How to Limit Windows Update Bandwidth for Background Downloads in Windows 10

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update makes it easier than ever to configure how and when these Windows updates arrive, making them at least a bit less disruptive. With new delivery optimization setting wherein you can throttle the Windows Update background downloads.

Delivery Optimization is most often associated with Windows Update, and it is indeed used for both quality updates and feature updates. But it is perhaps less well-known that Microsoft also uses this technology to download apps and other content from the Windows Store too.

For the Fall Creators Update, Delivery Optimization is receiving upload bandwidth configuration capabilities so that you can save bandwidth in the other direction. And a new activity monitor finally lets you see what Delivery Optimization has been doing on any given PC, a key customer request.

Of course, to find these features, you need to know where to look.

You can see the report in the Windows Update Activity Monitor page.

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Activity monitor is exactly what it sounds like: It provides a visual display of the update download and upload bandwidth used over the current month. And it separates out downloads from Microsoft, PCs on your local network, and PCs from the Internet. And, in the case of uploads, you can see your upload bandwidth to the local network and to other PCs out on the Internet.

Limit Bandwith for Background Windows Updates & App Updates

1. Click Start > Settings > Update & Security

2. Click Windows Update

3. Click Advanced Options

4. Click Delivery Optimization

5. Click Advanced Options

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6. In the Advanced Options page, enable the Limit how much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the background checkbox.

7. Set the bandwidth limit by moving the slider.

As you see in that page, you can control the “Upload” bandwidth and set a Monthly upload limit. When this threshold is reached, your system will stop uploading updates to other PCs on the Internet. Note that the “upload” settings apply if you’ve enabled Allow downloads from other PCs option in Windows Update Delivery Optimization page.

The “Allow downloads..” setting when enabled, sends parts of previously downloaded Windows updates and apps to PC on your local network or on the Internet (depending upon the option you opted for).


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