How to Fix Fix Windows Delivery Optimization Using Too Much Bandwidth on Windows
Windows Delivery Optimization consuming excessive bandwidth? Background downloads slowing your internet? BITS transfers saturating network? Fix Delivery Optimization bandwidth issues.
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Internet speed drops significantly due to background Windows downloads
- •Task Manager shows Delivery Optimization using high network bandwidth
- •Other devices on the network experience slow internet when PC is on
- •Metered connection settings being ignored by Delivery Optimization
- •Upload bandwidth consumed by peer-to-peer update sharing
- •Network monitoring shows constant data transfer to Microsoft servers
Common Causes
- ⚠Delivery Optimization bandwidth limits not configured
- ⚠Peer-to-peer sharing uploading updates to other PCs on the internet
- ⚠Multiple pending Windows updates downloading simultaneously
- ⚠Microsoft Store app updates downloading in the background
- ⚠Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) not throttled
- ⚠Network not set as metered connection when bandwidth is limited
Solutions
Solution 1: Configure Bandwidth Limits
- 1Open Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Delivery Optimization
- 2Click "Advanced options"
- 3Under "Download settings", check "Limit how much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the background"
- 4Set the slider to a reasonable percentage (e.g., 25%)
- 5Also limit foreground download bandwidth if needed
- 6Under "Upload settings", check both bandwidth limit options
- 7Set upload limit to a low percentage (e.g., 10%)
- 8Set monthly upload limit (e.g., 5 GB)
Solution 2: Disable Peer-to-Peer Sharing
- 1Open Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Delivery Optimization
- 2Toggle "Allow downloads from other PCs" to Off
- 3Or if you want local sharing only, select "Devices on my local network"
- 4Do NOT select "Devices on my local network, and PCs on the internet"
- 5This prevents your PC from uploading update data to strangers
- 6For Group Policy: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Delivery Optimization
- 7Set "Download Mode" to 0 (HTTP only) or 1 (LAN only)
Solution 3: Set Metered Connection and Pause Updates
- 1If on limited bandwidth, set your connection as metered:
- 2Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → your network → Metered connection → On
- 3For Ethernet: Settings → Network & internet → Ethernet → Metered connection → On
- 4This prevents most background downloads
- 5To immediately stop downloads: Settings → Windows Update → Pause updates
- 6Pause for 1-5 weeks as needed
- 7Schedule updates for off-peak hours:
- 8Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Active hours
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