Thursday, September 10, 2026

Learn how to check Ethernet link speed in Windows 11 using Settings, Control Panel, Device Manager, and PowerShell.

How to Check Ethernet Link Speed in Windows 11

Knowing your Ethernet link speed can help you understand how fast your Windows 11 PC is connected to your router, switch, or network device. If you have a Gigabit Ethernet adapter but Windows reports a 100 Mbps connection, for example, the problem may be related to the Ethernet cable, router port, network adapter settings, or another part of the physical connection.

Windows 11 provides several ways to check the current Ethernet link speed. You can use the Settings app for a quick check, inspect the adapter through Control Panel, use PowerShell to display detailed network adapter information, or check the Ethernet adapter properties in Device Manager.

In this guide, you will learn how to check Ethernet link speed in Windows 11 using several methods. You will also learn the difference between link speed and actual internet speed, how to check Speed and Duplex settings, and what to do if your Ethernet connection is slower than expected.

What Is Ethernet Link Speed?

Ethernet link speed is the connection speed negotiated between your computer's Ethernet network adapter and the network device on the other end of the cable, such as a router, switch, or modem.

Common Ethernet link speeds include:

10 Mbps — very old Ethernet connections
100 Mbps — Fast Ethernet
1 Gbps — Gigabit Ethernet
2.5 Gbps — increasingly common on newer PCs and network equipment
5 Gbps — available on some modern Ethernet hardware
10 Gbps — commonly found on high-performance networking equipment

Your Ethernet adapter may support a higher speed than the speed currently negotiated with your router or switch. For example, a Gigabit Ethernet adapter can connect at only 100 Mbps if the cable, router port, or negotiation settings limit the connection.

Link Speed vs Internet Speed

It is important to understand that Ethernet link speed is not the same as your internet speed.

For example, Windows may show a 1.0 Gbps Ethernet link speed while an internet speed test reports only 300 Mbps. This does not necessarily indicate a problem with the Ethernet adapter.

The Ethernet link represents the connection between your PC and the local network device. Your actual internet speed depends on factors such as your internet service plan, router, ISP network, server, congestion, and other network conditions.

Therefore, checking link speed is especially useful when diagnosing a local Ethernet connection.

Method 1: Check Ethernet Link Speed in Windows 11 Settings

The Settings app is one of the easiest ways to inspect your Ethernet connection.

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Select Network & internet.
Select Ethernet.
Open the properties or details for your connected Ethernet network.
Look for the connection information, including the reported link speed when available.

The exact information displayed can vary depending on the Windows 11 build and network adapter. Microsoft also provides network properties through the Network & internet section of Settings, where you can inspect details about the active connection.

If you want more detailed information than Settings provides, PowerShell is usually a better option.

Method 2: Check Ethernet Link Speed Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides a fast way to check the link speed of one or more network adapters.

Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell, then run:

Get-NetAdapter

You should see information similar to:

Name        InterfaceDescription             Status    LinkSpeed
----        --------------------             ------    ---------
Ethernet    Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller Up       1 Gbps
Wi-Fi       Intel Wi-Fi Adapter              Up       866.7 Mbps

The LinkSpeed column shows the negotiated connection speed reported by Windows for each adapter.

This method is especially useful when your computer has several network interfaces, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN adapters, or virtual network adapters.

Show Only the Ethernet Adapter

If your Ethernet adapter is named Ethernet, you can use:

Get-NetAdapter -Name "Ethernet"

If your adapter has another name, replace Ethernet with the actual adapter name shown by Get-NetAdapter.

Display Only Name and Link Speed

For a cleaner result, use:

Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, Status, LinkSpeed

This produces a simple list containing the adapter name, connection status, and current link speed.

Method 3: Check Ethernet Speed and Duplex Using PowerShell

PowerShell can also show the Ethernet adapter's configuration information. One useful command is:

Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, InterfaceDescription, Status, LinkSpeed

For supported adapters, you can also inspect advanced network adapter properties:

Get-NetAdapterAdvancedProperty -Name "Ethernet"

One setting you may encounter is Speed & Duplex. This setting controls how the Ethernet adapter negotiates its connection with compatible network hardware.

On many modern systems, leaving Speed & Duplex configured for Auto Negotiation is appropriate. Manually forcing a speed or duplex mode can sometimes create compatibility or performance problems if the other side of the connection is configured differently.

Method 4: Check Ethernet Speed Through Control Panel

Although Microsoft has moved many networking options into the Windows 11 Settings app, Control Panel can still provide useful information about traditional network connections.

Press Windows + R.
Type ncpa.cpl.
Press Enter.
Find your Ethernet connection.
Double-click the active Ethernet connection.
Look for the connection status information.

The status window can show information about the connection, including the negotiated speed on supported Windows configurations.

This method is useful if you prefer the classic Windows network interface or if the information is easier to locate there than in Settings.

Method 5: Check Speed and Duplex in Device Manager

Device Manager is useful when you want to inspect the network adapter itself rather than just the current connection.

Press Windows + X.
Select Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters.
Find your Ethernet adapter.
Right-click the adapter.
Select Properties.
Open the Advanced tab.
Look for a property such as Speed & Duplex.

The exact property name and available options depend on the Ethernet adapter manufacturer and driver.

For example, an adapter might provide options such as:

Auto Negotiation
100 Mbps Full Duplex
1.0 Gbps Full Duplex
2.5 Gbps Full Duplex

Do not assume that selecting the highest available option will automatically make your connection faster. The router or switch port and Ethernet cable must also support that speed.

Why Is My Ethernet Speed Only 100 Mbps?

One of the most common Ethernet troubleshooting situations is seeing a 100 Mbps link when you expect 1 Gbps.

Several things can cause this.

1. The Ethernet Cable Is the Problem

A damaged or unsuitable Ethernet cable can prevent a Gigabit connection from being negotiated correctly.

Try another known-good Ethernet cable. For Gigabit Ethernet, using a suitable modern twisted-pair Ethernet cable is recommended.

2. The Router or Switch Port Is Limited to 100 Mbps

Not every Ethernet port supports Gigabit speeds. Some older routers, switches, network extenders, and powerline adapters may have 100 Mbps ports.

Check the specifications of the port where your Ethernet cable is connected.

3. The Network Adapter Is Negotiating at a Lower Speed

If your computer supports Gigabit Ethernet but Windows reports 100 Mbps, inspect the adapter properties and Speed & Duplex configuration.

In most cases, Auto Negotiation should be allowed to determine the appropriate connection speed automatically.

4. The Ethernet Cable or Connector Is Damaged

A cable can look physically normal while still having a damaged conductor or connector. Try another cable and another router or switch port to isolate the problem.

5. The Network Adapter Driver Has a Problem

An outdated, incompatible, or malfunctioning driver can affect network adapter behavior.

You can check the installed driver version with our guide:

How to Check Wi-Fi Driver Version in Windows 11

Although that article focuses on Wi-Fi, Device Manager can also be used to inspect Ethernet adapter drivers.

How to Check Whether Your Ethernet Adapter Supports Gigabit

If you want to determine whether your computer supports Gigabit Ethernet, start by identifying the network adapter model.

Run:

Get-NetAdapter

Look at the InterfaceDescription column to identify the manufacturer and adapter model.

You can then check the adapter's specifications from the manufacturer's official documentation.

Remember that adapter capability and current link speed are different. An adapter may support 1 Gbps, while the current connection is only 100 Mbps because of the cable, router port, or negotiation between the devices.

How to Troubleshoot a Slow Ethernet Connection

If your Ethernet link speed is unexpectedly low, work through the connection from your PC toward the network.

Check the Ethernet link speed in Windows.
Replace the Ethernet cable with a known-good cable.
Try another Ethernet port on the router or switch.
Restart the router or switch if appropriate.
Check the Ethernet adapter driver.
Verify the adapter's Speed & Duplex configuration.
Test the connection again.

You can also check your IP configuration with:

ipconfig /all

This can help you identify the Ethernet adapter, IPv4 address, subnet mask, default gateway, and other TCP/IP information.

For a dedicated guide, see:

How to Check IP Address in Windows 11

You can also check your default gateway and test the local connection to your router:

How to Check Default Gateway in Windows 11

Check Ethernet Link Speed Before Running an Internet Speed Test

If your internet connection seems slow, checking Ethernet link speed can be a useful first step.

For example, suppose your internet plan provides 500 Mbps but Windows reports that your Ethernet connection is negotiating at only 100 Mbps. In that situation, the local Ethernet connection deserves investigation before assuming that the ISP is responsible.

On the other hand, if Windows reports a 1 Gbps link but an internet speed test produces only 100 Mbps, the Ethernet link itself may not be the limiting factor.

You can compare your local link information with the internet speed test using our related guide:

How to Check Internet Speed in Windows

How to Check Ethernet Link Speed Quickly

If you only need a quick answer, PowerShell is usually the fastest method.

Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, Status, LinkSpeed

Look for the adapter named Ethernet and check the LinkSpeed value.

For example:

Name      Status   LinkSpeed
----      ------   ---------
Ethernet  Up       1 Gbps

This immediately tells you the current negotiated link speed without navigating through several Windows menus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good Ethernet link speed for Windows 11?

For most modern home networks, 1 Gbps is a common and useful Ethernet link speed. Faster 2.5 Gbps and 10 Gbps connections are also available when both the computer and network equipment support them.

Why does my Gigabit Ethernet show 100 Mbps?

The most common possibilities include the Ethernet cable, router or switch port, adapter configuration, driver, or physical connection. Test another cable and port first, then inspect the adapter settings.

Does 1 Gbps Ethernet mean my internet is 1 Gbps?

No. A 1 Gbps Ethernet link is the negotiated speed between your PC and local network device. Your actual internet speed can be lower depending on your ISP plan and other network conditions.

Should Speed & Duplex be set to Auto Negotiation?

For most modern Ethernet connections, Auto Negotiation is generally the appropriate starting configuration. Manually forcing a speed should only be done when you have a specific networking requirement or troubleshooting reason.

Can I check Ethernet speed with Command Prompt?

PowerShell provides a more direct way to display the adapter's LinkSpeed using Get-NetAdapter. Command Prompt remains useful for other network diagnostics such as ipconfig, ping, and tracert.

Other Useful Windows 11 Network Guides

If you are troubleshooting an Ethernet or network connection, these guides can help:

Conclusion

Checking Ethernet link speed in Windows 11 is useful when diagnosing slow or unstable wired network connections. You can use Settings for a quick look, Control Panel for the classic connection status, Device Manager for adapter properties, or PowerShell for a fast and detailed view.

The PowerShell command Get-NetAdapter is particularly useful because it can display the network adapter's current LinkSpeed alongside other adapter information. If the reported speed is lower than expected, check the Ethernet cable, router or switch port, adapter settings, and driver before assuming that the internet connection itself is the problem.

Understanding the difference between local Ethernet link speed and actual internet speed also makes network troubleshooting much easier. Once you know the negotiated link speed, you can move on to testing IP configuration, packet loss, latency, DNS, and routing to identify where a network problem is occurring.

How to Check Ethernet Link Speed in Windows 11

Learn how to check Ethernet link speed in Windows 11 using Settings, Control Panel, Device Manager, and PowerShell.How to Check Ethernet Link Speed in Windows 11