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Loading...In Windows 10, you can control the delivery of your Windows Updates, where they come from and how much bandwidth they use. If you are concerned about the data usage, you can make adjustments to suit your purposes and there is an activity monitor to help you see your download and upload stats easily.
Open Settings by clicking the “Start” button and then click the “Settings” icon. Next, click “Update & Security.”
From this page, you all know you can come here anytime and click the “Check for updates” button to make sure all of your updates are current. This not only includes security and bug fixes for Windows operating system (Windows 10), but it also includes updating your apps and programs. If you don’t see “You’re up to date” above the button, click it until you do, so you can be certain to have all the latest updates needed by your system.
Now below, click “Advanced options.” Here you will want to make sure to enable “Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows.” This will allow your system to automatically receive updates for Microsoft Office, apps and other features. If you are on a metered connection (most Internet Service Providers in our area do not use metered connections), you may want to enable “Automatically download updates, even over metered data connections (charges may apply),” unless you want to control any charges that can be associated with the downloads.
I also recommend you enable “We’ll show a reminder when we’re going to restart. If you want to see more notifications about restarting, turn this on.” This will give you additional warnings about your computer restarting after installing new updates. Go ahead and make your changes and then click “Delivery Optimization.”
When this was first introduced, where we could have other computers on the internet to allow downloads from other PCs to ours, I was concerned because of the risk of transferring viruses and bugs from their computers. I am still concerned about this feature. I fully recommend you first select “PCs on my local network” and then turn off: “Allow downloads from other PCs.” In my work, I have found that most computers are infected in one way or another and that leaves the possibility of getting viruses or malware from these PCs if we allow our system to receive updates from their PC. Make your changes and then click “Advanced options” below.
For those readers not in our area who may be using a metered connection, you can limit the download and upload settings so you can control the flow of data to and from your computer. Set your limits and then click the back arrow at the top-left and then click “Activity monitor” at the bottom of the page.
The Activity monitor allows you to see your download and upload statistics easily. Once you have made the changes I have recommended throughout this article, you can verify that your updates are only coming from Microsoft and not other PCs on the Internet. When you are ready, you can close your window by clicking the “X” at the upper-right.
For more than 15 years, Scott Lindsay has helped tens of thousands of people better their skills, publishing more than 500 articles about Apple and Microsoft software, the computer and the Internet. You can reach Scott for comments or questions at ScottLindsay@live.com.
