When most of what you do on the computer requires an internet connection, speed is important. How fast a page loads, how well a video plays, and how well your favorite apps work – all depend on a good connection. So when my 200 Mbps connection started to feel like 20 Mbps, I decided to dig into a few Windows settings. Apparently, some of them were interfering with the back connection.
Features like Delivery Optimization, automatic app updates, default DNS server, and even the metered connection feature were slowing things down in the background. Once I adjusted them, the difference was immediately noticeable.
Close Delivery Optimization
A hidden space that gives you your speed
Delivery Optimization is a feature of Windows that allows your system to share optimization files with other PCs on a network or local network. It works bi-directionally, meaning your PC can download updates from others. This reduces the load on Microsoft’s servers and can speed up updates in general.
But as you can imagine, Delivery Optimization can use a lot of bandwidth in the background, sometimes when you least expect it. If you don’t want that, it’s easy to stop. Head to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Update delivery then turn off Allow downloading from other PCs.
Turn off app updates automatically
Don’t let them upgrade whenever they want
Automatic updates sound simple, and most of the time they are. But sometimes background downloads can make your internet feel slow at the worst possible time. This can be especially problematic when you’re streaming in 4K, via video call, or playing online.
To turn them off, open the Microsoft Store, click Go profile picture up, then select Storage settings. From there, turn off App updates toggle. For programs you’ve installed outside of the Microsoft Store, you’ll often find similar options in their settings.
Of course, you shouldn’t ignore app updates completely. But this way, you will be able to install them whenever you want.
Close the nerve connection
When “saving data” costs your speed
A metered connection is a useful tool for anyone with a limited internet plan or using a mobile hotspot. Depending on your connection type, Windows may enable it sometimes. And when it does, the system tries to reduce Internet usage by skipping certain system updates, stopping automatic updates, and stopping offline file sharing.
But this feature can prevent your applications from using the internet freely, which is not ideal. Also, if you have an unlimited data connection, you don’t need this feature. To turn it off, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Select your connection and turn off Limited connection toggle. It’s a small step, but it really makes a difference.
Switch to a better DNS server
It’s more important than you think
Most people don’t think about DNS, but it plays an important role every time you visit a website. Simply put, a DNS server translates website names into IP addresses, so your browser can enter them.
Windows always uses the DNS provided by your ISP, which is usually not the fastest or most reliable option. But switching to a better DNS server like Google DNS or Cloudflare can speed things up. It’s also great for privacy, as it prevents your ISP from logging or analyzing your browsing patterns.
Once you’ve chosen the DNS you want to use, it’s easy to configure. Head to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi or Ethernetselect your connection, then click Change next to the DNS server assignment. Choose which one A book option and turn it on IPv4 toggle. Now, fill in the primary and secondary DNS settings. For example, if you want to use Google DNS, you can type 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to DNS selected and Another DNS then hit Save.
Router vs. Computer DNS Settings: Here’s What’s Fast
Comparing DNS at the router and PC level has led to a real improvement in the speed and performance of my network.
Stop applications from draining your bandwidth
Silent bandwidth thieves
By default, Windows allows each device to run in the background and use the network. This isn’t usually a problem, but if one or two devices start acting like data hogs, your connection can feel sluggish.
The best way to avoid this is to find out which apps use a lot of data and restore them. Head to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Data usage to see the internet usage of the devices on your computer. If you see anything unusual, such as OneDrive using too much data, you can stop syncing or set a bandwidth limit to stop it from overwhelming your connection.
For apps that don’t allow fine-grained control over their data usage, you can block them from running in the background. Head to Settings > Apps > Installed appsclick on the three dot symbol next to the app, then select Advanced options. Finally, set Background app permissions to Never.
Changing the above settings should make a difference in your network speeds. They really did for me. But if not, you can always reset the network settings and start over. Sometimes a clean slate is all it takes to get things working as they should.
#Windows #dragging #net #settings