent messaging across regions: Differences in EEA treatment and rollout timing should be explicitly communicated to users and admins via tenant message center actions, localized pages, and clear rollout calendars.
Final analysis: small feature, broader signals
A taskbar shortcut to run an internet speed test is a modest addition to Windows 11, but it’s useful and pragmatic: it reduces friction for a routine diagnostic step and leans on an established measurement backend. More importantly, the change is emblematic of Microsoft’s current strategy — smoothing everyday tasks by blending OS surfaces with web services and AI entry points while nudging users toward Microsoft’s ecosystem.That strategy delivers clear benefits: discoverability, quicker workflows, and faster access to widely trusted tools (e.g., Speedtest by Ookla). The tradeoffs are equally clear: tighter default coupling to Microsoft services, administrative burden to opt out of certain installs, and a need for vigilance around measurement transparency and data flows. For users and IT teams heading into the final months before Windows 10’s end of support (October 14, 2025), these small UX shifts are worth noticing because they foreshadow how much of the modern Windows experience will be web‑surface driven and AI‑oriented going forward.
Conclusion
The new taskbar speed‑test launcher in Windows 11 preview builds is an honest, useful shortcut: helpful for hurried troubleshooting and emblematic of Microsoft’s web‑forward approach. It is not a replacement for robust network diagnostics, nor does it upend user choice — yet. What it does do is make clear where Microsoft’s priorities lie for Windows’ near‑term evolution: convenience, discoverability, and deeper ties between the OS and cloud‑hosted services. Administrators and users alike should take note, confirm policy settings if necessary, and be prepared for more small but impactful UX integrations as Windows 11 matures.
Source: PC Gamer Saved you a click: The latest Windows 11 24H2 Insider preview build offers internet speed check right from the taskbar
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