Windows 10 is designed to be an always-connected, always-up-to-date operating system. It’s the most data-hungry version of Windows yet and if you have limited bandwidth, you might have noticed, your data plans were quickly eaten up in minutes.
And if you are wondering what could be causing this? It’s your new Windows 10. But you can stop Windows 10 from using so much data using a few tricks. Okay, let’s start.
Despite all Windows 10s automatic updates, the majority of data usage on your PC probably comes from the applications you use. The first thing, we should do is to see exactly how much data each application on your computer has been using.
There are two ways to check the network usage in Windows 10.
Method 1: Check Network Usage In Windows 10 Via Task Manager:
To view network usage via the Task Manager, access the Task Manager via keyboard shortcut (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) or type “task manager” in the Start Menu search box.
In the Task Manager, select the “App history” tab. There you’ll find two columns related to data consumption: “Network” and “Metered network”.
While it’s great this information is right at hand in the Task Manager, you’ll notice something in our screenshot above. All the visible apps are either core Windows apps are Windows Store apps. Maddeningly, the Task Manager still does not display data usage for regular old traditional Windows applications. Hence, we don’t get clear data of how much data each application is using. That’s why we prefer Method two.
Method 2: Check Network Usage In Windows 10 Via Network Setting Section:
Navigate to Settings -> Network & Internet. Select the top item on the left-hand navigation pane “Data usage”
Here you’ll see a general overview of the last 30 days. The circular graph will show you data used over different connections such as Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
You can dig deeper and get a more granular overview by clicking on the small link under the graph labeled “Usage details”.
Here we find the missing data on apps from outside the Windows Store (which is most of the apps most people are using). Chrome, missing from the Task Manager list altogether, shows up right at the top as expected.
How to Stop Windows 10 From Using So Much Data:
1. Set Your Connection As Metered:
One of the first things you can do is set your connection as metered. This will let Windows 10 know you don’t want large updates and apps automatically download.
Go to Start > Settings >Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Advanced Options.
Then Toggle on Set as metered connection.
2. Turn Off Background Apps:
By default, Windows 10 keeps some apps running in the background and they eat up a lot of data. If you are not using any of these apps, you should consider turning them off.
To turn off background apps, Go to Settings > Privacy > Background apps.
3. Disable Automatic Peer-to-Peer Update Sharing:
By default, Windows 10 automatically uses your Internet connection to upload Windows and app updates to other Windows 10 PCs. Windows 10 won’t upload updates if you set a connection as metered, but you can also turn it off directly.
To prevent the automatic uploads on all networks, you’ll need to open the Settings app, go to Update & Security > Windows Update and click “Advanced Options.” Click “Choose How Updates are Delivered” and set this option to just “PCs on My Local Network” or disable it.
4. Prevent Automatic App Updates and Live Tile Updates:
If you set a Wi-Fi network as metered, Windows 10 won’t automatically install app updates and fetch data for live tiles when you’re connected to that network. However, you can also prevent this from happening on all networks.
To prevent Windows 10 from updating Windows Store apps on its own, open the Store app. Click or tap your profile picture near the search box and select “Settings.” Disable the “Update Apps Automatically” checkbox. You can still update your Store apps manually from the Windows Store app, but Windows won’t automatically download app updates on its own.
This is useful even if you haven’t installed any apps from the Store. Many of Windows 10’s included apps are updated through the Store.
5. Disable PC Syncing:
This is one of the hallmark features of Windows 10 and quite useful as well. But honestly, you don’t need to have it running around the clock. You can turn it off and when you do need to keep things synced, you can easily turn it on.
To do that, Go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings and turn Sync settings off.
Note: If you think it’s a bit too much, you can pick and choose some settings to sync, for example, Web Browser should not be as bandwidth-intensive as Other Windows Settings and Language Preferences.
6. Defer Windows Updates
If you are running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, there is an option in Windows Update settings that lets you defer the download of new features for several months. This can be significant since new feature improvements can be quite large. This does not affect the download and installation of security updates.
To Defer Upgrades, Go to Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options scroll down a bit, and check to Defer upgrades.
Note: Deferring upgrades will prevent you from getting the latest Windows features as soon as they’re available.
7. Save Data on Web Browsing:
There’s a good chance that a lot of your data usage comes from your web browser–you can see just how much by looking at the Data Usage screen.
To save data on this web browsing, use a web browser that includes a built-in compressing proxy feature. The web browser will route the data through other servers where it’s compressed before being sent to you.
Google offers an official Data Saver extension for Google Chrome, and it functions the same as the Data Saver feature built into the Chrome browser on Android and iPhone. Install that into Google, and you’re good to go. The Opera browser also has a “Turbo mode“, which works similarly.
Of course, not all these strategies have to be implemented. Depending on the type of plan you subscribe to, these tips will help you to Stop Windows 10 From Using So Much Data.
