Limiting bandwidth on your computer will finish yous from wasting data. It's very helpful to manage this setting if you have a specific data limit as information technology can stop you lot from existence overcharged.

We're going to testify you lot how to control your bandwidth usage with congenital-in Windows 10 facilities, and then offer some additional third-party tools that offer more features to assistance you limit your bandwidth.

How to Limit Data Usage in Windows 10

First, let's look at how to control your network usage and apply a bandwidth limit using the tools that come with Windows x.

Enable a Metered Connection in Windows 10

One manner to limit bandwidth in Windows 10 is to enable a metered connection. This is perfect if you have a data cap.

Enabling this characteristic will mean that some updates for Windows won't be installed automatically (except disquisitional updates) and some Microsoft Store apps might lose some functionality or not work properly. Information technology will also disable peer-to-peer updates that are designed to help with Microsoft'southward server load.

To enable a metered connectedness:

  1. Printing Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Network & Internet.
  3. Choose either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on what method y'all apply to connect to the cyberspace.
metered connection windows 10

If yous selected Wi-Fi:

  1. Click Manage known networks.
  2. Select your network from the listing.
  3. Click Properties.
  4. Slide Set as metered connexion to On.

If yous selected Ethernet:

  1. Click your connexion from the list.
  2. Slide Set every bit metered connectedness to On.

Prepare a Data Usage Limit in Windows 10

Alternatively, you can set a custom data usage limit. This will automatically enable the metered connection feature. Information technology won't disconnect your internet when you hit the limit, only yous will receive warning notifications as you nigh it.

windows 10 data usage
  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Network & Internet.
  3. Beneath Network status, you'll encounter your different internet connections and how much data each has used in the last 30 days. For the one you desire to set a information usage limit for, click Information usage.
  4. Beneath Data limit, click Enter limit.
  5. Select a fourth dimension period (Limit type), the Monthly reset engagement/Days until data expires, and the Data limit (fix the Unit as either MB or GB.)
  6. Click Save.

You lot'll see a graph that shows how much data has been used and how much is remaining. Click Edit limit to alter the settings or Remove limit to chip information technology.

Windows 10 has some helpful features to aid you set a bandwidth limit and use less data, merely you lot might need something more than advanced. If and so, these 3rd-party tools are not bad choices.

ane. NetBalancer

NetBalancer shows you a list of all the active processes on your organization and whatsoever associated network usage. Below this is a live graph and so you tin can meet at a glance where any bandwidth spikes occur. Hover your mouse over the graph and you'll be able to run across which processes were sapping your bandwidth at that moment.

To limit a program's bandwidth, find information technology on the list and double-click information technology. Y'all tin can use the Download Priority and Upload Priority dropdowns to adjust its usage based on preset filters. This is handy if, for instance, you still want a program to be unrestricted, but desire other programs to use the bandwidth first if they need it. Alternatively, choose Custom from the dropdown to define your own limits.

netbalancer

If you want to go into the nitty-gritty, you tin can set rules and filters; navigate to these sections from the icons on the left-paw menu. Nonetheless, acquit in mind that these are only available in the paid version of NetBalancer, which costs a sometime fee of $49.95. Alternatively, you can keep using it for free as a network monitor only.

ii. NetLimiter

When you launch NetLimiter yous'll see a list of all your open applications, along with their current bandwidth usage. Of course, some applications volition naturally use more than bandwidth than others, but it'southward handy to identify those which are consuming more than than they need to.

The default limit is fix to 5 KB/s for download and upload, which you lot tin can quickly enable by checking the box for a item row. To edit those defaults, right-click a row and click Add rule. Hither you can modify the bandwidth boundaries.

netlimiter

NetLimiter comes with a 28-day trial period. A single user habitation license for the Lite version costs $15.95, while the Pro version costs $24.95.

3. Net-Peeker

Net-Peeker has a unproblematic user interface. At the elevation, you lot tin come across the agile upload and download usage, along with access to a brief settings screen and some other features the program offers, like a system guard. We'll just be focusing on its bandwidth limiting power.

The primary table lists all active processes on your system, along with its bandwidth consumption. You can double-click a process to get extremely detailed information on the Network Sessions and Loaded Modules tabs.

netpeeker

On either an entire procedure from the main window or on a specific network session, you tin correct-click to manage the connection. Yous tin can Limit speed to specify ready bandwidth boundaries and Abort connexion to disconnect information technology all together (until yous open information technology again.)

Internet-Peeker gives you a xxx-day trial to feel all of its features. Afterwards that fourth dimension, you tin can continue to utilize the program for $25. If you desire the ability to command multiple systems, y'all'll need to purchase a group license, which starts at $125 for five computers.

4. SoftPerfect Bandwidth Managing director

SoftPerfect Bandwidth Managing director is a skillful program, but information technology is catchy to get to grips with. When you first launch, you'll need to enter your network address and password before you can first monitoring the traffic.

If you're comfortable with that, it'south a programme worth checking out thanks to its decent rule customization. Press Ctrl + N to brainstorm creating your rule. Move between each tab to meet all the options, but be certain to proper noun your rule and set your desired Rate limits. When done, click OK to activate your dominion.

softperfect bandwidth manager

Utilize the Tools dropdown to set quotas and schedules for your bandwidth. It's also worth checking out the Usage Study, which will requite you an overview of all your traffic and assistance you lot identify whatsoever particular problems that need addressing.

SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager has a xxx-24-hour interval trial menses. After this, you lot can go on using the Lite version for complimentary, with the limit of only beingness able to ready five rules. Alternatively, you tin can pay $49 to upgrade to the Standard version. Come across the license comparison list for total details.

Monitor Your Network Usage With Ease

These are all great methods to control your bandwidth when using Windows x; perfect if yous're not sure what'southward eating up your bandwidth and yous want to monitor your home network usage. Start with the default Windows 10 tools, so move to a third-party program if they don't evidence sufficient.