If you have been using a mobile internet connection on your Windows 11 and are worried about how quickly it drains all your internet, there could be various reasons why you have been facing Windows 11 consuming a lot of your data and background applications using it.
Monitor and control data usage on Windows 11.
You can smartly manage your internet and monitor and control data usage on Windows 11 to prevent it from exhausting your internet. Windows 11 has a Data Usage section, from which you can view all your data usage app by app. You can even limit your internet connection to reduce usage and stay under a specific limit.
How to view data usage on Windows 11
It will show and monitor the traffic for all network adapters. To do this, follow the instructions below.
- Open Windows Settings (shortcut key: Windows + I).
- Go to Network & Internet, then to Data Usage, which appears in the screen’s upper-right corner.
- On that page, you will see the total internet usage, and at the bottom, there will be a list of apps with usage statistics showing how much internet each app has consumed. To filter, use the right drop-down menu to look by Days for the Last 24 Hours, Last 7 Days, and Last 30 Days by default.
How to reset data usage on Windows 11
It is also easy to reset data usage on Windows 11. By default, data usage status resets after 30 days, but you can schedule a time to use it. However, this may not align with your current cellular plan’s billing.
To reset your data usage, go to Data Usage. Scroll down to the bottom, and you will see the Reset Usage Stats option. Click on it, and your data usage will be reset.
So, after selecting the specific number count for the days of resetting the data usage, it will reset. This way, you can manage your app usage and plan accordingly.
Configure the data usage limit on Windows 11.
As most of you have been using a mobile device or have a limited internet data plan, setting a data limit on your Windows 11 is better. This will restrict all your unnecessary usage and provide notifications to alert you when you are going over your plan.
To do this,
- Head to Data Usage in Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings.
- Then click on Enter Limit, which will ask you to set a data limit.
- In the Limit type, select a choice from Daily, Weekly, Monthly, One Time, or Unlimited accordingly, and then on Reset Every Month, choose the frequency, or you can choose the data limit according to your preference.
- After that, click Save to confirm.
- That is it!
Restricting background data on Windows 11
Yes, you can restrict background data to limit data usage further in Windows 11. In Windows 10, this is known as a metered connection.
- Open Windows Settings and go to Network & the Internet.
- Go to the Ethernet or Wi-Fi network you are connected to and want to make changes.
- In your network, you will find a Metered Connection.
- Toggle its setting to enable Metered Connection, and you are done!
Disable Syncing your settings.
It has always been enabled by default, and it’s quite easy to disable it to sync your settings, which will help you use less data. However, if this feature is enabled, Windows 11 will consume many data.
To turn it off and save some data:
- Open Windows Settings, and go to the Account section on the left sidebar.
- Go to Windows Backup, and there you will find two toggles for “Remember my Apps” and “Remember my Preferences.”
- Turn them off.
Turn off the Windows 11 Update
It is another way to restrict background data usage, while Windows does update in the background without user consent.
- Open Windows Settings and head over to the Windows Update section.
- From there, click on “Pause for 1 Week,” and then it will pause the automatic update for Windows.
- Note that you need to pause it again after one week.
Enable metered connections.
It is used to prevent the excessive use of data and help with blocking the data spent on activities like downloading updates, app updates, start menu tile updates, and other similar background activities that are not required to be done.
- Open Windows Settings and head to Network & Internet from the left sidebar.
- From there, go to your network, depending on what you are using: Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- You will find a metered connection when you are on the network page.
- Toggle the selection to enter the metered connection. That is it!
Disable sending diagnostic information to Windows.
When your PC encounters a problem, it sends information to Microsoft with logs. However, if you want to be more restrictive, you can disable the sending of diagnostic information to Windows.
That is all you can do to monitor and restrict Internet usage, but you should also note that it could be different for your ISP and Windows 11. So, limiting something to less than the actual plan could be a good idea.