Minimize Windows 10 Internet Consumption to improve Your Internet Speed

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How Windows 10 eats your Data?

If you have limited data subscriptions with your Internet Service Provider using Ethernet connection and if you have windows 10 (w10), chances are, you're in trouble. Certain windows 10 default update programs like Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS will keep on eating your precious data to update windows 10 with unimportant but huge data updates.

Also, Windows 10 assumes all Ethernet connection as unlimited and will keep on downloading updates as and when it comes. A devastating thing if you only have, say 1GB per week like in developing countries, its very difficult to manage data connection then.

Does Windows 10 Reduce Internet Speed?

Yes, Windows 10 reduces your Internet Speed as it constantly updates something in the background application. Also it always sends some data to the Microsoft for Security Issues. Sadly not all people know this, so I am glad to help you ease this problem with this how-to Guide and put a stop to the glutton before it eats all your subscription data. This Guide would also speed up your Internet Speed, which would help you play online games without lag and also prevents frequent disconnection in sofwares or games like Counter Strike which requires continuos bandwidth.

For Stopping Background Intelligent Transfer Service Updates, perform this steps every time you restart your Windows 10 Device and before you connect to the internet. I would not recommend totally uninstalling or removing Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS, because you won't be able to update your default Windows Security programs when you need them, which would lead to some security issue at later stage. This solution is very easy, so even a non-technical guy can do it.

Below are the steps to Stop Background Intelligent Transfer Service Updates

Open Task Manager

Go to the Processes Tab

Search for Service Host: Local System, the value in the ( ) should be around 15 to 21.

Click that > sign to search for Background Intelligent Transfer Service.

Left click Background Intelligent Transfer Service and chose End Task.

Task Manager to Stop Background Intelligent Transfer Service Updates

This other method is for the more advanced technical guys and girls out there with a little warning: if you do anything wrong you might damage your gadget with irreversible results so please read and follow the steps very carefully.

Use the Windows key + R to open the Run command (shown below), type regedit, a warning will pop-up and click OK to open the Windows Registry.

Browse the following path or sub folders: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > NetworkList > DefaultMediaCost

Right-click the DefaultMediaCost key and select Permissions.

On the Security tab, click the Advanced button.

Security Tab for Reducing Windows 10 Internet Data Consumption

Next to TrustedInstaller, click the Change link.

Advanced Security Settings for DefaultMediaCost for Decreasing Data Consumption in Windows 10

Type Administrators, in that big box, and click the Check Names button to make sure you're typing the correct object.

select User or group in DefaultMediaCost

Remember it and Click OK.

On the Advanced Security Settings for DefaultMediaCost, check the "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects".

Advanced Security Settings for DefaultMediaCost to prevent Data Consumption of Windows 10

Click Apply.

Click OK.

On Permissions for DefaultMediaCost, select the Administrators group (shown in step 6), and then make sure to check the allow Full Control box.

Permissions for DefaultMediaCost to prevent Data Consumption of Windows 10

Click Apply.

Click OK.

On the DefaultMediaCost key, you'll find different entries, including for 3G, 4G, Default, Ethernet, and WiFi with their default data values: 1 or 2. The data value 1 means that the connection type is non-metered, and the data value of 2 means that the connection type is metered. Double-click the Ethernet Value key, and change the value to 2. You can also do this to the others and change them from 1 into 2 if all of your connections are metered.

Registry Editor for DefaultMediaCost to increase Internet Speed in Windows 10

Click OK.

Close the registry and restart your computer to complete the process.

Once you have set a metered connection by following above Steps, the Windows 10 operating system will stop using the internet in many ways, which will lead to Reduction in Internet Data Consumption and Increase in Internet Speed. By performing above steps we are stopping Windows from doing below things:

Windows updates will no longer download automatically. However, priority updates will continue to download when available.

Apps will no longer update automatically.

Live Tiles on the Start menu may stop downloading updates

Offline content may not sync with other devices.

In the case you want to revert to the original settings, using the same instructions mentioned above, make sure to change the Ethernet key data value from 2 to 1.

If you want to verify your Ethernet connection is set to metered, you can use apps, such as the desktop version of Outlook, which will detect and alert you that you are using a metered connection, as you probably won't see any "Metered network" statics on the App history tab in Task Manager.

That's all guys. I hope that I have saved you from being in internet hell and have reduced your chances of calling your Internet Service Provider and asking them where all the data goes.