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Disable obtaining updates from other PCs on the Internet (delivery optimization)

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
  • Impact: Minimum

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • 2 scripts
  • No subcategories
  • Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

Windows Delivery Optimization is a feature introduced by Microsoft to facilitate a more efficient downloading process for Windows updates, upgrades, and applications 1 2. Instead of exclusively relying on Microsoft's servers, this feature identifies other PCs on a user's local network or even across the internet that already possess the desired updates or applications 2. By breaking the download into smaller segments and fetching each from the fastest and most reliable source, which can include other PCs, the system ensures more efficient downloads 2. To support this process, Delivery Optimization uses a local cache to temporarily store downloaded files 2.

While Delivery Optimization is designed for speed and reliability, its operation raises privacy concerns. Specifically, when enabled, it can distribute updates and applications from one user's PC to others 2, sharing users' data such as their IP addresses 3.

Benefits of disabling Delivery Optimization for privacy:

  • Minimizing Data Sharing: By turning off Delivery Optimization, users ensure that updates and apps are neither downloaded from nor sent to other devices 2. This guarantees that all data remains strictly on the user's device 2 and the user IP is not shared 3.
  • Storage Conservation: Users can save storage space by eliminating the local cache utilized by Delivery Optimization.
  • Guaranteed Source Authenticity: Although Microsoft ensures the authenticity of updates and apps shared via Delivery Optimization 2, disabling the feature guarantees that all updates and apps come directly from Microsoft's servers, eliminating potential intermediaries.
  • Bandwidth Conservation: With the feature off, updates are restricted to direct downloads from Microsoft 1. This is beneficial for users on metered or capped internet connections, as it allows for more effective bandwidth monitoring 2.
  • Enhanced Security: Devices using Delivery Optimization open port 7680 to accept peer requests 4. Disabling the feature avoids this, ensuring users are not exposed to unwanted inbound traffic and enhancing security 5.
  • VPN Protection: Although Delivery Optimization attempts to detect VPNs and halts uploads when a VPN connection is detected 4, disabling it removes any risk of unintended data sharing over a VPN.

Notably, the USA government 5 and Department of Defense (DoD) in the USA 6 recommends disabling this feature.

Safe for General Use
This script has Normal protection level option. This is recommended for all users to improve without any noticeable impact on the system functionality.
Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

Apply Now​

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Easy-to-apply
  • Free
  • Open-source

Normal — Everyday Privacy (Enterprise-Grade)​

  • Recommended for all
  • Safe for daily use
  • No impact on system stability

Read more about Normal and other protection levels

Help

How to apply or restore "Disable obtaining updates from other PCs on the Internet (delivery optimization)" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 6 instructions
  1. 1

    Choose protection

    Choose one of the options with different impact levels:

    • Normal

      Some safe changes minimal system impact.

    • High

      Some potentially impactful changes with moderate system impact.
  2. 2

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  3. 3

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  4. 4

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  5. 5

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  6. 6

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Shows the code
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable obtaining updates from other PCs on the Internet (delivery optimization)" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the category name: Disable obtaining updates from other PCs on the Internet (delivery optimization)
    2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.

    Applying Normal to limit the impact.

  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide​

  • 2 Privacy settings

Choose what to protect based on your needs:

Click any option to learn more about what it does.

Each change can be applied and reversed individually.

  • Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
  • Most users find the Normal protection above sufficient.

Disable peering download method for Windows Updates

This script modifies Delivery Optimization's download method for Windows Updates to disable peering. When this script is run, it sets the download method to "0", which means "HTTP only, no peering". As a result, Windows Updates are downloaded solely from the internet and not from other computers on the network (referred to as "peer-to-peer"). Peer-to-peer is a method where multiple computers share data amongst themselves. For Windows Updates, the default setting is for computers within a network...

Disable "Delivery Optimization" service (breaks Microsoft Store downloads)

Delivery Optimization is a Windows feature that provides the Windows Updates through peer-to-peer sharing. In simple terms, instead of solely relying on Microsoft's servers for updates, your computer can also fetch them from other devices that already possess the necessary files. The "Delivery Optimization" service manages these content delivery tasks. It orchestrates the retrieval of updates both from other Windows users. In doing so, it connects to various Microsoft service points to collect d...

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About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process