HomeWinBuzzer TipsWindows 10 Network Monitor for Your Taskbar: How to Use NetSpeedMonitor

Windows 10 Network Monitor for Your Taskbar: How to Use NetSpeedMonitor

NetSpeedMonitor brings a network speed monitor to your Windows 10 taskbar. This is how you can install and use the free traffic monitor.

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NetSpeedMonitor is one of the most popular Windows tools for monitoring Internet traffic directly from the .

We show you how to install the freeware network meter on and how to use it to measure your bandwidth.

NetSpeedMonitor is a freeware tool that can be easily managed from the taskbar.

Many users have been using it for years and it is part of their standard setup for every Windows installation.

Unlike the somewhat confusing task manager, it monitors your upload and download speeds directly and without any detours, and you can also view long-term statistics.

Even though NetSpeedMonitor hasn't been updated since 2010 and initially refuses to install on Windows 10, the free network meter still works perfectly today and is the perfect way to show internet speed on your taskbar.

But in fact NetSpeedMonitor has no compatibility problems with Windows 10.

An error message displayed during installation only refers to the setup program, not to the NetSpeedMonitor bandwith monitor application which runs just fine on Windows 10.

With our step by step instructions you can easily install NetSpeedMonitor on Windows 10 and then monitor your traffic with just a glimpse to the taskbar.

Installing NetSpeedMonitor on Windows 10

After downloading the NetSpeedMonitor installer, before running it you need to activate compatibility mode. Right-click on the file and choose “Properties”.

Windows 10 - File Explorer - NetSpeedMonitor.exe - Properties
Windows 10 – File Explorer – NetSpeedMonitor.exe – Properties

There switch to “Compatibility” and check “Run this program in compatibility mode for”.

Windows 10 - NetSpeedMonitor.exe - Properties - Compatibility
Windows 10 – NetSpeedMonitor.exe – Properties – Compatibility

Right below, select “Previous versions of Windows”.

Windows 10 - NetSpeedMonitor.exe - Properties - Compatibility - Compatibility mode
Windows 10 – NetSpeedMonitor.exe – Properties – Compatibility – Compatibility mode

 

Using NetSpeedMonitor on Windows 10

Once installed, NetSpeedMonitor will show you your current traffic in kbit/s in the taskbar. The number behind “U:” stands for your upload rate, behind “D:” your download speed is shown. When you move the mouse over it, you will also see the values for your current computer session since startup and for the past month and week.

Windows 10 - NetSpeedMonitor in Taskbar
Windows 10 – NetSpeedMonitor in Taskbar

A right click on the task bar traffic monitor and choosing “Configuration” will take you to the NetSpeedMonitor preferences.

Windows 10 - NetSpeedMonitor - Taskbar - Configuration
Windows 10 – NetSpeedMonitor – Taskbar – Configuration

“General” lets you select which network adapter to monitor and the bandwith format you want to display on your task bar traffic meter.

Windows 10 - NetSpeedMonitor - General Settings
Windows 10 – NetSpeedMonitor – General Settings
Windows 10 - NetSpeedMonitor - Layout Settings
Windows 10 – NetSpeedMonitor – Layout Settings

The other tabs let you change some more settings, like for example at “Layout”you can change the font style you wan NetSpeedMonitor to use for the traffic monitor.

Right clicking the task bar monitor gives you some more useful options like “Data traffic” which will show you some detailed statistics for selected days of the past.

Windows 10 - NetSpeedMonitor - Taskbar - Data Traffic
Windows 10 – NetSpeedMonitor – Taskbar – Data Traffic

Last Updated on May 30, 2020 10:35 am CEST by Markus Kasanmascheff

Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus is the founder of WinBuzzer and has been playing with Windows and technology for more than 25 years. He is holding a Master´s degree in International Economics and previously worked as Lead Windows Expert for Softonic.com.
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