How to Check WiFi Signal Strength in Windows 10 & 11

Windows has a built-in WiFi signal meter. Here’s how to check the WiFi signal strength in Windows 10 and 11 operating systems.

Connecting to a WiFi network is easy in Windows. All you have to do is click the network icon, select the WiFi network, and enter the password if necessary. As soon as you connect to the WiFi network, Windows uses the network icon to show the WiFi signal strength. i.e., the higher the signal strength, the full the icon will be. As you can guess, it is a pretty easy visual way to judge the WiFi signal strength.

Now, even though the network icon allows you to judge the network quality, there might be times when you need to know the exact WiFi signal strength. After all, a poor WiFi signal can cause network stability issues with frequent disconnects and unresponsive internet.

There are several reasons why your WiFi signal strength is low or poor. One of the most common reasons is that your system is too far away from the WiFi access point or there are too many obstacles, like thick walls and concrete, between you and the WiFi access point.

The good thing is Windows makes it pretty easy to measure WiFi signal quality. All you have to do is execute a single-line command or use free and portable third-party software. I will show both methods; follow the one you like.

Table of contents:

• How to check WiFi signal strength in Windows
• Use WifiInfoView to check signal strength
• Conclusion

The steps below work the same in Windows 10 and 11.

How to check WiFi signal strength in Windows

Though Windows shows a signal bar on the taskbar and in the Settings app, we can use a single command to get the WiFi signal strength in the percentage. That way, you don’t have to guess the signal quality based on icons and signal bars. Here’s how.

1. Right-click on the Start menu.
2. Choose the “Terminal” option.
3. Run the below command. netsh wlan show interfaces
4. You will see the WiFi signal strength next to “Signal.”
5. Close the terminal window.

Steps with more details:

First, open the Start menu, search for “Terminal,” and open it. You can also right-click on the Start menu and choose “Terminal.”

Windows 10 users can open Command Prompt or PowerShell from the Start menu.

After opening the Terminal or Command Prompt window, execute the below command.

netsh wlan show interfaces

The terminal will show your WiFi connection information as soon as you execute the command. You can see the WiFi signal strength next to “Signal.”

Windows will show the signal strength in the percentage. The higher the percentage (up to 100%), the better the signal strength is. In my case, the WiFi signal strength is 100%. If your WiFi access point is further away from you or there are thick walls between your system and the WiFi access point, you will see a lower number, suggesting low signal strength or poor signal quality.

Use WifiInfoView to check signal strength

You can use a free portable software called WifiInfoView to check the WiFi signal strength in Windows. One of the best things about this application is that it shows the signal strength of all the available WiFi networks. This method is especially helpful if you don’t have to run commands.

1. Get the WiFiInfoView from the official website.
2. Extract the zip file.
3. Open the extracted folder.
4. Double-click the exe file.
5. Your WiFi connection is highlighted in green.
6. You will see the signal strength under the “Signal Quality” column.

WifiInfoView download link: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_information_view.html

Steps with more details:

First, go to the Nirsoft website and download the WifiInfoView zip package. After downloading, extract the zip file to a folder.

Next, open the extracted folder and double-click the EXE file. This action opens the WifiInfoView application.

As soon as you open the application, it will highlight your WiFi connection. The WiFi signal strength appears under the “Signal Quality” column. In my case, the signal strength is 82%. You can also see the signal strength of all other WiFi networks in the range.

You can safely close the application.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, checking the WiFi signal strength is pretty simple, and a single line of command or a free application away.

In case of low signal strength, you can improve it by moving the WiFi access point closer or buying a good WiFi repeater to extend the signal. I recommend buying a WiFi repeater or extender since they are cheaper and get the job done much more efficiently. Most of all, you don’t have to move things around just for a good signal.

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That is all. It is that simple to check WiFi signal strength in Windows 10 and 11.

I hope this simple and easy Windows how-to guide helped you.

If you are stuck or need help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.

If you like this article, check out how to download and upload speed on taskbar and hide WiFi network in Windows.