Don’t know the speed of network card? Here’s how to find out on Windows 10.
On Windows 10, the network adapter is a ubiquitous component that provides the means to connect to the network and internet using a wired or wireless connection. Understanding the current link speed can come in handy in many scenarios.
For instance, checking the link speed is useful to determine if the adapter is operating according to its technical specifications, and it can help you to diagnose performance problems. If you’re upgrading your internet service to a faster tier, knowing the maximum speed of the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter will help to confirm whether you’ll be able to take advantage of all the bandwidth.
In the case that you’re planning to upgrade your network to 10Gbps, you can quickly determine if you need to change the card. Or if you’re using a USB network adapter, and it doesn’t include any information, checking the speed connection will reveal if you’re using a 100Mbps or 1Gbps chipset.
Whatever the network card you’re using, Windows 10 provides different features to confirm the link speed of a connection using Settings, Control Panel, as well as using command lines with PowerShell and Command Prompt.
In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through several ways to find out the speed of the adapter connected to the network, whether you’re using a wired or wireless connection.
How to check network adapter speed using Settings
To view the connection speed for a Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Network & Internet.
- Click on Status.
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Under the “Change your network settings” section, click the View your network properties option.
Source: Windows Central
- Under the “Properties” section, find the network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
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Determine the connection speed in the Link speed (Receive/Transmit) field.
Source: Windows Central
Once you complete the steps, you’ll know the speed the adapter is using to connect to the network.
How to check network adapter speed using Control Panel
To determine the network adapter speed with the Control Panel settings, use these steps:
- Open Control Panel.
- Click on Network and Internet.
- Click on Network and Sharing Center.
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Click the Change adapter settings in the left pane.
Source: Windows Central
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Double-click the network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
Source: Windows Central
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Check the connection speed in the Speed field.
Source: Windows Central
Quick note: If you’re looking at a Wi-Fi adapter, you can also confirm the signal quality.
After you complete the steps, you’ll have a better understanding of the connection speed for the Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter connected to the network.
How to check network adapter speed using Command Prompt
To find out the speed for the wireless or wired adapter with Command Prompt, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the console.
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Type the following command to determine the connection speed for all the Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters and press Enter:
wmic nic where netEnabled=true get name, speed
Source: Windows Central
- Confirm the network adapter speed.
Once you complete the steps, then you’ll be able to determine the speed (in bits) the card is using to connect to the network.
How to check network adapter speed using PowerShell
To check the Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection speed on Windows 10 with PowerShell, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.
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Type the following command to determine the connection speed for all the Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters and press Enter:
Get-NetAdapter | select interfaceDescription, name, status, linkSpeed
Source: Windows Central
- Check the Wi-Fi or Ethernet network card connection speed.
After you complete the steps, the PowerShell output will display the connection speeds in a user-friendly format (for example, 780 Mbps and 1 Gbps).
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
