Disable Delivery Optimization in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a feature called Delivery Optimization that uses peer-to-peer networking to upload update files to other computers over the internet. This article provides straightforward, step-by-step instructions on how to configure your settings to stop Windows 11 from sharing your bandwidth and uploading update files to external PCs outside your local network.

Steps to Turn Off External Uploads

To prevent your system from uploading updates to devices across the internet, follow these steps:

Open Settings: Press Windows Key + I on your keyboard, or right-click the Start button and select Settings.
Navigate to Windows Update: In the left sidebar, click on Windows Update.
Open Advanced Options: In the main pane, scroll down and select Advanced options.
Select Delivery Optimization: Under the Additional options section, click on Delivery Optimization.
Choose Your Sharing Preference:
- To block external uploads only: Ensure the toggle for Allow downloads from other PCs is turned On, and select the radio button labeled Devices on my local network. This allows your PCs at home to share updates with each other while completely blocking uploads to external PCs over the internet.
- To disable the feature entirely: Switch the toggle for Allow downloads from other PCs to the Off position. This completely turns off peer-to-peer sharing, ensuring your PC neither sends nor receives updates from any other computer.

How to Restrict Upload Bandwidth (Alternative Method)

If you prefer to keep the feature enabled for local devices but want strict limits on data usage:

On the Delivery Optimization settings page, click on Advanced options.
Under Upload settings, check the boxes next to Limit how much bandwidth is used for uploading updates to other PCs on the Internet.
Adjust the sliders to lower the percentage of bandwidth allocated for sharing updates.
You can also set a Monthly upload limit to specify the exact gigabyte cap for outgoing update traffic.