How to show internet speed on the Windows 10 taskbar

Add a live download and upload speed readout to the Windows 10 taskbar with a small free program. Steps, requirements and tips for a clean look.

Windows 10 does not include a taskbar network speed meter. The built-in options are Task Manager, Resource Monitor and the Network & internet settings, and all of them need to be opened first. A permanent readout is quicker.

Requirements

The NetSpeedDisplay installer supports Windows 10 version 1809 or later, 64-bit. The portable program runs on the same versions. See system requirements and compatibility for the full table.

Set it up

1. Download the zip from the download page and verify the checksum as described in installation and verification.
2. Run the installer, or run NetSpeedDisplay.exe for a portable copy.
3. On the Startup page, pick when it should launch. Starting when you sign in needs no administrator rights.
4. The readout appears beside the notification area, with download and upload speeds.

Light and dark taskbars

Windows 10 lets you choose a light or dark taskbar. NetSpeedDisplay’s text color follows that choice. If you prefer a fixed look, change the colors from the Appearance submenu. See font and color customization.

Small taskbars and many icons

On a crowded taskbar, the floating window is a good alternative. Drag it to a corner of the screen, lower its opacity and keep it on top. The compact display setup guide walks through it.

Other ways to see speed in Windows 10

Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) shows throughput on the Performance tab for each adapter. Resource Monitor has a Network tab with per-process activity. Both are covered in NetSpeedDisplay and built-in Windows tools.

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Published 2026-10-17