To disable Windows Update Delivery Optimization in Windows 10 or 11, open Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows, create a new key named DeliveryOptimization, then add a DWORD (32-bit) value called DODownloadMode and set the value data to 100. Restart your PC when done.
Quick Steps:
- Press Win + R, type
regedit, and press Enter to open Registry Editor - Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows - If the Windows key doesn’t exist under Microsoft, right-click the Microsoft folder > New > Key and name it Windows
- Right-click the Windows key > New > Key and name it DeliveryOptimization
- Inside the DeliveryOptimization key, right-click the empty white space on the right > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Name the value
DODownloadModeand press Enter - Double-click the value, set the value data to 100, and click OK
- Close Registry Editor and restart your PC
What Is Windows Update Delivery Optimization?
Delivery Optimization is a built-in Windows feature that uses peer-to-peer technology to distribute update files between devices. Instead of always downloading updates solely from Microsoft’s servers, your PC can also send and receive update data to and from other Windows computers — both on your local network and across the internet.
The idea is that it takes some load off Microsoft’s servers and can help other users get updates faster. But the flip side is that Windows is using your bandwidth to do it, often in the background without much warning. For anyone on a limited data plan, a metered connection, or a slower network, that’s not great.
Back when I was doing computer support work, unexplained slowdowns and higher-than-expected data usage were pretty common complaints. Delivery Optimization was often part of the problem. Disabling it gives you back control over how Windows uses your internet connection.
How to Disable Delivery Optimization via Registry Editor
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run box. Type regedit and press Enter. If User Account Control asks for permission, click Yes to allow it to open.
Step 2: Navigate to the Registry Path
Head to this path in Registry Editor: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. The quickest way is to click into the address bar at the top of Registry Editor, paste the path in, and press Enter. I’ve also left the registry paths from this guide below in the video description so you can copy and paste them easily.
Step 3: Create the Required Registry Keys
If you don’t see a Windows key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft, right-click the Microsoft folder, go to New, and select Key. Name it Windows and press Enter.
Now right-click the Windows key, go to New, and select Key again. Name this one DeliveryOptimization and press Enter. These keys may or may not already exist depending on your Windows installation — only create the ones that are missing.
Step 4: Add the DODownloadMode Value
Click on the DeliveryOptimization key to select it. Right-click anywhere on the empty white space in the right panel, hover over New, and select DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it DODownloadMode and press Enter.
Step 5: Set the Value Data and Restart
Double-click on the DODownloadMode entry to open it. Change the value data to 100 and click OK. Once that’s done, close Registry Editor and restart your PC for the change to take effect.
Common Issues & Solutions
Problem: The registry path doesn’t exist on my PC
Solution: Some Windows installations don’t have the full Policies path set up by default. You may need to create the Microsoft key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies first, then Windows under that, and finally DeliveryOptimization. Just work through the path one level at a time, creating any keys that are missing.
Problem: The change doesn’t seem to do anything
Solution: First, make sure you restarted your PC after applying the change. Then double-check that the DODownloadMode value is sitting under exactly this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization. If it’s in the wrong location, it won’t have any effect.
FAQ
What does setting DODownloadMode to 100 actually do?
Setting the value to 100 puts Delivery Optimization into Bypass mode. This tells Windows to fall back to using the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) to download updates instead of the Delivery Optimization service. The end result is that your PC stops sharing or receiving update data via peer-to-peer — everything comes straight from Microsoft’s servers.
Will this stop Windows from receiving updates?
No, Windows will still download and install updates as normal. You won’t miss out on anything. The only change is how the updates are downloaded — directly from Microsoft rather than through peer-to-peer sharing. If you want to go further and stop Windows from automatically installing updates at all, I’ve covered that in my guide on how to disable automatic updates in Windows 10 and 11.
Can I reverse this registry change?
Yes. Head back to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization and either delete the DODownloadMode value entirely to restore the default behavior, or change the value data to 1 (LAN only) or 3 (LAN and internet) if you want to re-enable Delivery Optimization in a specific mode.
Is there an easier way to do this without touching the registry?
If you’d rather not edit the registry manually, Winhance — my free open-source Windows enhancement utility — lets you manage a whole range of Windows settings, including privacy and update-related tweaks, without having to dig through registry paths yourself. It’s worth checking out if you want a cleaner way to handle these kinds of optimizations.
Does this registry tweak work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes, the exact same registry path and DWORD value applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The steps are identical for both — there’s no difference in how this is done between the two versions. And if you ever run into a situation where a Windows update itself is causing problems, it’s good to know you can also uninstall updates and clear the update cache to prevent them from reinstalling automatically.
