How to limit Windows Update bandwidth during specific hours

Windows Update Delivery system offers an optimization feature that can reduce the time an update takes to reach the end user. In short, it is safe to say that it increased the download speed of Windows Update. The system achieves this by using peer-to-peer technology to potentially speed up the downloads of Microsoft Store apps and Windows Update with a limited internet connection.

However, when the updates are downloading, the network bandwidth is reduced significantly, disrupting the workflow. In this post, we will show you can limit the Windows update bandwidth during specific hours on Windows 11 or Windows 10 using Group Policy.

Regarding this problem, new delivery optimization settings were introduced to save network consumption by allowing users to set the bandwidth limits for background and foreground downloads manually.

However, the feature was reprimanded, as the delivery optimization was restricted to the network activity of the user’s device only and completely unaware of other computers in the local network. It hampers the network speed of other devices in the system during update activities. Moreover, the feature could either be turned off or turned on all the time and didn’t have any provisions to limit the bandwidth during peak business hours.

To overcome these limitations, Microsoft introduced new settings to the Delivery Optimization, allowing users to consume the network bandwidth for Delivery optimization restricted to a certain period of the day.

In Windows 11 they appear like this:

In Windows 10 they appear like this:

This new option will help the organization boost its performance by limiting bandwidth for background and foreground downloads during periods of business and drastically increasing the update speed during non-business hours. In this article, we discuss how to limit the download bandwidth for a particular time using Windows 11/10 Pro.

While Windows Settings does offer options for Delivery Optimization, there is no option where you can set up the time for it. That is where the Group Policy Settings come into the picture.

Limit Windows Update bandwidth during specific hours

The following steps will guide you through setting the range of time wherein you can limit the bandwidth for background downloads. Outside the specified range of time, the background downloads will be accelerated, making use of all the bandwidth available for the device, or you can even specify the limit for the percentage of bandwidth to be consumed outside the specified range of time.

• Open the Run Command by pressing Windows Key + R.
• To open the Local Group Policy Editor, Type gpedit.msc and click on Ok.
• Navigate to the following path  :

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Delivery Optimization

• Search and click on  Set Business Hours to Limit Background Download Bandwidth policy.
• Select the radio button with the Enabled option.
• Specify the range of hours when background downloads will be limited.
• Specify the maximum bandwidth in a percentage that is permitted to use for the time range chosen.
• Specify the maximum bandwidth in a percentage that is permitted to use after the time range is chosen.
• Click on OK and to apply the changes.

Limit foreground download bandwidth during specific hours

The following steps will guide you through setting the range of time wherein you can limit the bandwidth for foreground downloads. Outside the specified range of time, the foreground downloads will be accelerated, making use of all the bandwidth available for the device, or you can even specify the limit for the percentage of bandwidth to be consumed outside the specified range of time.

• Open the Run Command by pressing Windows Key + R.
• To open the Local Group Policy Editor, Type gpedit.msc and click on Ok.
• Navigate to the following path

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Delivery Optimization

• Search and click on  Set Business Hours to Limit Foreground Download Bandwidth policy.
• Select the radio button with the Enabled option.
• Specify the range of hours when foreground downloads will be limited.
• Specify the maximum bandwidth in a percentage that is permitted to use for the time range chosen.
• Specify the maximum bandwidth in a percentage that is permitted to use after the time range is chosen.
• Click on OK and to apply the changes.

If you are comfortable using BITS, then read out an exhaustive guide on how you use the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) with Registry changes to achieve the same. It is useful for only those who want to configure this for multiple computers, and do not have access to Group Policy like Windows 11/10 Home version.

I hope the post was easy to follow and that you could stop Windows Update limiting Windows Update bandwidth during specific hours on Windows 11/10. That said, Microsoft should have enabled the option right for all consumers so they would not face the problem during work hours.