This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off allow downloads from other PCs for Delivery Optimization in Windows 11.
Windows Update Delivery Optimization helps you get Windows updates and Microsoft Store apps more quickly and reliably.
Windows Update Delivery Optimization works by letting you get Windows updates and Microsoft Store apps from sources in addition to Microsoft, like other PCs on your local network, or PCs on the internet that are downloading the same files. Delivery Optimization also sends updates and apps from your PC to other PCs on your local network or PCs on the internet, based on your settings. Sharing this data between PCs helps reduce the internet bandwidth that’s needed to keep more than one device up to date or can make downloads more successful if you have a limited or unreliable Internet connection.
When Windows downloads an update or app using Delivery Optimization, it will look for other PCs on your local network (or from the internet, depending on your settings) that have already downloaded that update or app. Windows doesn’t download the entire file from one place. Instead, the download is broken down into smaller parts. Windows then gets parts of the update or app from the PCs that have it, and parts from Microsoft. Windows uses the fastest, most reliable download source for each part.
Delivery Optimization creates a local cache, and stores files that it has downloaded in that cache for a short period of time.
Delivery Optimization can’t be used to download or send personal content. Delivery Optimization doesn’t access your personal files or folders, and it doesn’t change any files on your PC.
Delivery Optimization downloads the same updates and apps that you would get through Windows Update and Microsoft Store, using the same security measures. To make sure you’re getting authentic updates, Delivery Optimization gets information securely from Microsoft to check the authenticity of each part of an update or app that it downloads from other PCs. The authenticity of the downloads is checked again before installing it.
References:
Delivery Optimization in Windows - Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com
Windows Update Delivery Optimization and privacy - Microsoft Support
Find answers to frequently asked questions about Windows Update Delivery Optimization.
support.microsoft.com
What is Delivery Optimization?
This article provides information about Delivery Optimization, a peer-to-peer distribution method in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
docs.microsoft.com
Manage connections from Windows 10 and Windows 11 Server/Enterprise editions operating system components to Microsoft services - Windows Privacy
Learn how to minimize connections from Windows to Microsoft services, and configure particular privacy settings related to these connections.
learn.microsoft.com
Skilling snack: Reduce bandwidth for Microsoft content delivery | Windows IT Pro Blog
Optimize Windows update delivery with Delivery Optimization and Microsoft Connected Cache.
techcommunity.microsoft.com
You must be signed in as an administrator to turn on or off Delivery Optimization.
If you use a metered or capped internet connection, Delivery Optimization won’t automatically download or send parts of updates or apps to other PCs on the Internet.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Windows Update Delivery Optimization in Settings
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Windows Update Delivery Optimization using REG file
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Windows Update Delivery Optimization in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Enable or Disable Windows Update Delivery Optimization using REG file
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Windows Update on the left side, and click/tap on Advanced options on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Delivery Optimization. (see screenshot below)
4 Do step 5 (on) or step 6 (off) below for what you want.
5 Turn On Windows Update Delivery Optimization
This is the default setting.
A) Turn on Allow downloads from other PCs. (see screenshot below)
B) Select (dot) either Devices on my local network (default) or Devices on on the Internet and my local network for where you want to allow downloads from, and go to step 7.
6 Turn Off Windows Update Delivery Optimization
A) Turn off Allow downloads from other PCs, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Do step 2 (on - local), step 3 (on - local and Internet), or step 4 (off) below for what you want.
2 Turn on Allow downloads from other PCs for "Devices on my local network"
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.
Turn_on_Delivery_Optimization_for_devices_on_local_network.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DeliveryOptimization\Settings]
"DownloadMode"=dword:000000013 Turn on Allow downloads from other PCs for "Devices on on the Internet and my local network"
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.
Turn_on_Delivery_Optimization_for_devices_on_internet_and_local_network.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DeliveryOptimization\Settings]
"DownloadMode"=dword:000000034 Turn off Allow downloads from other PCs
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.
Turn_off_Allow_downloads_from_other_PCs.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DeliveryOptimization\Settings]
"DownloadMode"=dword:000000005 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
9 You can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Four below to configure this same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Delivery Optimization
3 In the right pane of Delivery Optimization in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Download Mode policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable - local), step 6 (enable - local and Internet), step 7 (disable), or step 8 (default) below for what you want.
5. Always Enable Delivery Optimization for "Devices on my local network"
This will gray out and override Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Select LAN (1) for the Download Mode under Options.
C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below.
6. Always Enable Delivery Optimization for "Devices on on the Internet and my local network"
This will gray out and override Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Select Internet (3) for the Download Mode under Options.
C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below.
7. Disable Delivery Optimization and Turn Off "Allow downloads from other PCs"
This will gray out and override Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Select HTTP only (0) for the Download Mode under Options.
C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below.
8. Default User Choice to "Allow downloads from other PCs"
This will all you to use Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below.
9 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable - local), step 3 (enable - local and Internet), step 4 (disable), or step 5 (default) below for what you want.
2. Always Enable Delivery Optimization for "Devices on my local network"
This will gray out and override Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Always_Enable_Delivery_Optimization_for_devices_on_local_networks.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization]
"DODownloadMode"=dword:00000001 3. Always Enable Delivery Optimization for "Devices on on the Internet and my local network"
This will gray out and override Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Always_Enable_Delivery_Optimization_for_devices_on_internet_and_local_network.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization]
"DODownloadMode"=dword:00000003 4. Disable Delivery Optimization and Turn Off "Allow downloads from other PCs"
This will gray out and override Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Disable_Delivery_optimization_and_Turn_off_Allow_downloads_from_other_PCs.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization]
"DODownloadMode"=dword:00000000 5. Default User Choice to "Allow downloads from other PCs"
This will all you to use Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Default_user_choice_Allow_downloads_from_other_PCs.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization]
"DODownloadMode"=-6 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
7 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
10 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
