Monitor and Control Data usage on Windows 11

You can smartly manage your internet and monitor and control data usage on Windows 11 so you can prevent it from exhausting your internet. Windows 11 actually comes with a Data Usage section, from where you can view all your data usage app by app. You can even limit your internet connection to reduce usage and stay under a certain limit.

How to View Data usage on Windows 11

It will show all the traffic and monitor the traffic for all network adapters. To do this, follow the instructions mentioned below:

Open Windows Settings (Shortcut key: Windows + I)
Go to Network & Internet, then go to Data Usage, which appears in the upper-right corner of the screen.
On that page, you will see the total usage of the internet, and at the bottom, there will be a list of apps with usage statistics of how much internet has been consumed by each app. 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 the data usage on Windows 11. Data usage status does reset after 30 days by default, but you can schedule it for which you can use this. However, it may not be aligned with your current cellular plan’s billing.

To reset your data usage, head over to the Data Usage. Scroll down to the bottom, and there you will see the Reset Usage Stats option. Click on it, and then 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 actually manage your app usage and plan accordingly.

Configure Data usage Limit on Windows 11

As most of you might have been using a mobile device or have a limited internet data plan, it is better to set a data limit on your Windows 11. This will restrict all your unnecessary usage and provide notifications to alert you when you are going over your plan.

To do this:

Head over to Data Usage from the Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings.
Then click on Enter Limit, and it 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 on Save to confirm.
That’s it!

Restricting Background data on Windows 11

Yes, you can restrict background data to limit data usage further for Windows 11. In Windows 10, this is known as a Metered Connection.

Open Windows Settings and go to Network & Internet.
Go to Ethernet or your Wi-Fi network that you are connected to and want to make changes.
In your network, you will find the Metered Connection.
Toggle its setting to enable the Metered Connection, and you’re done!

Disable Sync your Settings

By default, it has always been enabled, and it’s quite easy to disable it to sync your settings, which will help you use fewer data. However, if this feature is enabled, Windows 11 used to consume a lot of data.

To turn it off and save some data:

Open Windows Settings, and go to the Account section from the left sidebar.
Go to Windows Backup, and there you will find two toggles for “Remember my Apps” and “Remember my Preferences.”
Simply turn them off.

Disable Windows 11 Update

It’s 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.
Do note that you need to pause it again after 1 week.

Enable Metered Connection.

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 which aren’t required to be done.

Open Windows Settings and head over to Network & Internet from the left sidebar.
From there, go to your network depending on what you are using: Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
When you are on the network page, you will find the Metered Connection.
Toggle the selection to enter the Metered connection. That’s it!

Disable Sending Diagnostic Information to Windows

So when your PC encounters any problem, it does send the information to Microsoft with logs. So, if you want to be more restrictive, then you can disable the sending of diagnostic information to Windows.

That’s all you can do to monitor and restrict Internet usage, but you should also note that it could be different for your ISP and your Windows 11. So, it could be a good idea to limit something less than the actual plan.

How to track internet data usage to set limits and reduce data usage for WiFi and Ethernet on Windows 11.