Why my laptop is using too much data in Windows 11

It is normal for background processes like Windows Updates to use data in Windows 11. If you see too much data usage, it should cause alarm. If you have questions about why your laptop is using too much data in Windows 11, this guide is for you.

Why my laptop is using too much data in Windows 11

If you see your laptop using a lot of data that seems very high, you can use the following methods to curtail the usage.

Set a data limit
Make a Metered connection
Turn off OneDrive sync
Disable Sending diagnostic data
Stop syncing your settings
Pause Windows updates

1] Set a data limit

When you see extremely high data usage on your Windows PC, setting a data limit is one of the best options. However, it comes with its fair share of issues, like being unable to browse the internet once the limit is over. You can change the limit anytime and restrict the data usage to a greater extent.

To set a data limit on Windows 11,

Open the Settings app
Click on Network & internet > Advanced network settings
Select Data usage
Click on Enter limit under your network name
It will open Set data limit options. Enter the values you want.
Click Save to set the limit.

2] Make a Metered connection

When you make a metered connection, the data usage on that network drastically decreases as Windows limits the data usage. This is a good way to reduce high data usage on Windows 11.

To set a metered connection on Windows 11,

Open Settings
Click Network & Internet and click on your Network name to open its properties
Toggle the button to enable a Metered connection

3] Turn off OneDrive sync

If files and folders are automatically synced to OneDrive on Windows 11, this consumes a large amount of data. To reduce this usage, you need to turn off OneDrive sync.

To turn off OneDrive sync on Windows 11,

Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar icons
Select Pause syncing and set a time from the available options

4] Disable Sending diagnostic data

Windows has a feature for sending diagnostic and feedback data to Microsoft to fix issues. The data includes websites you browse, usage of apps and features, errors, etc. This can also use a considerable amount of data. You need to turn if off to limit data usage.

To disable sending diagnostic data on Windows 11,

Open the Settings app
Select Privacy & security
Click on Diagnostics & feedback
Turn off the toggle beside Send optional diagnostic data

5] Stop syncing your settings

Syncing your Windows settings to your Microsoft account uses some data. It might not be a lot, but to reduce the data usage, you need to stop syncing the settings too.

To stop syncing your settings on Windows 11,

Open Settings
Select Accounts
Click on Windows backup
Toggle the buttons off beside Remember my apps and Remember my preferences

6] Pause Windows Updates

Windows updates use a lot of data. Pausing them and updating Windows manually might be a good idea if you want to reduce the high data usage.

To pause Windows updates on Windows 11,

Open Settings
Select Windows Update
Click on the drop-down button beside Pause updates and select the time you deem fit

If you see extremely high data usage, it is better to run a malware scan as well.

Also read: How to reduce YouTube Data Usage on a Windows 11/10 PC

How do I stop Windows 11 from consuming data?

To stop Windows 11 from consuming a lot of data, you can begin by setting a data limit, making your connections metered, disabling OneDrive sync, etc. Also, pausing the Windows updates saves you a lot of data. These will give you some relief from high data usage.

Why is my system data so high on Windows 11?

It may have downloaded a big Windows update or the programs and features might have been updated. If no updates have happened, it is better to run a malware scan, and examine the installed apps, and uninstall the programs you do not recognize.