You apply a filter: tcp.port == 443 (HTTPS traffic). You see your browser talking to Google. Safe. Then you see a rogue UDP stream from a downloaded screensaver app. You uninstall it immediately.
| Tool | Difficulty | Best Use Case | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Beginner | Checking monthly data caps per app. | | Task Manager | Beginner | Quick check of which app is slowing the PC. | | Resource Monitor | Intermediate | Identifying remote IP addresses and port usage. | | PowerShell | Intermediate | Scripting and remote troubleshooting. | | Wireshark | Advanced | Deep packet inspection and security auditing. |
You also see a new "unidentified" device on your local network. Wait, is that your roommate’s phone or a neighbor’s hacked camera? GlassWire shows you each device’s traffic. You block the unknown MAC address. monitor network traffic windows 11
Go to the tab. This is the surgeon’s scalpel.
Whether you’re troubleshooting a slow internet connection, hunting down data-hungry background apps, or just curious about what your PC is doing online, Windows 11 has several built-in and third-party tools to help you keep tabs on your network traffic. 1. Built-in: The Task Manager (Quick Glance) You apply a filter: tcp
Checking which apps are eating your monthly data cap.
While Task Manager shows basic network percentages, Resource Monitor offers a granular look at which processes are actively talking to the internet right now. Then you see a rogue UDP stream from
Keeping a constant eye on upload/download speeds on your taskbar.
How to Monitor Network Traffic in Windows 11: A Complete Guide
You switch to the tab. Right-click the column headers and enable "Network" (measured in Mbps). Now, every process is sorted by network usage.
You notice a process called BackupAndSync.exe (your cloud backup) is uploading 50 Mbps in the background. You don’t need to back up right now. You right-click it and suspend the process for 1 hour. Problem solved.