5 quick ways to check Wi-Fi signal strength on Windows
Staff Reporter
22 October 2025, 22:52
Windows users can quickly check whether a poor Wi-Fi signal is behind slow or unstable internet connections. A few built-in tools reveal real-time signal strength, helping you decide whether a minor adjustment to device or router placement could improve performance.
1. First, look at the Wi-Fi indicator on the taskbar (bottom-right). Clicking the wireless icon displays your current network and nearby connections; more filled bars generally indicate a stronger connection.
2. You can also verify strength in Settings. Open Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi. Next to your connected network, the curved “arc” icon indicates quality—the more filled arcs, the more stable the connection.
3. For a clearer meter, use Control Panel. Search for 'Control Panel,' open the 'Network and Sharing Center,' and then click the Wi-Fi (network name) link. In the Wi-Fi Status window, the Signal Quality field displays a bar graph indicating the quality of your connection.
4. If you need an exact figure, open Command Prompt (search cmd) and run: netsh wlan show interfaces. Find the Signal for a percentage reading. Roughly, 80–100% is strong, 70% is good, and below 60% indicates a weak link.
5. Power users can do the same in PowerShell (search PowerShell) with a one-liner that returns the percentage directly; for example, a readout might show 85% or 92%.
These quick checks make it easy to diagnose a weak signal. If strength is low, try moving your laptop slightly, elevating or repositioning the router, or reducing obstacles—often enough to stabilise streaming, online classes and gaming.
