Windows 11 utilizes a peer-to-peer networking feature called “Delivery Optimization.” Instead of every computer downloading Windows Updates directly from Microsoft’s servers, your PC downloads the update once, and then quietly acts as a server, silently uploading those update files to other computers on your local network—and occasionally, to random strangers on the internet.
While this saves Microsoft bandwidth and can speed up updates in a large corporate office, it is terrible for home users. If you have a slow internet connection or a strict data cap, Windows 11 secretly uploading gigabytes of update files in the background will destroy your network performance and cause severe lag in online games. You can completely disable this peer-to-peer sharing.
How to Turn Off Delivery Optimization in Windows 11
You can revoke Windows’ permission to upload files directly from the Windows Update settings.
- Click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon (or press Windows Key + I).
- In the left-hand navigation pane, click on Windows Update at the very bottom.
- In the main window, click on Advanced options.
- Scroll down to the “Additional options” section and click on Delivery Optimization.
- At the top of the page, you will see a master toggle switch labelled Allow downloads from other PCs.
- Click the toggle switch to turn it completely Off.
By disabling this feature, you force Windows 11 to act like a normal client. Your computer will now only download updates directly from Microsoft, and it will permanently stop secretly uploading its cached files to other computers on your network or the internet, immediately freeing up your upstream bandwidth.