NetSpeedTray 2.0 Docks Directly Into the Windows Taskbar
The speed readout is no longer floated on top of the taskbar, but it's now docked directly inside it.
Developer Erez has released NetSpeedTray 2.0. The headline feature: the speed readout is no longer floated on top of the taskbar, but it's now docked directly inside it.
What Changed
Until now, NetSpeedTray's display of network speed, RAM and CPU load, and GPU usage was simply overlaid on top of the taskbar. That approach could cause the readout to drift out of position or end up hidden behind the taskbar itself. Version 2.0 does away with that entirely by integrating the indicator natively into the taskbar.
There's also a new Monitor window, which replaces the older floating display from previous versions.
The settings menu now offers more control over what the taskbar readout shows first, internet speed or CPU load, for example, and how long history is retained, from one month up to indefinitely. History data is stored locally in %APPDATA%\NetSpeedTray.
Updating
Anyone still on version 1.3.2 needs to update. From version 1.3.3 onward, the built-in updater handles it automatically. First-time users trying the portable build will be prompted to download LibreHardwareMonitor, which NetSpeedTray relies on to read hardware sensors — a dependency shared with several other monitoring tools. If .NET 10 isn't installed, the app links to that as well.
Known Issue
There's one rough edge in this release: if you have Windows 11's taskbar widgets enabled, you'll need to turn them off for now, since NetSpeedTray's new indicator currently overlaps them. Widgets and news are still reachable via Win+W in the meantime. Beyond the taskbar integration, this release also includes a number of general stability improvements and bug fixes.
About NetSpeedTray
NetSpeedTray is a free, lightweight Windows utility that shows real-time upload and download speeds directly next to the system clock, so you can check your connection at a glance without opening Task Manager. It runs quietly in the background with minimal resource usage, and offers customization options like adjustable fonts and colors plus a compact graph for spotting sudden speed drops or unusual bandwidth activity. It's shareware from developer Erez C137, and UpdateStar's client users have checked it for updates roughly 660 times in the past month.
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