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Is Windows 10 Consuming Much Data? Try Out This Method

windows 10 data consumption

Making an account for each data spent could be a sure way of managing money and your data, but what happens when you can’t make an account for each data spent? Surely it will lead to a loss of data and unnecessary spending.


In today’s article, we will be looking at various ways of stopping windows 10 from consuming much data, managing your data plan, and also, the implications of minimizing data spent or stopping windows 10 from using your data for updates.

What is windows 10


Windows 10 is an operating system that was released by Microsoft in 2005. It is the successor of Windows 8.

Why is windows 10 consuming much data?


Windows 10 contains a lot of updates, these updates are to keep the Windows 10 operating system running smoothly. Some of the updates include (Windows 10 security updates, drivers update, and Windows 10 patches).

Like I said earlier these updates are meant to keep the Windows operating system free from bugs and viruses in other to give you the best user experience.

How to stop windows 10 from consuming much data


There are various ways of stopping Windows 10 from consuming much of your data. We will be taking a look at these step-by-step.

Disable apps from running and using data in the background

This process involves turning off background applications. What is a background application? Background applications are applications that have access to start up a task in the background without your consent.


When you turn off background applications it will shut the application from running in the background. It’s like saying “Hey don’t do anything without my consent”.

Why are background apps Important?

It helps you get information in time


Background apps help to get information in time, this is because they can interact with the operating system and also get information online without your consent. Let’s take an example; if you disable the Windows 10 mail application from running in the background, you might miss important mail, why?

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This is because you stopped it from communicating with the operating system, and by doing so it won’t gain access to the web.


So if you work in an organization or place where you do most of your jobs through email just know that you won’t be getting any mail soon unless you launch the mail application, boom all e-mails start jumping in.

This could also cost you your job. So you should be a little bit picky when it comes to disabling background applications.

They help to keep the computer up-to-date


Allowing an app to run in the background would also help to keep the system up to date. How so? Let us take another example; I have the Microsoft OneDrive and let’s say I work in an organization and I am an accountant.

Everything on JUMIA

I prefer to save my DOC files on OneDrive because I don’t want to lose any data as they involve data sheets with expenditure and all that. OneDrive will automatically update itself to the latest version or push a pop-up of a new version without me launching the application.

In that process, I get an update in time. These updates are for maintenance Windows 10 does not just push updates because they want to drain your data. But they do this because they want you to get the best user experience from the operating system. So doing this is a win-win.

I benefit they too benefit from it because if the OneDrive application is buggy and no fix for it, I will probably switch to Apple or another OS that can offer what I need.

How to disable background apps on windows 10


With all being said we will still move over to how to disable background apps. You might have changed your mind about disabling background applications due to what I said earlier.

But it is not bad to disable background apps there are benefits to disabling background apps. Let’s quickly look at those benefits before we move over to ways of disabling background apps.

Benefits of disabling background apps


It reduces data consumption: You need to know this; not all apps running in the background use data, and some use little, huge, or no data. Disabling background apps can help you save data usage.

This is because some background apps use data, some run updates without informing you while some use data just to send and obtain information from the internet. If you love an app and you can’t afford to disable its background usage you can off the auto-update option if it is available in the app.

You can as well check which application is using your data in other to know which one to disable from running in the background. We will get to that part before the end of this article.

It increases overall performance: Disabling background apps can help to increase overall performance. When applications run in the background they don’t run on air, but rather on the ram and disk. When applications run in the background they use ram and disk storage.

Some use a lot of storage space making your system run slow. Although Windows 10 has its storage maintenance feature it could kill apps you would want to stay active in the background without you knowing. This is done in other to keep the system in a good state.

Ways to disable background apps on windows 10

Finally, I will be showing you two ways I have been using to disable background apps.

  • Using the apps and features in Windows 10
  • Killing background apps manually using task manager

Using the apps and features in Windows 10


The “Apps and features” is a setting that can be found on windows 10. The “Apps and features” allow users to permanently disable apps from running in the background.

1 Go to setting, you can use the (win+I) to go to settings

2 Locate “Apps” and click on it.


3 Look for “Apps and features” it is the first option inside the “Apps” click on it.


4 Here you should be able to see all, if not most of your apps. Check all the apps you want to disable in the background process. Click on them.


5 Once you click on them, a drop-down will be initiated. You should be able to see “Advance Option” if you don’t see it that means the app does not automatically run in the background or the app is vital to be disabled.

app and features


6 Click on the “Advance option” under “App permission”(background app) and switch it off.

Windows 10 data consumption


Do that to all the apps you want to and close the windows.

Killing background apps manually using task manager on windows 10


Here’s another method. This method kills the background app, and it is done manually. To do this:


1 Click on (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to launch task manager. You can also access the task manager by using the windows 10 search bar to search for it.


2 Once you are inside the task manager click on “Processes” now check under the “Background processes” and you should be able to see all apps running in the background.

manage data win 10


3 Carefully look for the apps you know you don’t want to run in the background. Right-click on your mouse and click on “End Task”.

Note: Make sure you know the app you are killing or else your computer might run into problems.

Disabling the windows 10 update through service. msc


Disabling the windows update in “Service. msc” will permanently stop windows 10 from updating. To be able to do this follow the procedure below:


1 Move over to your windows 10 search bar, search for “Service” and click on “Open”.


2 Click on “Service (local)”. A list of windows settings will appear.

Data consumption in windows 10


3 Look for “Windows update” and click on it.


4 This time around a pop-up will appear, look for “Startup type” and disable it. Head over to service status and click on the “Stop” button then the “Ok” button then click on the “Apply” button and then close windows.

managing your data


There you go you have successfully stopped windows updates.

Disable Windows 10 update from using your wifi for updates


You can also disable windows 10 from using your wifi for an update. If you are running an old version of Windows 10 you won’t be able to see this feature. It is only available when you allow some updates in windows 10. if you want to do this follow this procedure:


1 Move over to settings, you can use (Windows+I) to launch settings. Select “Network and internet”.


2 Click on “Wifi”, the wifi is below “Status”. Click on manage known networks.

Windows 10 data consumption


3 Toggle on “Metered connection“.

metered connection on win10


Note: If you change your wifi name (SSID) everything goes back to default and windows will start using your wifi for an update. This is because it doesn’t recognize the wifi device anymore. So if you change the name or password of your wifi you might as well repeat this settings process.

Disable windows 10 update from using your Ethernet connection

For you to do this:


1 Move over to settings, you can use (Winows+I) to launch settings. Select “Network and internet”.


2 Click on “Ethernet”, the Ethernet is below “Wifi” then click on manage known networks.


3 Toggle on “Metered connection“.

How to pause windows 10 update


Windows 10 updates consume a lot of data however, you can pause Windows 10 updates, but not for too long. You can follow the step below to pause the windows 10 update:

  • Go to settings, click on “Update and security”.
  • Look for “Pause windows update” and pause it.
fix Windows 10 data consumption

Effects of turning off the windows 10 update


We’ve talked excessively about the benefits of disabling background apps, now let’s look at the implications or effects of turning off the windows 10 updates:

You will lose important notification


If you disable the windows 10 update you may not be able to get an important update. For example, I got a notification of the windows 11 OS update. I could easily click on it and move over to the windows 11 update with ease.

Win 10 data consumption

Your computer becomes prone to virus


Windows 10 update comes with different versions of antivirus updates. These updates are to tackle or keep viruses away from your windows. Different programs are being launched online and offline to harm or gain access to your computer, but with the constant updates, Windows 10 can tackle these problems.

So if you say “Hey I don’t care, my data consumption rate is more important” then you leave your computer vulnerable to viruses and other malware programs.

Your computer may become unstable


Windows 10 comes with different patches, these updates are to fix possible problems on the Windows 10 OS. Also, the windows 10 update comes with drivers.

These drivers are to maintain a good relationship between the windows 10 OS and the hardware. If you are running an old windows 10 driver you might notice some features are not working the way they are supposed to do.

You will miss out on new features


What are these features? If you compare the first windows 10 update to now, you would notice a huge difference. Take a look at the notification bar, the settings, the tray, and the icons.

Remember we talked about restricting windows 10 updates from using your wifi or Ethernet data for an update, well you won’t get that on your old windows 10.

How I manage my windows 10 in terms of data consumption


I blog, I source for data, and I use an online picture editor; I also have to upload those pictures to 9ja Tide. I would probably be spending much on data.
Nah, I don’t spend much on data. Here’s what I do.


Here in Nigeria, there’s what we call “Night plan” these plans are very cheap but they can only be used at night. What I do is that from time to time I do subscribe to this “Night plan” and update my windows 10 computer. I do buy cheap plans of up to 5GB sometimes.


Once I update it, I pause windows update for some time then I use my monthly data plan. Later I start over again.
By doing this I was able to manage my data and also stay up to date. You could also try this method.

What you should do if none of the above methods work for you


Oh gosh! Do you mean you tried all those methods and nothing worked?


Check for virus: Yes you heard me well, check for virus. Your computer may be infected with a virus. to be sure of this, you can use the task manager to confirm which app is currently draining your data.

To do this use the (Ctrl+shift+esc) buttons to launch “Task manager” and move over to “App history” you would be able to see which app is running and how much data they have used.


If you found out the unfamiliar app using much of your data you can uninstall it or backup, format and install windows 10 back on your computer.


Conclusion


Windows 10 comes with a lot of updates, these updates are to keep the operating system running smoothly. Also, the windows 10 updates are huge in terms of data sizes, sometimes they start downloading updates without our consent.

But disabling windows updates through service. msc settings or switching on the metered connection could fix data drainage issues on windows 10.


Also, permanently disabling the windows 10 updates could be free access to viruses and other malware. What I usually do to balance things up is I do my updates routinely.

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