Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and your link speed

Go to Settings > Network & internet. The top of the page says whether you're on Ethernet or Wi-Fi. For link speed, run Get-NetAdapter in PowerShell and read the LinkSpeed column for the adapter that's Up.

Fastplay team · Updated Nov 2026

Am I on Wi-Fi or Ethernet?

Open Settings > Network & internet.
The status at the top shows Ethernet or the Wi-Fi network name.
Or look at the taskbar: a monitor-and-cable icon means Ethernet, the fan of bars means Wi-Fi.

In the scan, pick Ethernet if a cable runs from your PC to the router or wall, and Wi-Fi if not.

Check your link speed

Open PowerShell or Terminal.

Run:

Get-NetAdapter | Format-Table Name, Status, LinkSpeed

Read LinkSpeed on the adapter that's Up. Common values: 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps on cable; anything from 72 Mbps to 2.4 Gbps on Wi-Fi.

Without PowerShell: Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) > click the connection, and look for Link speed (Receive/Transmit).

What the number means

Link speed is the connection between your PC and the router, not your internet speed. Your internet can't go faster than it, but it's usually slower.
Ethernet stuck at 100 Mbps on a gigabit port usually means a worn cable, a cheap old cable, or a loose plug. Try another cable or port.
Wi-Fi link speed jumps around. It changes with distance and walls. That's normal for wireless.

Common confusions

Powerline and mesh adapters count as whatever reaches your PC. A cable from a powerline plug to your PC shows as Ethernet, even though the house uses wiring in between.
USB tethering from a phone shows as Ethernet but behaves like mobile data.
VPN adapters show their own made-up link speed. Ignore them.
Both connected? Windows uses the cable first.

Want to go further?

The steps above are the settings Windows and your driver show you, and they are worth doing either way. Underneath them is a deeper layer of Windows scheduling, input, network and storage behavior that the normal menus do not expose. That is what Fastplay builds for, from a team working on gaming regedit optimization since 2015, with modules developed and tested over years. See what each module does.

Run a free scan

FAQ

Is Ethernet better for gaming?

A cable is steadier than Wi-Fi: less jitter and fewer spikes. Wi-Fi can be fine if you're close to the router.

Why does my link speed say 1 Gbps but my speed test says 100?

Link speed is your local connection. The speed test measures your internet plan.

Does link speed go in the scan?

No field for it. It's here so you can spot a bad cable. The scan asks Ethernet or Wi-Fi.