Windows 11 24H2 is a big download – here’s how to stop Windows updates from slowing down your internet

Windows 11 receives regular updates, with cumulative updates released approximately every month. Every now and then, usually once a year, there is also a much larger feature update, such as Windows 11 version 24H2, which is currently being rolled out to users. Although these updates are great because they add new features and increase security, they can be downloaded at the most inopportune times, which can sometimes cause your internet to slow down.

But Windows actually has a feature that lets you control how much of your bandwidth you want to use Windows update should use. This will limit the download speed of your updates. However, if you need a fast internet connection to function reliably, we recommend enabling these limits to ensure you have enough bandwidth for your other needs.

How to set a bandwidth limit for Windows Update downloads

Windows Update Delivery Optimization can limit the bandwidth used to download new Windows updates and has different settings for background and foreground downloads.

1. Open that Settings app and select it Windows update section from the menu on the left.
2. Click Advanced options.

   

3. Choose Delivery optimization.

   

4. Next to Download optionsyou can select from the drop-down menu Bandwidth limit percentage (the default setting) or one Absolute bandwidth limit. We recommend the latter for finer control.

   

5. Activate the Background limit in Mbps (or as %) checkbox. Then enter the maximum bandwidth you want Windows updates to use when downloading in the background.
   

   The right value depends on your internet speed and your needs. If you have a slow connection, a low value such as 1 Mbps could be a good solution, while those with faster internet may be able to afford a higher limit. You can check your average download speed at Activity Monitor section on this page.

   

6. You can also activate a Foreground boundarywhich limits download speeds when you are actively trying to download the latest updates. We actually recommend leaving this out because if you’re actively checking for updates, you probably want them downloaded as quickly as possible.

Any changes you make here will be automatically saved so you’re ready.

How to set a bandwidth limit for Windows Update uploads

Windows Update also uses your Internet to upload the latest updates to other PCs on your network (or the Internet, if you enable this option). You can also restrict this.

1. Open the Settings app and navigate to Delivery optimization Page as described above.
2. Expand the Upload options Area.
3. Set that Limit value in % of the measured bandwidth switch To.

   

4. Use that Slider to set the percentage of your bandwidth that should be available for uploading updates.
5. You can also use that Monthly upload limit Field to completely stop uploading updates after a certain amount. The default limit is 500GB, but you can change it to prevent using too much data for uploads.

These settings are also saved automatically.

Don’t let Windows updates slow you down

Nobody likes having their work disrupted or interrupted by Windows updates, and these delivery optimization options can address one of the biggest problems with mandatory updates. If you rely on a constant Internet connection for work, it can be problematic that your bandwidth is being consumed by Windows Update. Therefore, this option is certainly welcome.