How to Turn Off Delivery Optimization on Windows 11

Delivery optimization can take up a lot of bandwidth on Windows 11, but there are ways to turn it off.

Delivery Optimization allows you to download and upload bits of previously downloaded Windows updates and apps to devices on your local network and the Internet. It works as a peer-to-peer service and helps reduce bandwidth issues.

However, this handy feature can become an issue if you work with a metered connection and increase your data usage. If you want to disable delivery optimization, here are a few ways to stop Windows from using your bandwidth for update delivery.

1. Turn Off Delivery Optimization by Enabling a Metered Connection

By default, Windows turns off Delivery Optimization when it detects you are on a metered connection. So, If you switch between a metered and unlimited connection frequently, you can enable metered connection for the network with limited bandwidth.

To enable metered connection in Windows 11:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
   
2. Open the Network & Internet tab in the left pane.
3. Click on the network you want to set as a metered connection in the right pane.
   
4. Scroll down and toggle the switch for Metered connection to turn it On.

That’s it. Now Windows will not use Delivery Optimization to upload or download updates when you are on a metered connection.

Note that when you set a network as a metered connection, Windows will automatically disable automatic Windows and app updates. Some Microsoft Store apps, such as peer-to-peer services, may read the settings and act accordingly to reduce data usage.

2. How to Disable Delivery Optimization via Settings

If you would rather disable Delivery Optimization for good, you can do so via the Settings panel. Follow the steps below to stop downloading from other PCs via Delivery Optimization.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Open the Windows Update tab in the left pane.
3. Click on Advanced Options.
   
4. Scroll down and click on the Delivery Optimization option under Additional options.
   
5. Toggle the switch for Allow downloads from other PCs to turn off Delivery Optimization.

3. Turn Off Delivery Optimization Using the Registry Editor

If the Delivery Optimization option is greyed out or not working, you can use the Registry Editor to disable this feature in Windows 11.

Note that incorrect modification to your registry can cause system-related issues. Therefore, always create a restore point before making changes to your registry.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Click regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location:

   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DoSvc

4. Locate and right-click on the Start key in the right pane.
   
5. Select Modify from the context menu.
   
6. Type 4 in the Value data field and click OK to save the changes.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC. Windows will disable the Delivery Optimization feature on your system. If you want to enable it again, change the Start value in the Registry Editor to 2 and restart your PC.

What If the Delivery Optimization Option is Disabled?

You should be able to turn On or Off Delivery Optimization via the Settings app or the Registry Editor. However, in case the option is greyed out, it could be due to your PC being managed by your organization. You will need to contact your administrator to resolve any such issues.

Turn Off Delivery Optimization to Reduce Data Usage

Delivery Optimization is designed to solve the problem associated with delivering large Windows update packages. However, if you are on a metered connection, it is better to turn it off to reduce data usage.

That said, turning off Delivery Optimization doesn’t stop automatic Windows update downloads. It only forces Windows to download the update packages directly from the Microsoft Server. To stop automatic updates in Windows 11, you can use the pause update feature, set up a metered connection, or use an update blocker utility.